Your passion and love for music can start at any age. That’s something that hangs in curiosity for many fans. What did this person listen to when they were younger? Who influenced them?
The ‘Where It Started’ series is a platform for artists of all kinds to speak on the anthems that raised them to be who they are now.
Meet Super Duper: Breaking conventions and defying expectations, Josh Hawkins, better known by his stage name Super Duper, has emerged as one of the most exhilarating figures in the electronic music scene. His sonic creations are a fusion of wistful nostalgia and vibrant energy, setting him apart in a realm not typically associated with his hometown. With a prolific knack for composition and production, Super Duper’s musical genius has garnered acclaim from respected publications like Spin, IndieShuffle, Huffington Post, and This Song Is Sick. His evocative melodies have also found a home in commercial campaigns for esteemed brands such as Google, Lexus, Playstation, and ESPN. From the formative years of his musical upbringing to the present day, we uncover the melodic tapestry that forms the foundation of this extraordinary talent. With a new album “The Way Back” out now, what better time to catch up with Super Duper and hear where it started.
This playlist is in order from the oldest influence to the most recent. Starting things off is ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ by Tears For Fears. It’s one of the earliest memories I have of listening to music. My parents wore that cassette out haha. Now as an adult, I appreciate this song even more! It’s so timeless in my opinion. Next is ‘Are You That Somebody’ by Aaliyah. This was the first CD I ever bought. It was on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack and I bought the CD just for that song. Loved Timbaland and his production ever since. I’m pretty sure every producer that grew up in the 90s / 2000s tried making their own copycat Timbo beat at some point…it’s like a right of passage. He influenced a whole generation for sure (including me!). After that, I got into high school and just happened to keep making friends with kids who were into electronic music. I owe so many favorite songs to friends letting me borrow CDs of The Postal Service and Air. Around college time, I got into more emotional, indie rock stuff…Coldplay, Pete Yorn, and especially Paper Route. I really fell in love with anything epic at this time in my life. Just wanted to feel all the feels I guess. And to finish things off, we got the 2 songs that reeeally inspired the Super Duper project. ‘Moonchild’ by M83 and ‘Higher Ground’ by TNGHT. Once I heard instrumental music like this I knew I wanted to find a way to combine these emotions into one bombastic jam. Epic and anthemic chords combined with over-the-top trap / hip hop drums and sounds.
Super Duper
