Music's Uncompromising Superstar
August 27, 2003 | 12:00am
In a world bursting with distressing fixations, hustling passions and vexing complexities, Duncan Sheik is in a league of his own. While he had a mishmash of options to choose from careerwise, he resolved to stick to his erstwhile yearning, music. "It was a very difficult drive, but I am glad that I am at this point," he declares. And so are we. As popular as he is, this South Carolina native says that the thought of being famous is all relative. To quote him, "it can get a bit frustrating when you know you're popular. It's like a mosquito that bothers you."
However, the road to Duncan's leading light came neither fast nor easy. Prior to smashing the Billboard charts with his definitive music that explores the balance between slow ballads and all-out rock, Duncan attended Brown University and spent a year playing in a band called Liz and Lisa with yet another popular singer and songwriter, Lisa Loeb, before heading out on his own, relying mainly on sheer talent and unyielding effort.
Duncan's first self-titled album released in 1996 was a critical success. He heightened his career with a string of phenomenal singles that included "Barely Breathing," "Wishful Thinking" and "On a High." With every album, Duncan has constantly evolved as a musician. His follow-ups include work on the soundtrack of Great Expectations and his succeeding albums, Humming, Phantom Moon and his latest release, Daylight. In the latter, Duncan explosively explores his emotional intensity and intelligence in music. Remarkably, he was able to make one song distinct from the next even though tracks may exhibit parallel beats and vibes. When asked how he feels when his songs make the charts, he comments, "I am very proud of my work. That's of absolute importance. It's such a thrill when people actually appreciate what I do." As proof of this, Duncan confesses to listening to his albums at least once every six months just for kicks.
Vision and objectivity in musical composition is of vital relevance to Duncan. His purity of intention in artistry can never be compromised, not even if it could be synonymous to selling more records. The singer admits that the reality between connecting to his audience and selling records is a seriously complicated equation. He confirms that while it may be good to sell records in bulk, the appeal of genuine creativity in music weighs more than that of mass popularity. As Duncan puts it, "The reality of this all boils down to what I believe in."
With all these creative accomplishments to his name, Duncan has indeed come in full circle.
But of course, it's not all work for this highly acclaimed hitmaker. Despite his immense professional triumphs, Duncan has remained unadorned and unfussy. When asked how he spends his free time, Duncan reveals his love of the beach. You'd probably be surprised to know that after his two-night concert series in Manila, Duncan plans to visit Boracay and to enjoy the tropical air he "barely gets to breathe." As for plans in terms of his career, he reveals that collaborating with a younger talent may be a possibility, but then again he admits he hates plotting his life. "I don't like planning. I live by the moment and just enjoy every bit of what is." Undeniably, Duncan Sheik is on his high.
However, the road to Duncan's leading light came neither fast nor easy. Prior to smashing the Billboard charts with his definitive music that explores the balance between slow ballads and all-out rock, Duncan attended Brown University and spent a year playing in a band called Liz and Lisa with yet another popular singer and songwriter, Lisa Loeb, before heading out on his own, relying mainly on sheer talent and unyielding effort.
Duncan's first self-titled album released in 1996 was a critical success. He heightened his career with a string of phenomenal singles that included "Barely Breathing," "Wishful Thinking" and "On a High." With every album, Duncan has constantly evolved as a musician. His follow-ups include work on the soundtrack of Great Expectations and his succeeding albums, Humming, Phantom Moon and his latest release, Daylight. In the latter, Duncan explosively explores his emotional intensity and intelligence in music. Remarkably, he was able to make one song distinct from the next even though tracks may exhibit parallel beats and vibes. When asked how he feels when his songs make the charts, he comments, "I am very proud of my work. That's of absolute importance. It's such a thrill when people actually appreciate what I do." As proof of this, Duncan confesses to listening to his albums at least once every six months just for kicks.
Vision and objectivity in musical composition is of vital relevance to Duncan. His purity of intention in artistry can never be compromised, not even if it could be synonymous to selling more records. The singer admits that the reality between connecting to his audience and selling records is a seriously complicated equation. He confirms that while it may be good to sell records in bulk, the appeal of genuine creativity in music weighs more than that of mass popularity. As Duncan puts it, "The reality of this all boils down to what I believe in."
With all these creative accomplishments to his name, Duncan has indeed come in full circle.
But of course, it's not all work for this highly acclaimed hitmaker. Despite his immense professional triumphs, Duncan has remained unadorned and unfussy. When asked how he spends his free time, Duncan reveals his love of the beach. You'd probably be surprised to know that after his two-night concert series in Manila, Duncan plans to visit Boracay and to enjoy the tropical air he "barely gets to breathe." As for plans in terms of his career, he reveals that collaborating with a younger talent may be a possibility, but then again he admits he hates plotting his life. "I don't like planning. I live by the moment and just enjoy every bit of what is." Undeniably, Duncan Sheik is on his high.
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