Sam Duckworth
Duckworth in 2010
Duckworth in 2010
Background information
Birth nameSam Duckworth[1]
Also known asGet Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
Born (1986-01-30) January 30, 1986 (age 38)[2]
OriginSouthend, Essex, England
GenresIndie rock, electroacoustic
Occupation(s)Singer/songwriter
guitarist
Instrument(s)vocals, acoustic guitar
Years active2004–present
LabelsAlcopop!
Atlantic
Cooking Vinyl[3]
Big Scary Monsters
Xtra Mile Recordings

Sam Duckworth (born 30 January 1986) is an English musician who performs as Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. He is also sometimes referred to as Get Cape, Cape, GCWCF and Slam Dunkworth (the latter title apparently first coined by Emmy the Great).[4] According to Duckworth, his original stage name came from Retro Gamer magazine, from an article about superhero games such as Batman containing the heading "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly",[5] although a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon by Bill Watterson has also been cited. In addition to the Get Cape name, and his given name, Duckworth has released music under the moniker Recreations.

Music career

Duckworth grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.[6] Get Cape was signed to Atlantic Records in March 2006, after playing many gigs, both with punk rock band Silverskin and as Get Cape. As Get Cape, Duckworth has collaborated with Billy Bragg, Nitin Sawhney, Shlomo, Killa Kela, Baba Maal, Flea, Kate Nash and many others with his participation in many events for Africa Express.[7]

Duckworth co-organised The Demolition Ball – the last night at the London Astoria venue before it was knocked down in January 2009.[8] He had previously headlined at the Astoria for his 21st birthday party.[9]

After 10 years, Duckworth decided to end Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and to continue making under his own name. The "last ever" show under the Get Cape moniker was held at The Forum, Kentish Town on 12 September 2014.[10]

In May 2017, Duckworth announced that he was resurrecting the Get Cape name, with the release of the single Optimist, and subsequently announced a new full-length album, Young Adult, due for release in January 2018.[11]

The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager

Get Cape's debut album, The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager, is best described as an indie/folk/electronic fusion. The album made the top 100 albums of 2006 lists of Q and NME. It reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart and spawned three top 40 singles.

In October 2006, he performed as part of the BBC Electric Proms.[12] He played at a number of major festivals in 2007, including Oxegen, Glastonbury,[13] Reading and Leeds Festivals and SXSW, and appeared in the BBC Radio 1 live lounge.

In January 2007, Duckworth was nominated for best solo artist at the annual NME Awards, up against Lily Allen, Jamie T, Jarvis Cocker and Thom Yorke, although he did not win.

The Album is gold certified in the UK.[14]

Searching for the Hows and Whys

Get Cape's second album, Searching for the Hows and Whys was released on 3 March 2008.[15][16] It features guest vocals from Kate Nash on the track, "Better Things".[17] The album also features Billy Bragg on "Interlude".[18] "Waiting for the Monster to Drown" was released as a free download via Get Cape's official website and MySpace on 7 December 2007. The first single released from the album was "Find The Time" which was released on 3 March 2008, and reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. The album was co produced with Nitin Sawhney[19]

In support of this album, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly performed on The Pyramid Stage at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival[20]

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. [Self-titled]

The third and self-titled album was released on Cooking Vinyl on 13 September 2010, with the first single from the album "Collapsing Cities Feat. Shy FX" released on 9 August 2010.[21] The album cover artwork was created by artist Jon Kipps and photographer Joe Lang.

The Mannequin

Sam Duckworth performing in 2011

The Mannequin is the first album released under the name Sam Duckworth rather than 'Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.'[22]

Maps

The fourth Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly album was released on 7 May 2012.[23]

London Royal

The fifth Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly album was released on 15 September 2014 on Alcopop! Records. This accompanied a farewell UK tour between 28 August and 12 September.

Young Adult

The sixth Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly album was due to be released in January 2018 through Xtra Mile Recordings. Singles from the release include "Adults/Always", "Just A Phase", "DNA" and "VHS Forever".

