Duckwrth’s 'SuperGood' is like audio-medicine

The 1824 division of Universal Music Group hosted media outlets from across the country over Zoom to promote Hip-Hop artist, Duckwrth’s now-released album SuperGood.

The album, which was finished in January, follows the story of a young couple and their love through a blend of soul, jazz, gospel and punk music.

During the virtual press conference, Duckwrth, formally known as Jared Lee, said releasing an album during a pandemic could be crazy, but felt relieved that it’s finally out for listeners to enjoy.

“For like an album called SuperGood, it’s already its own affirmation. Like when you press play it’s supposed to make you feel super good. And I feel like it came right on time,” he said.

Duckwrth accomplished making “audio medicine” with his recent album because all it does is make you want to groove and dance and, as the title suggests, feel super good. The constant references to the ‘70s with the funky bass lines, retro guitar and the visualizers with muted and bright colors take you right to the dance floor. When he said, “My world is on wheels, I can take you away. Cause all the girls wanna skate,” he was right! He has taken us away, and the girls do, in fact, wanna skate.

Along with taking on the sound of the '70s, Duckwrth felt that since the ‘70s were a time of celebration for Black people as they had begun to gain freedoms, he needed his album to reflect that celebration and that vision.

“When Black people start going back into who they are and their essence, a bit of magic happens,” he said. “So, I kind of want to tap into that because I feel like we’re coming to that same energy. That magic, if you will.”

All of his albums reflect one another and show Duckwrth's growth as an artist. For SuperGood specifically, he said he has localized his sound and what he wants to create, and the new album is meant to be “like the yin and yang to THE FALLING MAN.”

For the future of SuperGood, Duckwrth wants to expand the project, design more visuals and create community efforts based off of the album-- starting in his hometown of South Central Los Angeles then spreading to other communities.

“It’s like a village, and we’ll be able to uplift [South Central Los Angeles]. I’m not saying I want to save the whole world, I would like to, but it’s like first I gotta start with my community.”