The Dutchess and the Duke
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
The Dutchess and the Duke was a folk music duo originating from Seattle, Washington, consisting of singer-songwriters Kimberly Morrison and Jesse Lortz. Their sound was often likened to the raw garage rock style of the early 1960s.
Childhood companions Morrison and Lortz began working together in 2002 as part of the deconstructionist R&B ensemble The Flying Dutchman. Following that band's dissolution, Lortz established Boom Boom Party Records and performed with the punk trio The Fe Fi Fo Fums, while Morrison contributed to groups such as The Intelligence and the Unnatural Helpers. The pair reunited for a one-time project paying tribute to girl groups called The Sultanas, before releasing the single "Reservoir Park" through Boom Boom in 2007. Their band name, "The Dutchess and the Duke," was a nod to their days with The Flying Dutchman, with Morrison adopting the moniker Dutchess.
Their first album, She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke (2008), was captured using an 8-track recorder, featuring intimate vocal arrangements. The opening track, "Reservoir Park," gained exposure by appearing on HBO’s Entourage. Their sophomore effort, Sunset/Sunrise (2009), included personal lyrics penned by Lortz that explored themes of relationships and parenting.
The duo parted ways in October 2010. Subsequently, Lortz pursued his solo project Case Studies, releasing The World is Just a Shape to Fill the Night (2011) and This Is Another Life (2013).
In 2014, The Dutchess and the Duke briefly reassembled for live shows, notably performing at Jack White's Third Man Records, with a recording of this event issued on vinyl in 2015.
Discography
- She's The Dutchess, He's The Duke (2008)
- Sunset/Sunrise (2009)
- Live At Third Man Records (2015)