Antje Duvekot

Antje Duvekot
Background information
Birth name	Antje Duvekot
Born	1976 (age 41–42) Heidelberg, Germany
Origin	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Folk pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter Guitarist
Instruments	Acoustic guitar, Vocals, Piano, Ukulele, Harmonica, Irish bouzouki
Years active	2000–present
Associated acts	Solas Ellis Paul
Website	Official website Official MySpace page

Antje Duvekot (/ˈɑːntjə ˈduːvəkɒt/ AHNT-yə DOO-və-kot;^[1] born 1976) is a singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Somerville, Massachusetts. She holds three top songwriting awards including the Kerrville New Folk Competition's Best New Folk Award, Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act, and Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.^[2]

Biography

Duvekot moved to Delaware at the age of 13.^[3] Duvekot writes songs that are often dark and personal, and she frequently records and performs with little accompaniment besides her acoustic guitar.

She began recording music on her own at the age of cassette tapes for her friends. At 18 she won the first open mic competition she entered, at the Sam Adams Brewpub in Philadelphia. Within a year, she had recorded a number of songs on a borrowed 4-Track tape machine, and released a self-produced full-length cassette entitled Waterstains" which she sold at gigs in and around Newark, Delaware, where she had attended the University of Delaware.

In 2000, her song “Soma” won the grand prize in the rock category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.^[4]

Duvekot often tours with Ellis Paul, who sings on her first studio album, Big Dream Boulevard. Big Dream Boulevard was produced by Séamus Egan of the Irish-American band Solas. Solas has previously recorded five of Duvekot's songs: "Black Annis," "The Poisonjester's Mask," "Erin," "Reasonland," and "Merry Go Round."

"I think it’s fair to say that over all I turn to music in times of trouble and need as a therapeutic tool to get me through sadness," said Duvekot in an interview. "That’s why I tend to turn to music. So my songs tend to be a little darker, because that’s where I tend to go for solace. So themes like personal struggle with relationships and existential issues. Duvekot's first two albums, Little Peppermints and Boys, Flowers, Miles, are based on recordings of live performances, although some tracks include studio overdubs as well. Both albums include spoken anecdotes from Duvekot.

In 2007, Duvekot's song "Merry-Go-Round" was featured a large-scale marketing campaign for Bank of America, including a high-profile spot during Super Bowl XLI.^[4] Duvekot performed for the first time as a professional in Europe, in August 2007, as part of Denmark's Tonder Festival, accompanied by Karan Casey, John Doyle, Liz Carroll, Julie Fowlis, and Mick McAuley.

Duvekot released her second studio CD, The Near Demise of the Highwire Dancer, on Black Wolf Records in March 2009. The album, which features 11 tracks, most of them originals, was produced by singer-songwriter Richard Shindell.^[5]

Duvekot's latest album, Toward the Thunder, is her fourth full-length studio album featuring 11 tracks. The album is her most personal to date and she handled all aspects of the record herself, including designing the cover.^[6]

Discography

Wikinews has related news: Antje Duvekot on life as a folk singer, her family and her music

References