Meg Duffy

Duffy is originally from Amsterdam, New York, and first started playing guitar at 17, although they had played drums since 5th grade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/as-hand-habits-guitarist-meg-duffy-takes-control-of-the-conversation/|title=If You Like Being Chill, You'll Love This Band Guitarist Meg Duffy Started|last=Lomberg|first=Cory|date=January 11, 2017|website=Noisey|access-date=7 March 2019}} After graduating from high school, Duffy attended Schenectady County Community College for guitar performance as the only female student in the program. After graduating from college they briefly relocated to Albany, New York, prior to joining Morby's band in Los Angeles, California. Duffy uses non-binary gender-neutral pronouns.{{Cite web|url=http://floodmagazine.com/57971/meg-duffy-of-hand-habits-embraces-the-undefinable/|title=Meg Duffy of Hand Habits Embraces the Undefinable|website=FLOOD|access-date=7 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25541-hand-habits-meg-duffy-guitar-poetry|title=Hand Habits' Meg Duffy: Guitar Poetry|first=Adam|last=Perlmutter|website=premierguitar.com|date=March 28, 2017|access-date=7 March 2019}}

Duffy is credited on a number of albums as a session musician. They played a slide guitar solo on "Holding On" off The War on Drugs' Grammy-winning album A Deeper Understanding,{{Citation|title=Listen to 'Holding On' by The War on Drugs|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/19163-the-war-on-drugs-holding-on/|access-date=7 March 2019}} and in 2019 they played on William Tyler's instrumental album Goes West.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/william-tyler-goes-west/|title=William Tyler: Goes West|website=Pitchfork|access-date=7 March 2019}} Duffy contributed guitar, slide guitar, and bass on the albums Fading Lines (2016) and European Heartbreak (2018) by Dutch artist Amber Arcades.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fading-lines-mw0002939632/credits|title=Fading Lines – Amber Arcades {{!}} Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=7 March 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/european-heartbreak-mw0003203493/credits|title=European Heartbreak – Amber Arcades {{!}} Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=7 March 2019}} Duffy played slide guitar on "Seven Words", a 2016 track from the album Front Row Seat to Earth by Weyes Blood.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22463-front-row-seat-to-earth/|title=Weyes Blood: Front Row Seat to Earth|website=Pitchfork|access-date=7 March 2019}} Duffy appeared on Mega Bog's albums Happy Together (2017) and Dolphine (2019).{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22843-mega-bog-happy-together/|title=Mega Bog: Happy Together|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=April 10, 2020|work=Pitchfork|first=Quinn|last=Moreland}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mega-bog-dolphine/|title=Mega Bog: Dolphine|date=July 3, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2020|work=Pitchfork|first=Quinn|last=Moreland}} Duffy was a regular member of indie rock musician Kevin Morby's live band from 2015 to 2018, and played guitar, piano, and bass on his 2017 album City Music.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/city-music-mw0003037021/credits|title=City Music – Kevin Morby {{!}} Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=7 March 2019}}

Duffy collaborated with music Jenn Wasner on Wasner's second album as Flock of Dimes, Head of Roses.{{cite web |url=https://hollywoodentertainmentnews.com/2021/04/08/album-review-flock-of-dimes-head-of-roses/ |title= "Album Review: Flock of Dimes, 'Head of Roses'" |date=April 8, 2021 |access-date=August 5, 2021}} They are also heavily featured in Sylvan Esso's expanded live band from their WITH tour, of which a full-length concert film and double LP WITH was released. Duffy also performed on the follow-up EP, WITH LOVE.

Their other latest credits include playing guitar on SASAMI's album Squeeze, Christian Lee Hutson's Quitters, Weyes Blood's And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow, Mega Bog's Life, and Another, Hurray for the Riff Raff's The Past Is Still Alive, Perfume Genius’s Glory, and many more.

