“The whole song is about not being able to say you’ve had enough”
Duckwrth is a recording and visual artist from South Central, taking inspiration from his mother’s maiden name for the alias. Duckwrth has always embraced his individuality by infusing his music with a unique blend of rock, hip-hop, funk, and soul. Entering broader recognition after releasing an XTRA UUGLY Mixtape, Duckwrth continues to push musical boundaries with his millennial Jimi Hendrix-ness. The California crusader’s free-spirited approach, combined with his hands-on involvement in all aspects of his music has now solidified his role as a visionary.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, Duckwrth has transformed personal battles with addiction, recovery, and mental health into a raw, cathartic project. His latest release Had Enough, is an unflinching exploration of indulgence and escapism, symbolised by the “brown-eyed demon from the west side” — a personification of alcohol’s seductive yet destructive grip. Directed by longtime collaborator Alex ‘Grizz’ Loucas, the accompanying visuals take viewers deep into the haze of temptation, with Duckwrth’s choreography mirroring the inner struggle between desire and self-restraint.
We caught up with him on Halloween night to talk about his creative process, the message behind Had Enough, and the delicate balance between empowerment and introspection.
To kick off, how’s it going?
It’s good, um, spooky season!
Yeah, it is! I was about to ask if you had any special Halloween plans tonight? Knowing your style, I bet you could pull off a great costume.
I kind of do this thing every year where I make up my own character for the night pretty much. This year I’m kind of doing a mix of the character I played in the “Had Enough” video with the Hornstar make-up mixed with the Crow, but make it goth western.
That’s gonna look so great. Now I’ve been following you since an XTRA UGLY Mixtape and you’ve come such a long way Had Enough feels like such a vulnerable turning point in your artistic expression. What made you feel ready to share this more introspective side of yourself?
Wow, well I noticed that within my music, I spoke of the same subject matter a lot and I was hitting a creative ceiling. My audience didn’t really know who I was, they just knew me as this eclectic, happy-go-lucky, bubbly artist who doesn’t show their darker side. The darker side being the more vulnerable side, where I confess my ills and the shit that I go through. That didn’t sit well with me, so I thought to myself if I wanna get to that next level with my audience, listeners, fans, anybody, I have to expose that side.
Definitely, looking at these more personal vulnerable lyrics, you’ve described alcohol as a “brown-eyed demon.” Could you talk about the creative process of personifying addiction in this way?
It kind of just happened naturally. It started off as a mumble and after sitting with it, my producers were like it kind of sounds like “brown-eyed demon.” Which was fitting because the whole song is about not being able to say you’ve had enough. Honestly that’s how it came about, after that was locked in, it was easy to write the rest of the verses about temptations, addictions and shit.
There’s also so much happening visually, I saw the cover was painted by Ozy and it looks absolutely beautiful, how were you involved in that process?
Pretty much for every single on this album, I’m having it painted by Ozy. I sit with him and tell him what the song is about and what I’m seeing visually. For this one I saw the checkerboard floor and this dude that’s really drunk in the corner of the lobby in a boutique hotel, like he didn’t quite make it upstairs. Ozy, as an artist, paints a lot of dark figures, like that cat with the teeth in his work. Yeah, it was about mixing both of our worlds.
Super nice to see your two worlds coming together and even combining different mediums. The choreography is also something that stood out to me in the music video for Had Enough, you really seem to mirror the addiction and the struggle that comes along with it. When did you discover you could move like that?
I guess with performing, I’m already in character, moving in a kind of intentional, but free way. I was working with Sonny, who was one of my movement coaches and she is just amazing. Watching her dance is a gift in itself and I needed her help to tap into this kind of belligerent, but also flamboyant character. I wanted to find moves that were comfortable and that I would feel good doing. The result also ended up not looking particularly like choreography, but more just like free flow movement which was the goal. She put together a good 80% of the choreography and really helped me find that natural flow.
Lovely! I bet the team on set was amazing, especially since you were working with Alex Lucas, someone you’ve collaborated with on other projects before—how was it this time around?
It’s nice to have the comfort of familiarity with creatives, because it’s just like “Let’s try it this way” or “Let’s try this crazy idea on the spot.” And these are people who enjoy working with others, so I definitely trust them.
For sure, do you have any stories from the shoot? Any highlights?
That’s a good question. Honestly, it went by so quickly. The whole video was done in three parts, the living room, the kitchen and the dining room area. For each part, I only had three takes to do it cause the owner of the property was coming back, so the last shot was done in one take. That’s when I crawl back into the living room, beat my chest, my eyes turn black eyes and then l go to throw up. That was all done in one take since we were shooting on 16 mm film and it was also the end of the roll.
I can’t imagine going through all of that in one motion. How many times did you rehearse it?
We made it all up on the spot, even the choreography. We didn’t have anything prepared.
