Born and raised in Duxbury, Scott Woodruff is the face of and musical talent behind the wildly successful reggae artist “Stick Figure.” Woodruff feels grateful for the loyalty of his large devoted fan base, and with the recent release of his album “Burial Ground,” which debuted above Bob Marley on iTunes, one would certainly deem his career a success. We caught up with Scott and found out what inspires “Stick Figure.”

I was always very into music from an early age.  I started playing the guitar and drums around the age of 11 or 12.  Even before then, I knew I had rhythm and loved to tap on things constantly.  The tapping used to drive my parents and teachers crazy.  I remember one time, years before I picked up an instrument, taking all my mom’s pots and pans out into our backyard and making my own makeshift drum set.

When did you make the decision to pursue music?

It wasn’t so much a decision. I didn’t go to college for music and I had always seen music more as just a hobby. Music became a full time thing when my albums began selling online and I realized what a huge market there is out there for people who are willing to listen and buy the music. Even though I spend hours and hours writing and recording my albums, it doesn’t ever feel like work. Right now I’m doing exactly what I love to do and making a living, so for me, there is nothing better.  

Who is your favorite artist of all time?

Bradley Nowell, the lead singer for Sublime. I got into Sublime when I was in the sixth grade and they have been my favorite artist ever since. Sublime is probably the only band whose albums I can listen to front to back without ever skipping a track. 

Do you have band members or is Stick Figure a solo band?

Stick Figure is and will always be a one-man band, but for live shows I have a band I play with. We have an east coast tour scheduled for this fall. 

Do you write and record all your own music?

On all the albums I’ve released I write, record and produce all the music, play all the instruments on each song, and do the vocals as well. It’s a long process, but it gives me the freedom to create each song exactly as I wish. Writing and recording music has always been very therapeutic for me. I get into a zone and nothing else in the world matters. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when songwriting?

Inspirations can come from really anything and everything. A lot of my focus comes from personal experiences, but I often focus on themes of nature and love. Sometimes I don’t even know where my lyrics come from. It’s almost like they already existed and I wasn’t the one who came up with them. Sometimes when I finish writing a song I look back and wonder how and where I just came up with those ideas. Several of the songs on my most recent album “Burial Ground” were written while traveling the world last year. 

What has been the most challenging part of “making it?”

I don’t know exactly when artists consider themselves to “have made it.”  I’m not sure if I’ve made it now; I never try to think about what I should be or could be doing to “make it.”  When making music, my goal is to make the album the best I can and hope that it does well.  When you work hard at something, everything seems to fall into place.

How does it feel to have an album above Bob Marley on iTunes? 

It feels incredible. It was a very exciting week when “Burial Ground” debuted at #1 and outsold Bob Marley’s “Legend” on the charts.  It makes all the hard work that went into the album worth it. 

Is there someone who has inspired you most in your life?

I have three brothers and we all get along great. My older brother Jeff was the one who got me into a lot of the music I listen to today and find inspiration from. He’s also contributed greatly to the success of Stick Figure online. 

Do you have any hobbies?

I love being outdoors.  I’m currently living in Lake Tahoe. I snowboard several days a week in the winter and in the summer I love being outdoors swimming, hiking, camping, and boating.  I also enjoy graphic design and taking pictures.

Do you enjoy coming back to Duxbury to visit?

I love coming home, seeing my family and the dogs. My brothers always keep me entertained and we swim in the bay off our dock almost daily in the summer. I only come back for a few weeks each year, but it’s a time to relax and see all my good friends who I grew up with.

Do you appreciate having grown up in our town?

Absolutely, I couldn’t think of a place that I would have rather grown up.  I remember when I was young I used to think Duxbury was too quiet and sometimes boring, but as I grew up I realized what a special place it really is. It’s certainly the type of place I would want to raise a family of my own someday.