Alternative Pop from Munk Duane

Boston-born and Boston-bred, Munk Duane has grown from local prodigy into a veteran artist whose fingerprints can be found across two decades of television, film and beyond. A two-time New England Music Awards winner and Grammy-considered artist, he’s celebrated for delivering music that makes an impact both on screen and off, whether underscoring the tension of The Sopranos, amplifying the swagger of the Super Bowl Halftime Show or adding emotional quality to hits like NCIS, Pam & Tommy and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Behind the scenes, he’s the composer whose work threads through Hawaii Five-O, Blue Bloods and a host of other series, each placement confirming his status as one of Boston’s most industrious and soulful musical minds. But for all his success in the entertainment world, his true passion lies in his own records, where he pairs the warmth of 60s and 70s soul with a forward-thinking sonic output. Drawing inspiration from iconic artists like Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Prince and Stevie Wonder, he’s built a solo catalogue that feels at once nostalgic and cutting-edge.

His debut album in 2015, Argue With Gravity, announced a songwriter able to tackle life’s weighty questions and the EPs and singles that followed have continued to deliver on that promise. Exploring social justice, mental health or personal determination, Munk Duane’s lyrics often examine pressing issues with thoughtful sincerity. That spirit of inquiry and reinvention reached a new summit this year with Fearless Moral Inventory, a full-length collection that revisits some of his most acclaimed singles in reimagined form. By reframing his earlier work, he revealed fresh facets of songs that had already earned him national attention, most notably “We’ve Talked About This Before,” a track that qualified for Grammy consideration for Song of the Year at the 67th Annual Awards.

Now, Duane draws the curtain on the first chapter of his solo journey with his brand new single titled “Falsify.” Written, performed and produced entirely by Munk himself and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Brian Lucey, the track brings together retro sophistication with razor-sharp commentary in spectacular fashion. It’s built on a bedrock of 80s synth pop energy infused with his trademark brand of modern alternative pop, retro soul and R&B stylings.

But behind the punchy grooves and infectious melodic writing, there’s a darkness in the song; a visceral undercurrent meant to mirror the betrayal and frustration so many feel in today’s landscape of political and social manipulation. “This song marks what I feel is a final word on a body of work I started during the pandemic,” he says. “Over the last five years, I’ve been exploring a cohesive blend of retro soul and modern indie-pop. ‘Falsify’ ties it all together. It also draws from my favourite, Prince-inspired ’80s synth-pop textures—think classic LinnDrum and vintage synths—but reframes them in a darker modern context to express a visceral sense of betrayal and frustration in today’s climate of political and social manipulation and corruption. The sound, and the sentiment, are both a final punctuation.”

Set up by the gritty pulse of bass, crunch of guitar and strike of drums, Munk’s hushed yet defiant voice enters to thread bouncy melodic leads above as the arrangement builds with the steady thump of drums. Gliding through moments of dreamy, bubbling synths and passages of angular guitar bite, his expressive vocal performance bends between the rapid roll of rap-esque vibes and stunning soulful sweeps in the chorus, backed by the swell of shimmering synth textures, resulting in a sensational display of his pure creativity and extraordinary performance panache.

Catchy, moody and profound, “Falsify” once again sees Munk Duane serve up an engrossing alternative pop experience that brings together a range of styles in a thrilling collision to offer an unforgettable listening experience. It’s a superb dose of Munk Duane’s highly original and thoroughly engaging musical vision as he continues to impress on his decorated musical adventure with each move.

Commenting on his latest work, he shares, “I’m working on a new project called Circles of Saints, born from the lessons I’ve learned composing for film. Artists like Son Lux, Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, and Bon Iver have been huge influences as of late, and this new work reflects that shift. It just doesn’t fit the Munk Duane narrative—and I think it’s important for stories to end so new ones can begin.”

Listen to Falsify below

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