File:Meg_Duffy_performing_with_Hand_Habits_at_the_Brudenell_Socia_Club,_Leeds,_UK,_2019.jpg, Leeds, UK in 2019]]

Duffy is the founder, primary songwriter, and only permanent member of the Los Angeles-based band Hand Habits.{{Cite web|url=https://handhabits.bandcamp.com/|title=Hand Habits|website=Hand Habits|access-date=7 March 2019}} Their first release as Hand Habits was a 2012 split record titled Small Shifts (included as part of the pinky demos).{{Cite web|url=https://eschatone-hh.bandcamp.com/album/small-shifts|title=Small Shifts, by Hand Habits|website=Hand Habits|access-date=7 March 2019}} On September 25, 2015, Hand Habits released double EPs titled This Sounds Like Nothing Tonight and This Sounds Like Nothing Before.{{Cite web|url=https://handhabits.bandcamp.com/album/this-sounds-nothing-like-before|title=This Sounds Nothing Like Before, by Hand Habits|website=Hand Habits|access-date=7 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://handhabits.bandcamp.com/album/this-sounds-nothing-like-tonight|title=This Sounds Nothing Like Tonight, by Hand Habits|website=Hand Habits|access-date=7 March 2019}}

Their first full length record Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void) was released by Woodsist Records in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22852-wildly-idle-humble-before-the-void/|title=Hand Habits: Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void)|website=Pitchfork|access-date=7 March 2019}}

Wildly Idle was self-produced by Duffy and recorded partially in Saugerties, New York and partially at their home in Highland Park. Kevin Morby said about the album: "Wildly Idle feels incredibly intimate, like a secret between her and the listener. It hits soft, like warm water, and before you know it it is all around you – a bath, and Meg's whisper has made its way inside you".{{Cite web|url=https://handhabits.bandcamp.com/album/wildly-idle-humble-before-the-void-2|title=Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void), by Hand Habits|website=Hand Habits|access-date=7 March 2019}} In reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Quinn Moreland wrote: "Duffy sings of romances come and gone without ever sounding jaded or spiteful; future love promises a mystery, a sensuality that’s open like the road".

On March 1, 2019 Hand Habits released their second studio album, placeholder, produced by Brad Cook in Justin Vernon's Wisconsin studio.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hand-habits-placeholder/|title=Hand Habits: placeholder|website=Pitchfork|access-date=7 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/21/695923867/first-listen-hand-habits-placeholder |publisher=NPR |title=Hand Habits Makes Its Most Fully-Realized Statement on Placeholder |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |author=Sandstrom, Adelaide}} Duffy stated that the songs on placeholder "are about accountability and forgiveness .... These are all real stories. I don't fictionalize much".{{Cite web |title=placeholder |url=https://saddle-creek.com/products/placeholder |access-date=7 March 2019 |website=Saddle Creek}}

In 2020, Hand Habits released singles "Pictures of Flowers", a collaboration with Jess Williamson,{{cite web |url=https://earmilk.com/2020/06/26/jess-williamson-and-hand-habits-unite-on-pictures-of-flowers/ |title=Jess Williamson and Hand Habits unite on "Pictures of Flowers" |author=Schmidtke, Aaron |date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |publisher=Earmilk}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/jess-williamson-/new-jess-williamson-single-pictures-of-flowers/ |title=Jess Williamson Shares New Song "Pictures of Flowers" Feat. Hand Habits |publisher=Paste Magazine |author=Pikus, Lia |date=June 24, 2020 |access-date=August 6, 2021}} and "Comfortable", a collaboration with Ryan Hemsworth.{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2107073/quarter-life-crisis-comfortable-feat-hand-habits/music/ |title=Quarter-Life Crisis – "Comfortable" (Feat. Hand Habits) |publisher=Stereogum |access-date=August 6, 2021 |date=November 12, 2020 |author=Breihan, Tom}}{{cite web |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/quarter-life_crisis_shares_hand_habits_collaboration_comfortable |title=Ryan Hemsworth's Quarter-Life Crisis Shares Hand Habits Collaboration "Comfortable" |author=Gregory, Allie |date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |publisher=Exclaim!}} They released their EP dirt in February 2021,{{Cite news |last=Gallagher|first=Alex |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Hand Habits announces new EP dirt, shares lead single |work=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/hand-habits-announces-new-ep-dirt-shares-lead-single-2860274 |access-date=20 January 2021}} and in June of that same year, they released the singles "motherless" and "no reply", produced by Luke Temple and Jeremy Harris.{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/listen-to-hand-habits-new-single-motherless-no-reply/ |title=Listen to Hand Habits' new single: "motherless" & "no reply" |publisher=Brooklyn Vegan |author=Pearis, Bill |date=June 14, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2021}}

