We recently connected with Damien Duque and have shared our conversation below.

Damien , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always been a music lover since I was an infant, growing up with my family surrounded by music, seeing my father perform in bands, and always have tunes, and stories on top of my head that I’m anxious to create. I have been in and out learning the guitar throughout my childhood years and up to my early teenage years. However, when I was 16 I started to get serious when I picked up my Dad’s guitar and record myself doing a few chords, and some melodies, and then I will play it back and layer it with other melodies, it has the style of post-rock instrumental by the way, but of course, I used my Ipad built in microphone with Garageband for additional mixing or piano textures. I used these sounds to express emotions to whatever I felt at the moment, inspiration around what I’ve gone through as an individual on the autism spectrum. I’ve share demos around with friends, family and post audio videos through Facebook and would get a pretty good response. Until, a friend of mine recommend me to search up a ambient project that reminds of them whenever they heard a few demos of mine. I did and became instantly in love and knew for sure that it’s something I would see myself creating in that genre. As I research and explore more on the genre and the techniques I began to record demos, EPs and albums. Since from a teen year until now (24 years old) I’ve been creating and getting deeply into the art and diving deep into the emotions either philosophical and psychological and using art to express the experience through my autism.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Damien Duque an ambient artists from McAllen, TX, I go under the ambient moniker of City Of Dawn

I create Immersive and atmospheric ambient soundscapes.
My art also advocates for people within the Autism Spectrum.

My music is a way of dealing with occasional Anxiety attacks, Depression, and Insomnia, and through it, I share the experience as a person with Asperger’s Syndrome (High Functioning Autism)

Any City Of Dawn Album will invite you into a meditational state that is self-exploring. During the Journey teaches us, that will lead toward healing. Healing from our often cluttered mind, which is like the noise that surrounds us, disorganized and arbitrary, helps us align, and discover meaning and what I call ‘Stillness”—quietness, Silence, and Tranquility.

My Mission is to spread awareness and acceptance of autism are set the following goal; that people under the Autism Spectrum can do unique things and that Autism doesn’t define, each individual defines it and themselves because it’s not a disability, but rather a different ability.

My music is a testimony that Autism doesn’t stop me from reaching success and also brings a transcendent listening experience. He loves to bring people (Listeners) together to meditate and experience the sounds.

I have collaborated with artists around the globe including Australia, the U.K, Venezuela, Denmark, etc.

My music is in rotation on the SXM Spa channel and received global airplay from global airlines.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is connecting and collaborating with different people around the globe and experiencing the journey together in life. I received messages from listeners that my music helps them ease their anxiety, depression, and insomnia, plus for them to get through hardships in life, to slow down, breathe and accept the uncertainty of life together. It encourages me to keep on creating and doing what I love to do most.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my view, the best way to support any artists and creatives is by purchasing their art, going to their shows and workshops, and connecting. As I mention I find it very interesting how any type of art form can actually touch someone on a deeper level even if they are going through hardships in life. You never know if you will inspire someone to create their own art. I always love connecting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cityofdawnmusic.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityofdawnmusic/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/CityofDawnMusic/?ref=bookmarks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CityOfDawn
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCckPPfeEr3D0Ew701uWhdqw
• Other: BANDCAMP: https://cityofdawn.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Some images credits goes by Damien Duque, Martha Zamora and my parents some album covers are by Christie Bentley & Damien Duque Christie Bentley: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shesawred/