In March and April 2019, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly opened for Pink Floyd's Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets on their 27 Date North American Tour.[24][25]

Production

Duckworth co wrote the song "Apples" on the 4th album from Lily Allen titled No Shame (Lily Allen album) The song was performed at the 2018 Mercury Prize ceremony.[26]

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly produced the fourth album from Benjamin Francis Leftwich titled "To Carry A Whale" released June 18, 2021.[27]

Sam Duckworth produced the single "Chasing Daylight" from the sophomore EP from Noahfinnce released on May 11, 2022 on Hopeless Records.[28]

In 2023 Sam Duckworth co wrote and produced/mixed an ep with Afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi for a new project entitled Dele Sosimi and the Estuary 21. The ensemble recorded a session at Maida Vale Studios for the Jazz show with Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2 in May 2023 to celebrate its release on Wah Wah 45s.[29] The first single - Mo Se Bo La Tan (Feat: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly) / Ride Out The Storm was playlisted by BBC 6 Music (B List) and Jazz FM (UK) (A List).[30]

In 2021, Duckworth worked with Southend singer-songwriter Frances Murray[31] and her BLAB recording project. BLAB is signed to Asylums' Cool Thing Records[32] and has put out a number of tracks produced by Duckworth including "Eton Mess",[33] "Gemini" and "Insurance".

Television

On 24 March 2008, he performed on Hollyoaks as part of a gig staged in the village.[34] He also had an episode of American TV show One Tree Hill named after him. Every episode of the show has a title with a musical theme, either a song title or band name. Episode 3 of season 6 of One Tree Hill is titled "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly."

Personal life

Duckworth grew up in Southend-on-Sea and attended Southend High School for Boys between 1997 and 2004, studying up to A-level.[35] He is well known for his debating and love for a variety of different musical styles. He has had run-ins with the British National Party after a racist attack in a nightclub which led to the song "Glasshouses", and he has since become an avid supporter of Love Music Hate Racism.[36] He is a Fairtrade supporter.[37]

Duckworth also took part in Oxfam's Blue campaign at Glastonbury which was shot by photographer Rankin.[38]

In 2019 Duckworth co-produced a gala at Kings Place in London with Lily Allen called "Last Registration" in the run up to the General Election. These were released as a podcast series called "Arty Political Broadcast" and featured: Reni Eddo Lodge, Jordan Stephens, Guilaine Kinouani, George Lamb, Gizzi Erskine, Tansy Hoskins and a host of prominent activists and speakers.[39][40]

Discography

Albums

Year Alias Title Label Chart
2006 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager Atlantic #26 (UK Albums)
2008 Searching for the Hows and Whys #30 (UK Albums)
2010 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Cooking Vinyl #89 (UK Albums)
2011 Sam Duckworth The Mannequin —
2012 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Maps #103 (UK Albums)
2014 London Royal Alcopop! —
2015 Sam Duckworth Amazing Grace —
2016 Recreations Baby Boomers 2 Xtra Mile Recordings —
2017 Sam Duckworth Kingdoms —
2018 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Young Adult Xtra Mile Recordings #142 (UK Albums)

EPs

Year Alias Title Label Chart
2004 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Split with The Remarkable Rocket BSM —
2005 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly —
2006 Split with Dave House BSM / Gravity DIP —
2009 Covers Pure Groove —
2011 Sam Duckworth Angels in the Snow Cooking Vinyl —
2014 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly / Sam Duckworth Starrcade Alcopop! —
2015 Recreations / Sam Duckworth Lifestyle Concept Store self released —
2016 Recreations Digital Ghettos Xtra Mile Recordings —
Live at Lux —
Live on Southend Pier Post/Pop Records —
Beaches Ain't Shit Xtra Mile Recordings —
2020 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Hold Tight Self-released —

