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The Duke Spirit were formed in 2003 from a collection of art students and aspiring media professionals in London. Known as a 'word of mouth' band, they have been successful throughout the UK, Europe, and North America with relatively little help from TV and radio based promotions. Notable appearances include a performance at the 2006 Coachella Festival as well as supporting acts for Queens of the Stone Age, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Kasabian among others.
Their latest single, 'My Sunken Treasure', is out 9 Jun. Frontwoman Liela Moss has answered our same six questions. |
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I would tinker around singing with Luke [Ford, guitar], just acoustic guitar and a really crappy reverb effects unit from the worst hi-fi outlet Tandy's and we'd record little sad verse-chorus songs onto a cassette tape recorder! Gradually we moved onto mini disc (wooohooo!) and played around with putting floor tom drums on and percussion and trying to create what we called 'proper arrangements'. I'd never heard the phrase 'middle 8' until we came to demo in a proper studio, so I was very slow on the uptake! I was about 22 when I started to really 'find my voice' it was very faint and soft before that and I lacked confidence. I think after a few battles singing over distortion pedals, I got to grips with my singing.
Q2 What inspired your latest single?
Putting the final nail into the coffin of a lovely thing that was over in one way, but never over in another way.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
Mumblings, formless phrases, which, with repetition, start to take shape and get a colour as I get used to a pattern of chords that they guys have created. Other times I tinkle on the piano for hours, playing simple chords and sing over the top in a playful way. I usually have some imagery and words to play with, then seek out old notebooks and diarys to add to the thing and make it a lyrical whole.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
My mum, TS Eliot, Philip Pullman, Henry Miller, Radio 4 as a broadcasting institution, Peter Doig, Candi Staton, Ahmet Ertegun, The Shangrilas, The Clash, The Specials, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Bjork, The Breeders, Royal Trux, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Courtney Love, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Wes Anderson.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Take your hands out of your pockets, this one will make you sneeze.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Ooh keep building, touring is mostly fun fun fun. I love doing a bit of telly... you know, for the parents, they love it. Wish we could go on Jools Holland, then my dad could stop going on about it. He wont really believe I’m in a proper band ‘til we've done that... so it bums me out that we haven’t been able to!
published june 2008
