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(see all)Soaring Through Sound : Discovering Duckwrth
Growing up in a Christian household in Los Angeles, accomplished singer-rapper-producer-songwriter Jared Leonard Lee was surrounded by music his entire childhood and eventually began releasing songs under the pseudonym “Duckwrth“.
After graduating high school, Lee found his way to the Academy of Arts in the Bay Area, where he studied graphic design. He developed a cult fan base after appearing in a few cyphers on the popular YouTube channel “World Emcee.” In 2015, Lee released a joint project with The Kickdrums, Nowhere, expanding his audience significantly.
Nowhere
He released the debut solo album I’m Uugly in 2016 – a project showcasing his talent and growth as an artist. Shortly after, he released an LP with Republic Records titled An XTRA UUGLY Mixtape, featuring blended sounds of rock, hip hop, funk, and soul.
Gaining further popularity, Lee’s songs began to be featured on various series and movies, such as Insecure, All American, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. To give Duckwrth projects a distinctive spin, Lee utilizes his experience in visual art to blend artistic mediums and storytelling with the music. He is the mastermind behind his own videos, and makes use of artwork displayed in Bay Area galleries to accompany them.
Passionate about blurring gender lines, Lee brings a unique identity to his music that deters gender biases. This approach to life made Lee feel “different” growing up, which is something he has always embraced rather than tried to repress. He wants men and women alike to feel encouraged to be emotionally expressive, and believes there is power in vulnerability and sensitivity. Such an effervescent and free spirit translates to his music, constantly pushing it into unknown territory. “It’s always been harder being a black male in this industry and allowing yourself to express that sensitivity, but it’s cool to see it change,” Lee tells NOTION. He finds shelter in such exposure and allows it to drive his creative art.
Lee’s poetic lyrics and beats are satisfyingly unique. It’s hard to pick a favorite piece of work from Duckwrth, but I am a big fan of the album THE FALLING MAN (2019), a project initially inspired by a cutout of Lee falling through L.A. and New York. It tells the story of an artist-turned-king, and deals with issues of love, commitment, and a fear of “falling through life.” With emotional highs and lows, this release is distinctly human, despite its more imaginative concepts.
With an effortless ability to fluctuate between genres of jazz, hip hop, funk, electronic, and soul, Duckwrth has soared like an eagle. Listen to Lee’s imagination at Denver’s urban alternative station, 104.7 FM THE DROP.