A Man of Many Talents Building Galveston’s Creative Scene

Born and raised on Galveston Island, Joshua Duke’s creative path began early with piano lessons from his mother. Though grueling at the time, that classical foundation helped when he later took up drums—thanks to his father’s church band dreams and his older brother splitting the cost of his first kit. Playing along to his brother’s original songs, Josh fell in love with collaboration and songwriting. Eventually, he circled back to piano, this time writing his own material, finally appreciating the years of training he once resisted.

Alongside music, Josh was constantly drawing—monsters, warriors, and heroes—heavily inspired by his older brother, who passed down comic book and anatomy knowledge. Josh has since mastered the human form in his own whimsical style. He produces band posters and now two covers for Culture Clash Magazine, including this issue. 

Though both visual and musical arts shaped his youth, Josh leaned into music as a career path, enrolling in Music Composition at Stephen F. Austin University. There, film scoring fed his love of storytelling.

Josh has found a unique way to combine his lifelong passions—music, spoken word, visual art, and community engagement—into a fulfilling career. From composing custom theme songs for local businesses to designing posters, performing original music, and conceptualizing immersive art experiences, he’s crafting a creative life on his own terms. His work blurs the lines between entertainment and activism, using art as a vehicle for connection, sustainability, and celebration of local culture.

Driven by a belief in narrative building, collaboration, and tradition, Josh Duke is helping shape a new model for music and art in Galveston—one rooted in passion, resilience, and collective imagination.

Catch Josh Duke at the next Sons of Nephilim show or reach out for your very own custom gig poster or theme song. https://www.facebook.com/thedukesdomain