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THE NEW BEGININGS

It all started in 2002 after vocalist, Jo (who then played bass) left his former band, Novokane, to find his own musical path after years of following the influences of his previous bands, including Amigone and Johns Mistress. Although he has tremendous respect for them, it came to a point when music became the mundane series instructions rather than an outlet for self-expression. The time has come for him to either quit music or move out on his own terms.

            Not long after that Novokane dissolved and guitarist Eugene started jamming with Amit who was then the drummer. They have been jamming for a couple of months, when they met up casually with Jo. As they share similar musical vision, they decided to put their material into one project band with Jo as the vocalist. Now the arduous feat of finding a bass player begins.

            Months went by without any suitable candidate. A few auditions were made but the problem with bassists is that the good ones tend to prefer playing the club circuit where they can show off their skills playing covers rather than working on original material with a new band. Besides, money is faster with the latter option. Finally, Jo was introduced to Noi through an ex-band mate and both of them clicked immediately. Noi was a great addition to the band not only for his bass-playing skills but also for his commitment and effort in pushing the band forward. The band members would later start looking to him as the informal band manager.

            However, the bands development hit a snag when Amit suddenly had to leave the country to help out his family overseas. The band was in turmoil. Numerous drummers were auditioned but not one was able to gel with the bands direction. Some even suggested to change the bands musical concept. For Duke, concept is not to be compromised. The band grew less and less motivated and almost broke up until one day, Arul happened to call Jo to tell him that he was quitting the club circuit and wants to form a new band.

The phone call was like a gift from the heavens. Jo had always loved Aruls drumming ever since they were band mates from their former band Amigone. They had always been dreaming about forming a band together back in those days. Although Arul would have preferred Jo to play bass, he decided to give his old friend a chance on vocals and see how things would go from there. Before the end of the first audition, the band decided that Arul was the one. His extensive stage and recording experience would play a crucial role in improving the band in many areas. The band looks to him as a mentor and he offers much needed advice from time to time.

After a few months of jamming, Jo made a decision that a new guitarist was needed. At that point of time, he played second guitar but was finding it too hectic to be writing both vocal and guitar lines at the same time. Besides, another guitarist would give the music a breath of fresh air. However, there was no urgency. The band decided to let time help find them the most suitable lead guitarist.

Rueben was a member of Naked Breed, a prominent band in the KL music scene with a hit single called Tribute. However, in 2002 he decided to leave his band to pursue further education in the United States. It was a big sacrifice on his part not only because he loved his band but also because he was very close to its members. While he was away, he and Jo used send jokes to one another through the Internet. When he came back in 2004, Jo approached him saying that hes looking for a guitarist and wouldnt take no for an answer! They started jamming together and much to the bands relief, Rueben decided to join them for good. He is an asset to the band for his unique guitar playing and his song-writing abilities. Furthermore, the band also found him to be an able back-up singer, which is a dream come true for Jo.

Finally, in the fall of 2004, the permanent line-up for Duke was complete.

DUKES IDEALS

            As mentioned earlier, when it comes to concept, there is no compromise when it comes to the bands musical concept. However, it is rather oxymoronic to say this because the music created seem range from many genres of rock and tend to vary in intensity. But in essence that is what forms the very basis of the bands concept: A free flow of emotions and ideas that culminate into sounds that range from the depths of esoterism to lightheaded radio-friendliness. Duke maintains that their music must not be bound to what is cool and trendy but must be able to relate to the broad spectrum of human emotions. However, to the average listener the songs may range from moderate to relatively heavy.

            Duke believes Emo should not be described as a specific genre of music because music does not to exist where it fails arouse emotion.

            As the band progressed, they discovered that the emotions embodied in their songs are able to transcend different languages. That is the reason why in their more recent works a lot of lyrics are written in Malay to consolidate this theory. The band finds that more ideas and avenues are open to them after experimenting with new languages.

            To the band, genre is not a concept. It is more of a barrier and serves merely as a hindrance to creativity and individuality. However, a concept that has served the band well for all this time is brutal honesty. When the band was still in its infancy, they made a pact to be completely open about what they thought of each others ideas and techniques. Criticisms given by the members were taken constructively rather than personally. No one was spared. As a result each band member started to bloom and mature into his own identity.

One can only say so much about a bands creative direction. The music is formed based on the ideas that the band members contribute and that is what makes any band unique. Honesty and openness not only make the band tighter but also broadens the band members horizons. At the end of the day one can only truly understand the band by lending an open ear and listening.