Band: Duke & Goldie
EP: Duke & Goldie
Release Date: May 12, 2023
Genre: Folk
Vancouver, BC-based folk duo, Duke & Goldie, made up of Eric “The Duke” Duquette and Jena “Goldie” Gogo has unveiled their self-titled EP.
The six-song release features previous singles, “Rocky Mountain Feeling” and “Courage,” as well as the focus track, “See You There.”
“Rocky Mountain Feeling” was the second single to be released from the EP, featuring an upbeat twangy beat. A successful folk duo relies on harmonies and interplay between different instruments, so it’s important for the duo to be in sync and complement each other’s playing styles, and this is definitely evident on this track. The storytelling is also a strong point for Duke & Goldie, with lyrics painting vivid imagery of a mountainous landscape and the experience of being immersed in nature.
“See You There” showcases a much slower beat, and we’re treated to Goldie’s distinctive, emotion-filled vocals. Throughout the song, Goldie’s vocals take center stage along with the heartfelt lyrics, which offer a poetic and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.
The track was written in contribution to a fundraiser for a women’s shelter, for which Goldie ruminated about a spectrum of tough experiences—inequities, systemic failures, abuse—in search of the beauty in human connection.
Goldie shares,
“We wanted to tell anyone experiencing adversity that they are not only seen and worthy of love where they are, but that they deserve so much more.”
In summary, Duke & Goldie’s self-titled EP is a masterpiece that skillfully balances folk and country elements while showcasing the duo’s exceptional vocal abilities. Across the six tracks, they take listeners on an emotional journey, skillfully weaving together narratives that evoke a range of moods and feelings.