Then it was like actual improv, you’re basically a dancer.
I’d say so, I mean I’m definitely more comfortable in my movements now. I’m still bashful in certain ways because it’s always a battle between my introversion and my extra-ness. So I was very proud of myself for accomplishing that level of interpretive body expression.
That’s super cool. From your Vitaly collab to the Loewe campaign, you’ve been serving looks everywhere! As a fellow Taurus, I have to ask, how’s your personal style evolving alongside this new musical chapter? Would you say that you are moving towards something edgier, darker, maybe?
It’s always been inside of me. In previous years, I was very much into colours and as time went on, I’ve enjoyed my leathers and my hardware more and more. I’ve always been punk adjacent even tho I wouldn’t say that I’m going to shows every fucking weekend but definitely if there is a pit, I’m in the pit.
You finna be in the pit.
Yeah! So it was nice to be able to give in to that side of me, that I don’t normally show. Even music wise, I don’t really get to play with my punk self. I’ve always hinted towards it aesthetically, but I never got to sit with it fully. I think as of now since I have a Scorpio rising…
Me too! I’m also a Scorpio rising!
That’s wild haha! Well, as a Taurus and Scorpio rising as well, I’m really enjoying letting those darker sides of me shine. But still keeping the balance, you know? It’s just more about understanding the duality of humans, cause we tend to like demonise that darker side of ourselves. Still I have my limitations for the darker side, it’s spooky season right now and I’m having a great time. But then I watch films like Smile 2 and I’m like “ aaaa this is too much.” Like the dark or more evil side of things I don’t fuck with.
Absolutely you will never catch me near a Ouija board, that’s never happening haha.
Exactly, because honestly, I feel like that realm is real so I don’t play with it. I’ve seen it when I was younger, since I was raised in church. I’ve seen possessed people a good amount of times to be like “I’m good”.
Same here, and on a wider scope, your musical journey has taken you to some incredible places. What has been your most “pinch me” moment so far?
Recently, I was interviewed by Estelle, which was amazing. “American Boy” by Estelle and Kanye has always been an anthem for me, especially since I was in South Central and learned about the world through music. During the interview, Estelle asked me about the 10 songs that have inspired me the most, and one of those songs is by N.E.R.D. She then said, “It’s funny because your inspiration is right next door.” While being interviewed, Pharrell was being interviewed by Nardwuar, with just a window separating us. After the interview, Estelle brought me over. At that point I had already met Pharrell a bunch of times, but the pinch me part is why is Estelle introducing me to Pharrell? Like there’s so many layers to that, it was quite surreal.
Literally! That’s incredible.
Oh, and then I performed with Toro y Moi recently at the Greek theatre in Berkeley! We have a song together and that was also a pitch me moment because I’m such a big fan of his. Chaz is mad cool and I try to not geek out. Literally, as I was done with my verse, I ran back into the crowd and became a fan.
That’s so cool and with the upcoming album, are you manifesting anything?
I have a couple of North Stars. On a psychological level, I’m hoping that this album will be radical enough to spark conversations. I want men to talk, tell stories to each other and realise how we’ve perpetuated a very toxic system through the patriarchy. I don’t know if this album will be a saviour or anything, but as a creative, I can only hope it will bring about some change. Cause I can make people dance and feel good, but there are much deeper issues going on right now. The best thing I can do is look at myself and how my fear of commitment has led me to do dumb shit like, cheat on past partners and ghost people and make something meaningful out of it. It’s a confessional, but not to evoke pity or anything but to let other people feel vulnerable too so that we can actually have a fucking conversation and get past this toxicity.
You let your guard down, inviting the other person to do the same also, essentially.
Other than that, I would like a top 100 on Billboard, that would be nice. I feel like I’ve done this long enough that it would be nice to have those accolades under my belt hahaha. As much as, the punk and rebel side of me, is like fuck everything, I don’t need that shit. It opens doors and it’s nice to get recognition for all the work that you put in.
For sure! My last question circles back to the beginning, do you have any Halloween plans for tonight?
Lots of plans tonight, everybody’s throwing Halloween parties. I think Imma party hop, but L.A. is big so I’m gonna have to time myself. I’m also going to be the sober one so I’m gonna have to play chaperone. That’s why I love Halloween because it’s just a chance for adults to let their inner child run free in whatever shape and form it takes. I love any chance to just have some fun.
That’s so real—thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I’m actually about to head off to a Halloween party myself.
It’s been a pleasure, have a great time! I wish I was in Amsterdam right now. But it’s probably cold out there by now, huh?
A little …but it’s honestly not that bad. There’s still a warm summer breeze in the air.
Nice, enjoy. Good speaking to you.
Thank you bye!
Images courtesy of the artist
Words by Veronica Tlapanco Szabó
