Antje Duvekot
Encyclopedia
Antje Duvekot is a singer-songwriter
and guitarist
based in Somerville, Massachusetts
. 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
.
at the age of 13. 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 school.
In 2000, her song “Soma” won the grand prize in the rock category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
.
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
. 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
.
(with Anne Heaton
, Meg Hutchinson
, and Natalia Zukerman
)
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
based in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
. holds three top songwriting awards, including the Kerrville New Folk Competition
Kerrville Folk Festival
The Kerrville Folk Festival is a music festival held for 18 consecutive days in the late spring/early summer at Quiet Valley Ranch near Kerrville, Texas. The event has run on a yearly basis since 1972. In November 2008, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Kerrville Wine & Music Festival were acquired...
's Best New Folk Award, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act and Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
.
Biography
Duvekot moved to DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
at the age of 13. 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
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
tape machine, and released a self-produced full-length cassette entitled Waterstains" which she sold at gigs in and around Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, where school.
In 2000, her song “Soma” won the grand prize in the rock category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
.
Duvekot often tours with Ellis Paul
Ellis Paul
Ellis Paul is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Aroostook County, Maine, Paul is a key figure in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, a literate, provocative and urbanely romantic folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s...
, who sings on her first studio album, Big Dream Boulevard. Big Dream Boulevard was produced by Séamus Egan
Séamus Egan
Séamus Egan is an Irish musician.-Early days:Séamus Egan was born in Hatboro, Pennsylvania to Irish émigrés Jack and Ann Egan. At the age of three his parents moved the family back home to County Mayo, Ireland....
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
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, including a high-profile spot during Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
. 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
Richard Shindell
Richard Shindell is an American folk songwriter. Shindell grew up in Port Washington, New York. He currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with his wife, a university professor, and their children....
.
Solo Albums
- Little Peppermints (2002)
- Boys, Flowers, Miles (2005)
- Big Dream Boulevard (Black Wolf Records, 2006)
- Snapshots (Black Wolf Records, 2008)
- The Near Demise of the Highwire Dancer (2009)
- Antje Duvekot LIVE from all over the place (2011)
Collaborative Albums
- Winterbloom: Winter Traditions (2009)
(with Anne Heaton
Anne Heaton
Anne Heaton is an American pop-influenced folk singer/songwriter and pianist from New York City. She majored in liberal studies at the Notre Dame, and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette. She regularly toured with "Live from New York" on the eastern coast of the United States...
, Meg Hutchinson
Meg Hutchinson
Meg Hutchinson is an American folk singer songwriter known for distinct alto vocals, poetic lyrics, and sophisticated songwriting. Originally from rural western-most Massachusetts, Hutchinson is now based in the Boston area. Influences include poet Mary Oliver, songwriter Shawn Colvin, and mood...
, and Natalia Zukerman
Natalia Zukerman
Natalia Zukerman is an American artist and musician raised in Manhattan, New York. She is the daughter of violist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and flutist/writer Eugenia Zukerman, and the sister of opera singer Arianna Zukerman...
)
- 'SOLAS: Reunion - A Decade of SOLAS' (2006)