FRIDAY REDUX: Matt Duke

Last year a serious hand injury made Matt Duke put down his guitar, forcing the 25-year-old to wonder if he might ever play again. That period of reflection and fear followed by the possibilities of new beginnings fuel the lyricism and adventurous spirit engrained in his fine new album One Day Die. ”As strange as it sounds, that was a blessing in disguise,” explains Duke, “because it was something of an enforced break that made me reconsider everything. When I started again, I found myself taking a completely fresh approach – one where I was willing to just experiment with no reservations." Released this past spring via Ryko, the eleven song collection is the followup to Duke's groundbreaking 2008 Kingdom Underground.

Working with producer Jason Finkel, Duke deftly balances pensive atmospherics ("Low") and stark folk balladry ("Abandoned") with rousing, wide-screen drama ("M.L.T."), propulsive pop anthems ("Kangaroo Court") and roll-down-the-windows sing-a-long glory ("Needle and Thread"). We're also immediately won over by "Love You Anymore", a lovely, piano-driven duet with Cara Salimando that explores the fatal breakdown of communication in a relationship. Dark and deeply affecting, the song exemplifies the skillful pairing of incisive lyricism and memorable melody that has made Matt Duke one of our most promising young performing songwriters.

Matt Duke - "Needle and Thread" (from One Day Die)

Matt Duke - "Love You Anymore" (from the album One Day Die)

Check out Matt Duke (and TFDI, too) at the Hotel Carolina music fest September 22-24

Photo Credit: Anna White