The Duke Spirit commercially exploded onto the British music scene in 2004 with the single 'Dark is light enough' and have been continuously, working hard touring and being a support band...successfully spreading The Duke Spirit sound.
The Duke Spirit delivers gritty, bluesy, soulful rock sounds, taking us back to what British music is best known for and what it was originally about.This band stands out from their current peers in Brit Rock, that is now becoming a regurgitated sound, look and movement.
Leila Moss (no relation to Kate Moss) the frontwoman for The Duke, combines Patti Smith meets Nico in her performance and vocals. Some critics may compare the band to The Velvet Underground, personally they are becoming the British equivelent to Blondie...something that is long overdue for the British music scene.
With the Single 'Lion Rip' out now, a growing fan base and recieving accolade from the press...this band will recieve the success and respect it deserves.
I was fortunate to get an exclusive interview with them...Hey Cindy, here are our answers for you...it's just Luke and Liela here...the other boys are out playing games somewhere I expect...
Firstly if each member could state their names and roles in the band, for those who are oblivious to The Duke Spirit.Luke - Guitar
Liela - Vocalist
Toby - Bassist
Dan - Guitar
Olly the Kid - DrumsSecondly the most common question, which you will all get, asked the history of The Duke Spirit and the name that fronts the band?September 2002-Luke Liela Toby and Dan who are all friends for some years decide that it's about time they started making that music they'd been talking about for far too long...The kid joins through a chance meeting a few months later...The name aims to reflect what they want to feel and they want their listeners to feel...a sense of regality (DUKE) gained through the powers of rock n roll...a communion, shared experience (SPIRIT)
Was The Duke Spirit an organic process or were you all thrown together by the accident of destiny?See aboveYour currently getting a lot of positive support from the press and some good reviews for your new single “Dark is the Light”. Do you think you can maintain the pressure that record labels and the press puts on a band that is just starting to get exposure?We thrive on it and lap it up...its all a game! The songs are the serious bits of this weird world.
British bands are currently breaking out which is great; its like the re-invasion of Brit Pop except it is more like Brit Rock. Record companies seem to be signing bands with that similar sound, look or a band whose name begins with “The”. What makes The Duke Spirit stand out from the rest and is going to be in it for the long haul?Because we are not uptight about ourselves. we believe this whole thing is a mystery so we can relax and enjoy the magic of it.You guys have been compared to Blondie and The Kills, both bands hailing from NYC. How would you describe your sound and style?Not very New york as we haven't ever been there and our singer doesn't have an american accent...people do draw comparisons to The Velvets though which yeas we can see...there spiritual cries hit home...I think we are a far more British band than some people see and I do think we draw from our experiences within London, a very electrifieng city and our time growing up in the country side tooIs this what The Duke Spirit fans and the public will expect from your album?Yes we suppose so...but hopefully we don't know all the answers...lets hope its not as black and white as thatSo individually who are your musical influences? Do you feel that your musical influences are heard through your sound?Some of them yes...rock n roll bands like The Clash, Modern Lovers, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine but some of our most inspiring people probably aren't to be heard immeditely in our sound...we love the spirit of soul and reggae...Otis Redding, Tina Turner, The Congos, Irma Thomas, The Slits and so on and so on...
Do you know whose producing your album?We were really involved in it ourselves, but worked on it with Simon Raymonde who used to be bassist in The Cocteau Twins and a great man named Giles Hall too...If you could work with one producer who would you choose? I think it would be interesting to see what Steve Albini would get out of you guys.Albini would be great, also Shadow Morton who produced the Shangri las....maybe we should fuck with it all and do something with Lee Scratch Perry though?.?
They are currently recording their album with legendary (my hero) Flood who has produced Depeche Mode, NIN, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, PJ Harvey and Curve (my all time fave band).
You can catch the The Duke Spirit live, who are currently touring round UK. Check out their website for further details. Lion Rip their current single is availble to buy NOW!!!
