When I spoke to Liela Moss, the lead singer of The
Duke Spirit, she was fiddling around in her kitchen,
dealing with laundry issues and relaxing in her London
flat after returning from a show in Scotland; a
typical atypical Londoner.
Let’s talk a bit about your musical upbringing. What
type of music did you hear around your house growing
up?
My mum was a classically trained singer. She sang
choral music, in particular that of the famed-Brit
John Tavener. So I listened to choral music, medieval
stuff, a lot of classical music. My uncle once
brought a box set of motown singles to our house. I
really liked that. My mom was a teacher too so I’d
listen to a bunch of kid folk songs. During the
holidays we’d get together and make music. At
thirteen I started hanging out with a skater scene;
got more into rock bands, probably really bad rock.
So when did you start performing?
I didn’t start performing until around the age of 21.
I met Luke, and he and I started playing together at
different clubs. It was with him where I really cut
my teeth performance-wise. That music was more soft
and gentle. I remember being in high school and there
being a bunch of “bad metallers”; basically dickheads
with gel in their hair. I didn’t really relate to
them. Maybe because they were more rebellious than I.
I don’t know. It could’ve been that they were up to
something really good, but I just never got to know
their scene very well.
You’ve been touring and traveling a lot. Do you have
any favorite places you like to visit?
Los Angeles and New York are great places to call home
after living nomadically. In the past couple of years
we’ve made really great friends in both of those
cities. We can park there for a few weeks. It’s like
our world gets smaller, in a good way. For pleasure I
like to go to different historical towns in France and
Italy.
You started off in art school. Are there artists who
inspire your music?
I’m a big fan of the english landscape painters. JMW
Turner is one of my favorites. He painted at the turn
of the eighteenth century. There are currently a lot
of artists in England who are trying to keep up that
heritage. I also love Willem de Kooning, Jackson
Pollock, Franz Kline; those who contributed to the
abstract expressionism scene of New York in the 1950s.
How about movies that inspire you? Any you can think
of off the top of your head?
I really love The Straight Story by David Lynch. I
like how it’s David Lynch but it feels somewhat
normal. I just saw a French film called Rififi. It
blew me away. There’s an intensely-long burglary
scene that has no talking. It’s completely
suspenseful!
Which bands do you like currently?
We just toured a bit with a British duo called Slow
Club. They’re along the lines of the Moldy Peaches;
kind of euphoric and high-spirited. We told them we
have to take them to the states with us since
Americans are really into the Moldy Peaches sound now.
That movie Juno really got their name out there. I
love the Black Lips too! Their album Good Bad Not Evil
is fantastic.
Ice Cream Man wants to know. What is your favorite
ice cream?
Well, although I’m considering veganism, I have to say
mint chocolate chip. There’s something about the
crunch of the chocolate chip mixed with the cleanse of
the mint on the inside. On the other hand, maybe
something gingery.
photo by Sung Kim
