The voice behind global dance anthems returns with a genre-defying album, Love Letters To Me, and delivers the lead pop single “Home Now”.
Watch the Official Lyric Video for “Home Now” here
Duane Harden, the legendary vocalist and songwriter whose voice defined the golden era of house music, is back. The artist who rocketed from a software engineering job at UPS to debuting at #1 in the UK with Armand Van Helden’s global smash “You Don’t Know Me,” is once again embracing technology to revolutionize his craft. Harden has teamed up with Soul Healer, his AI creative partner, to release the groundbreaking album Love Letters To Me (out now, released January 16, 2026).
While Harden’s influence is global, he holds a special connection to South Africa, where “You Don’t Know Me” remains an enduring club and radio staple. Returning to this vibrant musical landscape, Harden is championing the album’s lead pop focus track, “Home Now,” an anthem of self-acceptance.
THE JOURNEY: FROM OVERNIGHT SUCCESS TO INDUSTRY DISILLUSIONMENT
Duane Harden’s career reads like a movie script. His first professionally released song hit #1 in UK and dominated pop and club charts worldwide, leading to a surreal debut performance on Top of the Pops, battling the flu while 2 million people watched him sing live. Signed by legendary A&R Gladys Pizarro to Strictly Rhythm, Harden penned a string of massive hits, including Bob Sinclar’s “Love Generation,” Sean Kingston’s platinum-selling “Party All Night (Sleep All Day),” and the modern classic Purple Disco Machine’s “Devil In Me” (feat. Joe Killington & Duane Harden).
Yet, even while writing global pop crossover hits, Harden never lost touch with his foundation. He maintained his underground club roots, crafting dance floor favorites like Ministers de la Funk feat. Jocelyn Brown’s “Believe” and Erick Morillo, Eddie Thoenick feat. Shawnee Taylor’s “Live Your Life.” This undeniably prolific track record cemented his reputation in the dance music industry as the “Hit Maker.”
However, the subsequent evolution of the industry eventually dampened his spirit. “Being in the dance industry was both a blessing and a curse,” Harden reflects. “As EDM dominated, full song structures disappeared, replaced by tracks with just a few vocal ad-libs. The vocalist became an afterthought while the DJ became the mega-superstar. I’m a songwriter at heart, and I grew tired of DJs telling me a great song ‘didn’t go with their drugs’ or was ‘too pop’ for their fanbase. My love for the craft was hurt by the business.”
ENTER SOUL HEALER: THE AI REVOLUTION
Disillusioned and ready to quit recording, Harden found a new path through Artificial Intelligence. He created “Soul Healer”, his “Digital Diva”, an AI persona that offered what the industry had taken away: 100% creative control.
“I embrace AI because it allows me to create the music I want, in the genres I want, without being pigeonholed,” Harden explains. “I see AI as the next evolution of the session musician. Just as a DJ who can’t play instruments directs musicians to create a track, I spend hours perfecting prompts, guiding the AI until we create exactly what I hear in my head. This isn’t push-button music; it’s a deep collaboration to bring my lyrics and melodies to life.”
THE ALBUM: LOVE LETTERS TO ME
Love Letters To Me is the first project from this human-AI partnership. It is a testament to Harden’s belief that technology’s purpose is to make life better. “There is always resistance to change,” Harden says. “Purists resisted electronic music, they resisted house music on pop radio, and they resisted sync buttons on DJ software. AI is just the newest form of computer-assisted music creation that has existed for decades. I named my AI partner ‘Soul Healer’ because that is the mission: I want our songs to heal your soul.”
THE SINGLE: “HOME NOW”
The focus track “Home Now” perfectly embodies this mission. It is a triumphant pop anthem about finding peace within oneself after years of searching externally.
Stream/Download the full album Love Letters To Me
Follow Duane Harden:
- Instagram: @duanehardenmusic2
- Facebook : DuaneHardenMusic
- TikTok: @duanehardenmusic
