From Chaos to Clarity: Duckwrth’s Explosive Rebirth

Duckwrth has never shied away from pushing boundaries, but All American F*ckBoy is more than an evolution—it’s a reckoning. Fueled by past heartbreak, addiction, and the weight of toxic cycles, this album marks his rawest, most unfiltered work yet. Blending punk, rock, and hip-hop with a fearless dive into self-reflection, he peels back the layers of his own contradictions—both the villain and the victim, the lover and the fuckboy. In this conversation, Duckwrth gets brutally honest about commitment issues, masculinity, and why, at this point in his career, there’s nothing left to lose.

Red Knit Sweater: BB’s Stitches @bbs.stitches Corset: Victor Puglielli @hausofpuglielli Jeans: LU’U Dan @luudan_official Shoes: Dr. Martens @drmartensofficial

All American F*ckBoy is your third studio album—what does the title represent for you, and why was it the right moment to tell this story?

I think, for me, one of my biggest struggles has been commitment due to my early experiences—with my father’s infidelity and, later, being cheated on in college. I feel like it skewed my perspective, and I ended up repeating those things that happened to me. I never really spoke about them on wax or outside of my close circle, but I felt it was time. I feel like the current climate of dating and relationships is getting worse, mainly because of the internet. We were already dealing with issues—divorce rates are so high—and the internet has only made it worse. I just felt like it was time to go deeper with myself and my audience, to find that purpose again in what I was writing about.

Hat: TOUKITSOU @toukitsou Top: ALABAMA BLONDE @alabamablonde Jacket: SAMUEL GARTNER @samuelgaertner Pants: VALABASAS @valabasas Kilt: LOVER BOY @charlesjeffreyloverboy Shoes: Boots by PERUSER

Your music has always been genre-blending, but this album leans heavily into punk, rock, and hip-hop. How did you approach this mix of sounds, and what drew you to these genres at this point in your career?

Punk, rock—all that has always been my spinal cord. I’ve always been a fan of it. I kind of dove in a bit with Nowhereback in 2015, and an XTRA UUGLY Mixtape had a couple of rock-leaning records, but I was always too scared to put my full self in. I was just dipping my toe in the water. But now, I’m in my thirties—what the hell do I have to lose? I want to make that music. I really want to see what it feels like to fully dive in and perform it. I guess it’s my own personal curiosity—wondering what levels I haven’t hit yet and what joy I can find in doing what I truly want. And one of those things is alt-rock. The sound itself is interesting because I work in so many genres. For me, it’s more about creating the piece first and having a theme in mind, then finding the stitch afterward. I’ve never been able to do it the other way—I’m too sporadic. I put colors on a wall because that’s the only way I feel true creative freedom. I lay it all down first, then find the thread that ties it together. Once I do, that’s when I strengthen it—chisel away at the marble statue, if you will.

Button down: Vivienne Westwood @viviennewestwood Mesh top: BIKE  Leather pants: Vintage by UVEX Gloves: Stylist’s own

The album explores themes like infidelity, mental health, and toxic masculinity. How did you navigate balancing the raw vulnerability of these topics with the desire to create an engaging and dynamic listening experience?

That’s been the hardest part. As an artist, I’m always about music first, art first, world-building first. And while I’m still world-building and keeping it aesthetically strong, the message has to be just as strong—if not stronger. Sometimes, it has to scream a little louder because I’m addressing real issues—mental health, toxic masculinity, infidelity. These aren’t just trending topics; they’re real problems in society right now. Since it’s my take on these issues, and they’re already hot topics, they’re naturally going to grab attention. That means I have to be mindful—the critical ear is on me. If I lean too much into the aesthetic, the message might get lost. So even now, I’m still figuring out that balance. The biggest challenge was merging world-building with the message in a way that feels cohesive. And honestly, I’m still learning. But I think I’ve found a good balance because when you press play, there’s an emotional reaction—you feel something. My music has always felt good, but now there’s a different emotional charge. I don’t know if it’s ever been this strong before. But again, it’s a work in progress.

Red Knit Sweater: BB’s Stitches @bbs.stitches Corset: Victor Puglielli @hausofpuglielli Jeans: LU’U Dan @luudan_official Shoes: Dr. Martens @drmartensofficial

In a world where self-identity is so fluid, how do you see your own evolution as an artist reflected in the sound and message of this album?

I think I’ve always wanted to step into my Ziggy Stardust moment—Ziggy Stardust being David Bowie’s alter ego. He gave himself so much freedom, and I love that ‘70s glam rock era—the costume design, the character building. I say “character,” but the character is me. I’m just finding a way to present it to the world, but every reflection of this project is authentically me. I think it was always going to come to this point—I just wasn’t as brave before. But now, I’m like, fuck it. This is me. It may not be my usual R&B, “song for the girls” type shit, or whatever else artists feel pressured to fit into. Nah, this is unfiltered, unhinged, wild—it’s fireworks. I love where I’m at. I love my self-identity, which feels louder than ever right now.

