C Duncan is a Scottish composer and musician from Glasgow, born Christopher Duncan in 1989. He works across alternative pop, alternative rock, chamber pop, dream pop, indie rock and pop, with a style that combines classical composition with modern indie and electronic textures.

Background and training

He grows up in a musical household as the son of two classical musicians and is surrounded by music throughout childhood. He first plays piano and viola, then takes up guitar, bass and drums in school bands during his teenage years. He later studies music composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where his pieces are performed by ensembles across the UK.

Recording style and sound

C Duncan records music at home in Glasgow, building tracks gradually in a bedroom studio setup, one layer and one instrument at a time. His recordings often bring together lush choral harmonies, acoustic instrumentation and the texture of contemporary dream pop. They also draw on lo-fi folk, with harmonic density, barbershop-like sweetness and the influence of classical music composition.

Releases and recognition

His debut album, Architect, is nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize. It establishes the blend of choral, acoustic and dream-pop elements that shapes his work.

Other creative work

He is also an accomplished painter. His influences include Grant Wood and Gerhard Richter, his work is exhibited throughout Scotland, and he provides cover art for his own records.