Singles

Year Alias Title Label Chart Album
2006 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly I Spy / Call Me Ishmael Atlantic — The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager
The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager (Part One) #38 (UK Singles)
War of the Worlds #39 (UK Singles)
2007 I Spy #37 (UK Singles)
Waiting for the Monster to Drown — Searching for the Hows and Whys
2008 Find the Time #33 (UK Singles)
Keep Singing Out —
2010 Collapsing Cities Cooking Vinyl — Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
2017 Optimist Xtra Mile Recordings — Non-album single

Other contributors

Other members of the Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly live band have included:

References

  1. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly makes a triumphant return at Village Underground, London – review". The Independent. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-duckworth-mn0002185810
  3. ^ Latest Release. "Get Cape Wear Cape Fly". Cooking Vinyl. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. ^ "BBC – T in the Park 2008 – Get Cape Wear Cape Fly". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. – Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Sam Duckworth interview: 'I love making music and without sounding corny it feels like this is what I'm meant to do' – The Independent 12 October 2016". Independent.co.uk. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Africa Express Presents…". Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly organises London Astoria Demolition Ball". NME. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  9. ^ "The last chord at the Astoria | Features | Culture". The Independent. 9 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – Store". Musicglue.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  11. ^ Prieto, Benito Navarrete (1 January 2017). "Murillo and his legacy in Seville, Benito Navarrete Prieto (dir.), Sevilla, ICAS-Ayuntamiento de Sevilla, 2017". Murillo y Su Estela en Sevilla. Essays. English Translation. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. ^ "BBC – Electric Proms – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Glastonbury 2007". Bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  14. ^ "British certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. ^ Neeson, Paul (6 March 2008). "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – Searching for the Hows and Whys". The Skinny. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  16. ^ "101CD.com – Searching For The Hows And Whys". 101CD.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2008.
  17. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – 'Searching For The Hows And Whys' (Atlantic) Released 03/03/07". Gigwise.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Get Cape,Wear Cape. Fly". Music-news.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  19. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - Find The Time / Atlantic from Piccadilly Records". Piccadillyrecords.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Glastonbury Festival - 2008". Glastonbury Festival - 21st-25th June, 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly announce new album release date, cover art and tracklisting". NME. 16 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Music – Review of Sam Duckworth – The Mannequin". BBC. 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Maps: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets w/Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly". Shepherdexpress.com. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  25. ^ "The Met PhiladelphiaNick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets". Themetphilly.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  26. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Mercury Prize, Lily Allen - Apples (Hyundai Mercury Prize 2018)". BBC. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Benjamin Francis Leftwich - To Carry A Whale". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  28. ^ Forrest, Jo (11 May 2022). "Noahfinnce releases new single 'Chasing Daylight'". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  29. ^ "BBC Radio 2 - The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum, Dele Sosimi and the Estuary 21 at Maida Vale". BBC. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  30. ^ "DELE SOSIMI & THE ESTUARY 21 / RIDE OUT THE STORM B/W MO SE B'ÓLÁ TÁN". Wah Wah 45s. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Track of the Day: BLAB – 'Eton Mess'". Getinherears.com. 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  32. ^ "BLAB | music profile with latest songs, videos and biography". hashbrandnews.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  33. ^ "Blab – Eton Mess". Travellerstunes.com. 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Get Cape Wear Cape Fly – Visits Hollyoaks". 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ "Sam Duckworth interview: 'I love making music and without sounding corny it feels like this is what I'm meant to do'". The Independent. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  36. ^ "Love Music Hate Racism Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly swoops in to Carnival 2010!". Lovemusichateracism.com. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  37. ^ "Generation Why from Oxfam Blog: Oxfam campaign with Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly". Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2008.
  38. ^ "Glastonbury Stars Go Blue For OXFAM". MTV. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  39. ^ "Last Registration • Words • Kings Place". Kings Place. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  40. ^ "Arty Political Broadcast on acast". Play.acast.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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