Red Knit Sweater: BB’s Stitches @bbs.stitches Corset: Victor Puglielli @hausofpuglielli Jeans: LU’U Dan @luudan_official Shoes: Dr. Martens @drmartensofficial

Your single “Had Enough” captures a lot of the emotional tension in relationships. Can you talk about the process behind that song and the personal experiences that shaped it?

“Had Enough” is more about my relationship with myself, and the “brown-eyed demon” represents alcohol. It’s really a battle with addiction—my struggle to say, I’ve had enough—and how many times I failed in that fight. In terms of relationships, I can see how my addiction influenced my decisions, like when I cheated. I wouldn’t say it was because I was drunk—I already had toxic habits—but drinking made it easier to make bad choices. It lowered my restraint, my filter, and in that state, I excused and allowed myself to do things I wouldn’t have otherwise. Now, I’m sober and making better decisions, but back then, I couldn’t say I had enough. I was definitely addicted. So yeah, it’s absolutely a relationship between me and addiction.

Jacket: WEISHENG PARIS Embellished Top: WEISHENG PARIS Pants: KNO BETTA Underwear TOM FORD 

Your music often feels like a conversation—whether with yourself, your audience, or the world. How do you see this dialogue evolving with your new work, and what do you hope people take away from it?

I think the big takeaway is that I want to spark conversation—I just want people to talk. I want men to talk with men. It’s not necessarily about gender, but toxic masculinity plays a big role. If we can have real conversations and hold each other accountable, we can accomplish more. I don’t think we’ll evolve as men without taking responsibility for our actions. I also hope this sparks conversations between men and women, addressing both sides. My own contribution to toxic masculinity is deeply tied to past trauma—not as an excuse, but as a way to understand it. When I finally recognized that my patterns and habits were rooted in unresolved experiences, it made me reflect on how I responded to certain situations. So, more than anything, I just want real conversations to happen. Of course, I have my goals for this project, but if its biggest impact is creating space for human connection and empathy, then I’ll feel like it truly made a difference.

(left) Jacket: Custom Jacket by DUCKWRTH x Martin (right) Top: ALABAMA BLONDE @alabamablonde

You’ve also made an impact in the fashion world, from walking in TOMBOGO’s NYFW show to collaborating with major brands like Adidas and Loewe. How does your creative approach to music intersect with your fashion work, and how do you stay true to yourself in both industries?

Lately, the way I’ve been staying true to myself is by fully immersing myself in designing my own clothes. I’ve been working closely with manufacturers and other designers to create pieces from top to bottom—minus pants. I haven’t tackled pants yet, but I’ve designed leather jackets, boots (crazy enough), shirts, and, of course, hoodies. But hoodies feel more like merch. When it comes to cut-and-sew, jackets, shirts, and boots are where I’m really pushing myself. This feels like a new level of self-expression for me and staying true to myself. It’s literally self-design, but I also have an amazing team. My manufacturers are patient and understand that I’m an artist first.

Jacket: WEISHENG PARIS Embellished Top: WEISHENG PARIS Pants: KNO BETTA  Shoes: KOI @koifootwear

With over 800M streams and a loyal fan base, how do you manage the pressure of maintaining success while staying authentic to your artistic vision?

It’s hard. I get a lot of validation—sometimes in an unhealthy way—from the internet, from numbers. And I’m actively working on disconnecting from that.

Red Knit Sweater: BB’s Stitches @bbs.stitches Corset: Victor Puglielli @hausofpuglielli Jeans: LU’U Dan @luudan_official Shoes: Dr. Martens @drmartensofficial

Touring with artists like Billie Eilish and Anderson .Paak has surely shaped your live performances. What can fans expect from your upcoming international tour, and how do you plan to make the All American FckBoy* experience unique on stage?

My lips are sealed for now, but just know I’m going to translate everything you’re hearing and seeing in a crazy way. I’m going to be me, fully free. I haven’t toured in over two years, and I’m about to come out crazy. Come to the show, listen to the album, and come to the show.

(left) Jacket: WEISHENG PARIS Embellished Top: WEISHENG PARIS Pants: KNO BETTA  Shoes: KOI @koifootwear (right) Hat: TOUKITSOU @toukitsou Top: ALABAMA BLONDE @alabamablonde Jacket: SAMUEL GARTNER @samuelgaertner

DUCKWRTH @duckwrth Photography Jen   Rosenstein  @jenrosenstein Styling Oththan Burnside @otheezycreatedit Grooming Taylour Chanel @taylourchanel Stylist assistant Frida bravo @its_cheetah_frida Conversation by Alexandra Tuil @alexandratuil Location Blvd   Studio   Sunset @blvdstudiosunset Photography assistant Nick Sutjongdro @nixjaphoto MAISON PRIVEE  X  BELLO MEDIA  GROUP @maisonpriveepr_la @bellomediagroup Special Thanx Sam Rosenthal  Notorious Noise @notorious.noise 

Button down: Vivienne Westwood @viviennewestwood Mesh top: BIKE  Leather pants: Vintage by UVEX Gloves: Stylist’s own