He continued to release a steady string of albums every few years, but none of them had quite the acclaim as his first album (Duncan Sheik).
His success blossomed again in 2006 with the music Spring Awakening for which he wrote the music.
Shiek won the 2007 Tonys for Best Original Score, and Best Orchestrations, and Spring Awakening itself won a whole host of other Tonys (including best musical) and other awards (also a Grammy for Best Musical Show Album).
Sheik's musical composition didn't end there; in 2009 he created an original score and musical called Whisper House, about a young boy who goes to live with his aunt in a lighthouse during WWII, but it turns out the lighthouse is haunted and the ghosts sing the creepy story that ensues.
While Whisper House didn't see much commercial success, but it was widely critically acclaimed, and had a stint being performed in San Diego at the Old Globe theater.
Other musical adaptations and works include: Alice By Heart, Because Of Winn-Dixie, Noir, and American Psycho (which will debut on Broadway in 2016).
Ledgerdemain cover art
Sheik's latest album, Legerdemain, is an album showcasing a multitude of musical ability: lyrically, technically, and stylistically, while also playing with new effects and keeping a fresh sound. With synthetic drum beats and electronica undertones for a handful of songs, and others with ballad like orchestrations, to more simple acoustic songs, Legerdemian packs a full punch with a 16 song track list with a length of 70 minutes.
The first half of Legerdemain has Sheik's famous catchy choruses and provides an introduction to the new subtle electronic additions. Of course, it wouldn't be a Duncan Sheik album if there weren't sweeping ballads accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano, or french horn (or sometimes all three) which can all be found in the second half of the album. The song Distant Lovers is the song that screams "Duncan Sheik" more than any other on the album, and also seems to be the dividing song from the more 'rock' songs to the more mellow and acoustic ballads.
Ledgerdemain marks Sheik's 8th studio album and, like a fine wine, he has grown and developed with age; pulling from his musical theater writing, and exploring new and interesting ways to evolve his sound.
You can hear the full album here through NPR.
Ledgerdemain marks Sheik's 8th studio album and, like a fine wine, he has grown and developed with age; pulling from his musical theater writing, and exploring new and interesting ways to evolve his sound.
You can hear the full album here through NPR.
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