Imagine you are on a pirate ship, the sun is going down over the waves and you are celebrating a good day with rum and live music - this is where pure power groove is taken to a new direction with a rock chick at the helm. With a new album titled Neptune now out, the waves are rocking and rolling with the enchanting tracks of The Duke Spirit. This five member band are set to make a name for themselves with their new album currently out and their extensive list of playing gigs worldwide - watch out, they will be docking at a harbour near you!
The Duke Spirit are at www.myspace.com/thedukespirit
The Duke Spirit
Interview with Toby Butler
How did you all meet?
Luke, Liela and I met at art college in a town called Cheltenham. We put The Duke Spirit together in 2003 after a few efforts at bands together. Dan was dating Luke’s flatmate. We knew he played guitar and had a great record collection, so we asked him to come and play with us. Luckily he was on the same page as us straight away. We met Olly after telling a friend in a band that we needed a drummer. The very next morning he called us saying he’d just met a guy in Camden market who was a drummer looking for a band. It seems cheesy but we all came together pretty easily…perhaps fatefully!
You have a new album coming out, please tell me about it?
It’s called Neptune. We made it in Joshua Tree in the Californian desert with producer Chris Goss. Whilst touring in the US in 2006 we got asked to collaborate on a track with UNKLE at the Rancho de la Luna studio in Joshua Tree. We met Goss there, and loved him and the studio. So that immediately became our first choice for the album. It’s an amazing place, really inspirational. A strong lyrical theme of the album whilst writing it was the sea, so it suited our sense of humour to go to the middle of the desert to record it.
What has been your best gig so far?
We try to be pretty consistently good live. We’ve played many memorable shows. Playing Glastonbury festival the first time was amazing because I’d been there so many times as a kid. I broke my elbow the day before we played the main stage at the Coachella festival in California, and managed to play, thanks to very good American painkillers.
Where did you all grow up?
We all grew up in quite rural places. Liela was born in London but moved out to Cheltenham when she was small. Luke grew up in Coventry, Dan grew up in Dorset, Olly grew up in Suffolk, and I grew up on the Isle of Wight. Although we all now live in London, we’ve each have a strong sense of the pull of the countryside.
Do you have any hobbies?
Music is obviously a huge part of my life and takes up the lions share of my time. I watch a lot of films, and like reading books.
Who is the cleanest member of the band?
Liela carries wet wipes and refreshing sprays.
Who are the song writers in the band?
Luke, Liela and I have always written a lot together and individually. On this album Dan has also contributed a lot. So there’s a pretty big pot to choose songs from.
Do you have any advice to bands that are just starting out?
Try not to impose too many constrictions on yourself just because you are wary or nervous of ‘the industry.’ To be open to ideas is a virtue. Keep writing and listening to music. Soak it up!
What is the last movie you all saw?
No Country For Old Men by the Coen brothers.Genius.
Which countries would you like to visit on tour?
We need to make it to the other side of the globe! So Australia, Japan, China even. Also, I’d love to play in South America…Brazil and Argentina. There is too many places to list!