Duffy's collaborative project with producer Joel Ford, yes/and, debuted with a self-titled album in July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2145243/yes-and-ugly-orange-centered-shell/music/ |title=Yes/And – "Ugly Orange" & "Centered Shell" |publisher=Stereogum |date=April 23, 2021 |author=Rettig, James |access-date=August 7, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.talkhouse.com/meg-duffy-hand-habits-and-joel-ford-are-casually-methodical/ |title=Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) and Joel Ford Are Casually Methodical |publisher=Talkhouse |date=July 22, 2021 |access-date=August 7, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hand-habits-and-joel-ford-form-new-project-yes-and-share-songs-listen/ |author=Bloom, Madison |date=April 23, 2021 |title=Hand Habits and Joel Ford Form New Project Yes/And, Share Songs: Listen |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=August 5, 2021}}

In August 2021, Hand Habits announced their upcoming album Fun House, and released the first single "Aquamarine".{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2155982/hand-habits-aquamarine-fun-house/music/ |publisher=Stereogum |title=Hand Habits – "Aquamarine" |access-date=August 5, 2021 |date=August 3, 2021 |author=Leas, Ryan}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hand-habits-new-song-aquamarine-1206682/ |title=Hand Habits Preview New Album With Tender Dancefloor Tune 'Aquamarine' |author=Blistein, Jon |date=August 3, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}} The album, which was produced by Sasami and engineered by Kyle Thomas, was released on October 22, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/hand-habits-meg-duffy-discusses-the-inspirations-behind-new-lp-fun-house/ |title=Hand Habits' Meg Duffy discusses the inspirations behind new LP 'Fun House' |publisher=Brooklyn Vegan |author=Pearis, Bill |date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=October 15, 2022}} In their positive review of the album, Pitchfork noted: "[Fun House] embodies all Duffy’s gifts at once, bringing their virtuosic talent into their own wheelhouse, on their own terms."{{Cite web |title=Hand Habits: Fun House |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hand-habits-fun-house/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The FADER dubbed the album a "breakthrough," with Shaad D'Souza writing that the album is "lush, bright, in constant forward motion, in a constant state of change... Duffy’s third and best record, it possesses some grimy, earthen magic."{{Cite web |title=Inside Hand Habits' Fun House |url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/08/03/hand-habits-fun-house-aquamarine-interview-2021 |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=The FADER |language=en}}

On September 14, 2022, Hand Habits released two new songs "Greatest Weapon," a song about "coming to grips with the dance of time," {{Cite web |title=Hand Habits enlists Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath for new split single |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/09/14/hand-habit-sylvan-esso-amelia-meath |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=The FADER |language=en}} and "Under The Water" via Sylvan Esso's Psychic Hotline label.{{cite web |url=https://floodmagazine.com/116908/listen-hand-habits-under-the-water-greatest-weapon/ |title=Hand Habits Release Two New Tracks for Sylvan Esso's Psychic Hotline Single Series |author=Farrell, Margaret |date=September 14, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2022 |publisher=Flood Magazine}} The latter track is a collaboration between Duffy and Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/09/14/hand-habit-sylvan-esso-amelia-meath/ |title=Hand Habits enlists Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath for new split single |author=Darville, Jordan |date=September 14, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2022 |publisher=Fader Magazine}}

