Mason Galemore
Contributing writer
[email protected] 

Murray State is home to many talented people, writers, artists and musicians. One of those people is junior Duncan Sandlin, from Russellville, Kentucky.

 He has a voice, a head full of songs and six strings and he will be performing at the Curris Center on Feb. 24. 

Sandlin recalled the first time he was introduced to music. When he was young, he went to his pastor’s house with his family and discovered a piano. 

“The piano was just below my shoulder height at the time,” Sandlin said. “I sat on the bench and I explored the keys and their notes. The pattern made sense to my ears and the longer I sat, the more the piano started to sound like music.”

Sandlin started performing when he was in middle school. It was the first time he performed vocals and guitar. 

Since then, Sandlin has explored his own creative process of writing songs and performing. Sandlin said he has always known he wanted to write music if he were to ever become a musician. He strives to write music that evokes emotion in him and his audience. 

“It’s intimidating yet freeing at the same time,” Sandlin said. “To write a song that comes from your own experiences of hardships, grief, love or even contentment and value for where you are in life takes a different kind of bravery.”

One of the songs Sandlin has written is “Waiting at Home,” a song that Sandlin said “takes inventory of where you are in life.” Sandlin was inspired to write the song because he felt his goals were spreading out in all directions. 

The song gave Sandlin peace and a sense of acceptance that it is okay if he doesn’t achieve all the things he wants to achieve in life.

“Sometimes in the process of working so hard to get to where you want to be in life, it’s best to focus on who’s waiting for you at home because that’s where the peace that keeps me going and working so hard comes from,” Sandlin said.

Sandlin said almost all of his songs affect him on an emotional level and it’s important that he really believes what he is saying when he sings his songs.

One of the songs that has impacted him the most is “Broke,” one that Sandlin wrote a year ago. It explores the beauty of relationships and Sandlin’s struggles with staying with the one he loves.

“This song really speaks to my perspective on a hard, albeit brief, part of our journey when we had to fight a little harder to stay together,” Sandlin said. “This is one of the most genuine, heartfelt songs that I have ever written.”

Sandlin hopes his music will evolve into a career so that he can one day meet the people who inspired him to perform. He also hopes he can remember his roots and retain his natural love for performing.

“All of those dreams are great,” Sandlin said. “At the end of the day though, I hope I’m still just a guy who loves making and sharing music that people relate to.”

Sandlin has learned several lessons after five years of performing.

“You don’t have to be perfect to be brave,” Sandlin said. “You don’t have to be flawless to be confident. The important thing is to own where you are in the process, understanding where you are as a musician or as a person will someday be a part of the path that hopefully leads to where you are working to get.”

Sandlin will perform at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, on the second floor of the Curris Center where Thoroughbrewed Cafe was . Admissions are free.