Athens is home to many artists and musicians, with some utilizing local organizations and venues to promote their work and share their passion with Bobcats and locals.
Emaline Duquette, a senior studying communications, marketing and social media, is a local musician originally from Orlando, Florida. Duquette moved to Athens in 2018 and found inspiration within the landscape, locals and lifestyle to expand her music career and begin writing her own songs.
“Living in Athens has always had such a huge impact on my music because it’s such a quirky little town,” Duquette said. “There’s a lot of different kinds of people here than there were when I lived in Orlando. I have a lot of family roots here as well, and all of those things together has really impacted the way that I see the world, and that impacts how my music was written, and the style in which I choose to write and perform.”
Duquette always had a passion for singing. After her first performance at five years old, she continued to pursue her love for music by participating in theater. Duquette remained heavily involved in theater throughout her life, until recently when she decided to take a step back to prioritize her own music.
Although this was a difficult decision, Duquette said it gave her more time to write songs and blossom as an artist. Drawing inspiration from Etta James, Sierra Ferrell and Adele, her style of music offers a unique blend of many different genres that can’t be confined to one category.
“Right now, I don’t really put myself in a genre,” Duquette said. “The way that I have been describing it to people is it’s like soulful, bluesy, folky, Americana.”
Duquette seeks to leave a lasting impression on her audience.
“I want them to feel like the music touched them,” Duquette said. “I want them to leave feeling like they almost see the music in a way they haven’t seen before.”
Various venues in Athens have hosted Duquette and witnessed her talent, where she showcases not only covers but also her original work. She has performed at The Union, Eclipse Company Store and Jackie O’s Brew Pub, where she met Ty Scott, a musician and her now boyfriend.
Scott used to co-host open mic night at Jackie O’s Brew Pub every Tuesday. They met when Duquette asked to sing a few songs and amazed the audience with her voice. Scott said her performance was so powerful it left him speechless.
“She finished like three songs, and she’s like, ‘Can I play some more?” Scott said. “‘How many should I play?’ We’re like, ‘Don’t stop, keep playing, we’re all enjoying this. So that’s how we met.”
Since then, Scott and Duquette have performed as a duo many times. Scott’s slide guitar and Duquette’s vocal riffs together fill up the room. One of their staple covers is “I Would Rather Go Blind” by James, which they both agree is the most fun to perform.
Scott said Duquette’s vocals inspired him to become a stronger guitarist, and he heavily encourages people to show up to her gigs to hear her for themselves.
“They’re gonna want the opportunity to see that level of talent in intimate settings, in smaller venues while they can,” Scott said.
A local venue where Duquette frequents is Eclipse Company Store, which is located at 11309 Jackson Drive in The Plains. Her vocals grab the attention of the restaurant’s patrons and staff. Nick Joseph, general manager of Eclipse Company Store, said he will never forget the first time she performed there.
“When she started singing, I started looking around the room to see where that voice was coming from,” Joseph said. “I couldn’t believe that sound was coming out of such a petite, timid young woman.”
Since then, Joseph has continued to welcome Duquette back to perform. He said her excitement and enthusiasm make her stand out from other musicians, and it’s refreshing to see someone do something they are so passionate about. He is confident that she has what it takes to make it big in the music industry.
“She’s like a sponge,” Joseph said. “She absorbs everything I tell her and then applies, and she’s smart enough. She can apply it to how it fits to her. Very smart young lady.”
Her career hasn’t only been confined to local venues. She performed the National Anthem for the Savannah Bananas, the Columbus Crew and the Cincinnati Bengals, which she marks as her proudest moment so far.
A career pursuing music is Duquette’s highest priority for her future. After she graduates, she plans to leave town and move to a city in hopes of continuing to perform and succeed in the music industry. Her heart is set on Cincinnati, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia, but she said will go “wherever the wind takes me.”