In March 2023, Hand Habits announced a six-track album Sugar the Bruise, which was released by Fat Possum on June 16.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=Hand Habits Announces Tour Dates and Sugar the Bruise, Shares New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hand-habits-announces-tour-dates-and-sugar-the-bruise-shares-new-song-listen/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} The record was co-produced by Duffy and Luke Temple, with additional production from Philip Weinrobe and Jeremy Harris, and was recorded at Panoramic House Studios in Stinson Beach, CA.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Matt |title=Hand Habits Soften the Ache |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/hand-habits/sugar-the-bruise-interview |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2023-03-28 |title=Hand Habits Announces New Mini-Album 'Sugar The Bruise' {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/hand-habits-announces-new-mini-album-sugar-the-bruise/ |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Clash Magazine |language=en-GB}} Of the album, Paste Magazine writes, "these chapters are personal, droll, flushed and cresting; wondrously experimental and deftly consummate; a skyline of everydayness... Duffy paves a new slate, growing slowly into subversive song constructions and articulating how a body might begin tumbling through familiar habitats with a romantic, curious and joyous eye."

In September 2023, Duffy x Uhlmann, an instrumental experimental guitar duo composed of Duffy and Gregory Uhlmann, released their first record, Doubles.{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2023-08-03 |title=Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy and Gregory Uhlmann Form New Band, Announce Debut Album |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hand-habits-meg-duffy-and-gregory-uhlmann-form-new-band-announce-debut-album/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

In April 2025, Hand Habits featured on the Matt Berninger single "Breaking Into Acting" from his album Get Sunk.https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/matt-berninger-joins-forces-with-hand-habits-on-breaking-into-acting

In a 2017 interview, Duffy stated they play a Fender Lone Star Stratocaster with a rosewood fretboard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25541-hand-habits-meg-duffy-guitar-poetry|title=Hand Habits' Meg Duffy: Guitar Poetry|first=Adam|last=Perlmutter|website=premierguitar.com|date=March 28, 2017|access-date=7 March 2019}} The guitar, they stated, is set up with Seymour Duncan pickups in a HSS configuration (a single coil at the neck position, a single coil in the middle position and a humbucker at the bridge position.), also known as a “fat strat.”

• Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void) (2017)
• placeholder (2019)
• yes/and (2021) (collaboration with Joel Ford)
• Fun House (2021)
• Fun House + Blueprints (2022)

• pinky demos (2012)
• Small Shifts (2014)
• This Sounds Nothing Like Tonight (2015)
• This Sounds Nothing Like Before (2015)
• Dirt (2021)
• Sugar the Bruise (2023)

• "Yr Heart" (2017)
• "Pictures of Flowers" (2020) (collaboration with Jess Williamson)
• "Comfortable"(2020) (collaboration with Ryan Hemsworth)
• "4th of July" (2021)
• "motherless" (2021)
• "no reply" (2021)
• "Aquamarine" (2021)
• "No Difference" (2021)
• "Graves" (2021)
• "Clean Air" (2021)
• "Greatest Weapon" (2022)
• "Under The Water" (2022) (collaboration with Amelia Meath)
• "Something Wrong" (2023)
• "Private Life" (2023)
• "The Bust of Nefertiti" (2023)

• Audiotree Live (2017)

Full list of additional credits/collaborations showing year, album, artist, and credit

{{Cite web |title=Hand Habits {{!}} Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hand-habits-mn0003562441/credits |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Meg Duffy {{!}} Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/meg-duffy-mn0003520775/credits |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American non-binary musicians

Category:Non-binary singers

Category:American folk guitarists

Category:American rock guitarists

Category:People from Amsterdam, New York

Category:Saddle Creek Records artists