SnowGlobe 2018: Duckwrth Talks The Punk Music That Inspired His Creative Rise

By Kat Bein


If a ball of kinetic energy came to life, donned oversized overalls, and braided its hair, you may call it Duckwrth. The rapper, visual artist and all-around performer has an eye catching sound and passionate attitude that defies categorization and smashes expectations. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he hit SnowGlobe Festival's Igloo stage backed by Oakland-bred musical group mates, and though he faced Lake Tahoe's 40-degree chill, he jumped, jived, and wailed across the stage up until he dripped with sweat.


In 2016, his I'M UUGLY mixtape brought his rowdy spirit under a spotlight, and this year saw Duckwrth spread his wings to fly toward greater, funkier, more soulful heights. Freshly toweled and clothed in a dry Iron Maiden long-sleeve, Duckwrth caught up with MTV News to chat inspirations, routinely daring to be different, and why he plans to chase his dreams into the new year.


MTV News: That was a fun show. I loved the energy from all of you guys; I'd like to know where you got your moves!


Duckwrth: What moves? I just be freestylin', going for it. I have no dance moves. I can two-step!


MTV News: You don't think you're dancing, however there must just be something about the act of performing that unlocks whichever this adjust ego is indoor you.


Duckwrth: Exactly, because I'm not going to do that shit in usual life... Although you put me on stage, and I'm gonna go crazy.


MTV News: How long have you been performing in your life? Is it something you've done since you were a kid?


Duckwrth: I would mention so. I was in the choir While I was younger and stuff like that. Being in front of people, using my voice. I have been doing that for a minute.


MTV News: Once did know you can keep people's attention?


Duckwrth: In college. I was doing little small shows, and I habitually visualize people's eyes get all pearly, and I was like, "OK cool. Tight. I guess I'm good at this."


MTV News: Your sound is very eclectic, and also you pride yourself on being somebody who doesn't quota themselves to one genre. Who was first giving you punk records and metal records? Your dad was a musician.


Duckwrth: Yeah, however it wasn't him. It was this shorty that I was crushing on in high school. She was listening to punk. I admired this other girl, and she was listening to rock, although she was more into emo — Green Day, My Chemical Romance — and I was like, "OK, this is cool." However then this other girl was listening to The Casualties, Minor Threat, and shit like that. She was wearing all of the t-shirts, and I was like, "Dude, she's so tight, and her t-shirts are hella tight. Let me check these songs." I listened to them, and I was like, whoa, and then I noticed Bad Brains and that was it.


MTV News: You just released the "Soprano" video, and yes it seems like you were aiming to create a statement with it.


Duckwrth: It's up to self-interpretation. I'm just showing a reflect, what the look is, what the sound is, what's popular, and just showing a reflect, visualize what people feel about it.


MTV News: I've read also that you're particularly fond of the video-making process.


Duckwrth: It's my closest chance to be a director or producer. Being able to have a thought in my brain and have it come to life, that's a trippy feeling. Have the ability to look back like, damn, that all began with just like, I was like sitting on the toilet for way also long, and this good idea came in my brain and then it became a full-fleshed idea.


MTV News: So you're pretty hands-on with the treatments?


Duckwrth: Oh yeah. I draw it out. I write it out. I get pretty deep in it. For these past videos, I cleared up my whole wall in my apartment, and I drew out all of the characters. For "Fall Back," I had a long, red ribbon, and I had me on one side being pulled by the red ribbon and I had all of the other — we call them "hype beasts," the dudes that are painted white. They're on the other side pulling me. I drew that all out and storyboarded a good quantity of it. So it's tight have the ability to really get in depth. Yet it's for me, my challenge is to create a directer visualize what's in my head. That's the hardest thing ever. The closest you could get some days is maybe 80 percent to what you really wanted. So my aim is to at least in 95 percent of what I imagine in my head.


MTV News: In 2018, you released mostly singles, nevertheless in the years before that, you released some bigger assignments. Are you working on something bigger for 2019? What's in the works?


Duckwrth: Certainly. I'm gonna drop a EP early, and then drop my first commercial LP closer to summer if not the summer.


MTV News: How long have you been working on that one?


Duckwrth: Philosophically? Since 2013. It's something that as soon as you put it on, you automatically feel good. It's called Super Good. It's very simple: You put that shit on, and also you feel good. I actually produced [and] recorded a whole 'nother album that will never come out, although this could be the baby from that project.


MTV News: As this year comes to a close, it's very organic to resemble on the things you've learned and the experiences you had. What has 2018 intended for you?


Duckwrth: I've never done so much international traveling in one short time length. That was crazy. My whole brain, it opened up so much. I added so much color to my palette. Manifestation is real. I'm a walking, living example of that. My career is an example of that. My success right now and in the future, what I'm going have the ability obtain, and have the ability to prepare and deliver, that's all going to be by way of the walking through faith and manifestation. This year was a very big answer to the question. 2018 was a whole answer, and I'm like, fuck, wow. So right now it's just continuing to walk in faith, knowing what I'd like to do, my whole purpose with music and art.


MTV News: Is there anything else you wish to mention or say, or anything that's important?


Duckwrth: Eat produce. That shit is everything. Fruits and veggies, yo. A lot of people be having hard times as soon as they're older because they ate shitty once they were younger. Eat some fruits and vegetables. It'll change your life.