Ducky – Juleser & Liv Bell

Sidney Parish

When it comes to listening to duets, it can be a bit of tricky territory for me. There’s always a thrill in seeing two artists you admire or think would complement each other join forces on a track. More often than not, however, the result feels a bit formulaic. Usually, one artist takes the first verse, the two come together for the bridge or chorus, then the second artist takes over verse two, and they reunite for the final chorus and sometimes the outro. It’s predictable and tends to dull my initial excitement. However, there are sporadic occasions where two artists break out of that mold, immediately drawing me in from start to finish. New Orleans-based indie musicians Juleser and Liv Bell do exactly that and more on their latest song, “Ducky.”

The chemistry between these two have on “Ducky” is seamless and beautiful, as if their voices were meant to compliment each other. No one singer has a verse to themselves, sharing almost everything from start to finish, but in such a fresh, new way. The song begins with Liv Bell’s soothing vocals backed by Juleser’s woozy echos. The verse then dissolves into a hypnotic musical interlude before switching roles in the second verse, with Juleser takes the forefront vocally, supplemented by Liv Bell’s wispy harmonies. After a second instrumental break, they fall in level with one another for the final verse, building intensity alongside the musical crescendo until the very end. This captivating interplay had me hooked from the very first listen.

Aside from their vocal dynamics, Liv Bell and Juleser demonstrate their spectacular songwriting skills in this single. I’m sure there has been a time in all of our lives that we have experienced an all-consuming crush–to the point you would do anything out of desperation for that special person to notice you. These two encapsulate this feeling immaculately, but in a truly innocent way. Lines like “If I track you down, would I make it weird?” and “I can be whoever you think about… I can be your fantasy” express those raw emotions in a way that feels pure and relatable, without sounding overly sentimental or creepy. In fact, paired with their dreamy vocals, it’s quite charming.

For fans of feeble little horse, Slow Pulp, and Wednesday, this song is a hidden treasure waiting to be found. I’m looking forward to hearing more from these two in the future and potentially hoping for another collaboration soon, because “Ducky” makes it abundantly clear that their voices are a match made in heaven.