CQAF: Getting to Know...Duke Special,
Oh Yeah, Belfast
Thursday 8th of May
The stage is set at the Oh Yeah Centre for an intimate gig with a difference - 'Getting to Know Duke Special' is part of the Cathedral Quarter Art's Festival and there is an eclectic mix of aspiring songwriters and Duke Special fans of all ages in the audience eager to find out more about the man behind the music.
As Duke Special and 'Master of Ceremonies' Stuart Bailie approach the stage with a pint in hand, you could be forgiven for thinking they're walking into an ultra-compressed version of Duke's living room; two cosy leather sofa-chairs, a decorative floor lamp, a piano and a small coffee table with a gramophone. Stuart Bailie kicks off proceedings by asking Duke about the gramophone. This has become a signature piece of kit for the Belfast-born singer-songwriter and self-styled gramophone DJ who explains that he was inspired by the offbeat performance methods of the late comedian Andy Kaufman and likes to explore novel ways of presenting music to an audience. With that said, Duke negotiates his way precariously over the back of the sofa – sparking laughter from the audience – to retrieve two cymbals he bought earlier that day and makes his way to the piano to launch into his first song ‘I Let You Down’, taken from his first EP ‘Lucky Me’.
Duke describes working with producer Paul Pilot on ‘Lucky Me’ as a transitional moment for him as an artist, likening Paul’s role to that of a film director overseeing the execution of their shared creative vision. Duke reveals that it was during this time that he made the liberating discovery that it was easier to ‘just be me’ rather than trying to evoke other artists, not least because nobody seemed to be making the sort of music he wanted to make.
On the subject of songwriting, Duke says he feels that some of his best work has arisen whilst trying to capture the way he felt at a particular moment in his life. The audience chuckle as he recalls getting the idea for his latest song ‘God in a Dive’ whilst driving down the Old Hollywood Road in Belfast late at night, thinking about his experiences growing up and living in the city. The inspiration for one of his best-known songs – Freewheel – came whilst walking down the Beersbridge Road at 6am after a night out for his friend (and former Benzine Headset bandmate) Dave McCullough’s stag do. When it came to questions from the audience, a lot of people were curious about the ‘Duke Special’ persona and whether it informed his songwriting; Duke (aka Peter Wilson) said that whilst he always wrote songs as ‘himself’ (Peter) he felt that adopting an on-stage persona gave him extra confidence and a feeling of security when performing. Duke wrapped up the gig with an acoustic performance of his latest song ‘God in a Dive’ which was warmly received.
Nick McCarthy
Oh Yeah, Belfast
Thursday 8th of May
The stage is set at the Oh Yeah Centre for an intimate gig with a difference - 'Getting to Know Duke Special' is part of the Cathedral Quarter Art's Festival and there is an eclectic mix of aspiring songwriters and Duke Special fans of all ages in the audience eager to find out more about the man behind the music.
As Duke Special and 'Master of Ceremonies' Stuart Bailie approach the stage with a pint in hand, you could be forgiven for thinking they're walking into an ultra-compressed version of Duke's living room; two cosy leather sofa-chairs, a decorative floor lamp, a piano and a small coffee table with a gramophone. Stuart Bailie kicks off proceedings by asking Duke about the gramophone. This has become a signature piece of kit for the Belfast-born singer-songwriter and self-styled gramophone DJ who explains that he was inspired by the offbeat performance methods of the late comedian Andy Kaufman and likes to explore novel ways of presenting music to an audience. With that said, Duke negotiates his way precariously over the back of the sofa – sparking laughter from the audience – to retrieve two cymbals he bought earlier that day and makes his way to the piano to launch into his first song ‘I Let You Down’, taken from his first EP ‘Lucky Me’.
Duke describes working with producer Paul Pilot on ‘Lucky Me’ as a transitional moment for him as an artist, likening Paul’s role to that of a film director overseeing the execution of their shared creative vision. Duke reveals that it was during this time that he made the liberating discovery that it was easier to ‘just be me’ rather than trying to evoke other artists, not least because nobody seemed to be making the sort of music he wanted to make.
On the subject of songwriting, Duke says he feels that some of his best work has arisen whilst trying to capture the way he felt at a particular moment in his life. The audience chuckle as he recalls getting the idea for his latest song ‘God in a Dive’ whilst driving down the Old Hollywood Road in Belfast late at night, thinking about his experiences growing up and living in the city. The inspiration for one of his best-known songs – Freewheel – came whilst walking down the Beersbridge Road at 6am after a night out for his friend (and former Benzine Headset bandmate) Dave McCullough’s stag do. When it came to questions from the audience, a lot of people were curious about the ‘Duke Special’ persona and whether it informed his songwriting; Duke (aka Peter Wilson) said that whilst he always wrote songs as ‘himself’ (Peter) he felt that adopting an on-stage persona gave him extra confidence and a feeling of security when performing. Duke wrapped up the gig with an acoustic performance of his latest song ‘God in a Dive’ which was warmly received.
Nick McCarthy
