Boston based Recording Artist, Producer and Film Composer Munk Duane has a style deeply rooted in late 60s and early 70s Soul and Pop, with unapologetic nods to legends such as Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Prince and Stevie Wonder, crafting a sonic atmosphere that is traditional in inception and modern in execution. Channeling spirits of the past and filtering them through a 21st century aesthetic, Munk manifests an evolution by daring to experiment in hybrids. The video single “Another Day Another Bullet” from his 6th album “Theory of History: Part 2” (2018), gained over 14,000 views in the first few days after its World Premiere, and earned him Video of the Year at the 2019 New England Music Awards.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hey Munk Duane, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
I was fortunate to come up in a school system that was super arts focused. I started playing Upright Bass in 5th Grade and it wasn’t long before I was competing in state competitions, performing Classical music. I started my first band in 8th Grade for a Middle School talent show. With this performance, I heard my first roaring crowd. I started writing my own music directly after in hopes of hearing that sound again.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
Besides being a recording artist and performer, I am also a film and TV composer, a husband and a father of 3. You make time for the things that matter most to you. When I find myself saying “I don’t have time” for something, it’s likely not something I wanted to make time for in the first place. “Balance” can be a moving target and I am making constant adjustments to accommodate. I think just having the willingness to be flexible gets you a lot of the way there. I also sacrifice a LOT of sleep.
Your latest song is 'Myths'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I’m a big believer in owning your own narrative and empowerment through reinvention, especially as an artist. So many of us become rigid over time. “This is the music I like”. “These are the clothes I wear”. “This is who I am”. Having preferences and knowing yourself is important. Having an expectation that the “self” you are today should be the same in 5 or 10 years is limiting to personal growth and robs you of experiences that shape your evolution. “Myths” is about that process of self reinvention. “This is who I am today but tomorrow, I may experience something that moves me in a new direction”. The song is about giving yourself permission to change and not living by others expectations.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Let the artists that inspire and entertain you know you appreciate them. Tell them. As many communication conduits as we have in this part of the century, many of us feel a sense of isolation and disconnect from the people who listen to what we put out there. Platforms like Spotify don’t give the listers a chance to connect with the artists and so many of us wonder who you are, especially if we don’t tour much. Find us. Talk to us. It empowers and inspires us to keep going.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I can’t imagine my life without music. I would likely still be an artist or a writer in some capacity. I studied drawing when I was a kid and did want to be a comic book artist.
How do you know when a work is finished?
That’s a great question! As the sole instrumentalist, producer and mixer, I suppose I know a work is complete when I can listen to it without the need to add or change a part, or tweak the mix, and I begin to enjoy it as a whole creation rather than all of the little pieces that comprise it.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
I love spending time with my family and I’m a futbol coach, along with my wife, for my daughter’s team. I also love to travel.
What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
It’s like a puzzle that you can never truly solve. Just when you think you might be getting close to cracking the code, a new level is exposed, which manages to reveal more about yourself. It is the creator’s soul, decoded by sound.
Who is your favourite musician?
Prince and Stevie Wonder are neck and neck.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be dropping another single called “Just A Word” on November 11. We just completed filming an official music video for “Myths” with director Dom Portalla. Dom directed my video for “Another Day Another Bullet”, which won the 2019 New England Music Award for Video of the Year, as well as my video for “Dangerous”. It should be released later in November. I am continuing to compose for TV and film with several projects I’m currently involved with. I plan to release a full album in 2023 titled “Fearless Moral Inventory”.