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Interview with The Duke Spirit
Interviewed By: Kevin Serra
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Kevin Serra chats with Toby Butler of Duke Spirit about working with UNKLE, SXSW, opening for R.E.M at Royal Albert Hall and hanging out in the desert. |
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How was it working with James Lavelle and Chris Goss on "Mayday" for the new UNKLE album, War Stories, and recording with him at Rancho de la Luna at Joshua Tree?
We were in California at the time as we'd just played the Coachella festival, so we drove up into the high desert to Rancho de la Luna the next day and spent the day working on that track. I love the way Queens of the Stone Age albums sound, and Goss has a large hand in that, so we were excited about being in the studio with him. The studio and the people involved (Dave Catching, Hutch, etc.) have a great way of approaching music. It’s a very inspiring place to be. We didn't meet James Lavelle and Rich File until we got back to London and hung out with them in their studio. We regard them as friends now.
Are there any more musical collaborations lined up?
Not at the moment. We tend to decide whether we want to collaborate with anyone based upon whether we are fans or friends. Liela occasionally gets asked to sing on records that people say would be good for our “career” and for that reason, we usually say no.
You returned to the desert to record your sophomore album, titled Neptune, at Rancho de la Luna and worked with Dave Catching. What brought you back to the dried earth?
We fell in love with the place when we were there for the day recording for the UNKLE album. All the people that live there, the extended QOTSA family, are all great people and we knew we wanted Goss to work on the album with us. The “cosmic” approach he takes to records is definitely something we were looking for on this album.
How was the recording experience different from your debut LP?
Many things were different this time around. Experience is a very great thing when you're in a band. We had a much better idea of songwriting and the kind of things we wanted to do with our songs. We'd also toured for three years before getting to record it, so we had tried out a lot of the songs live and got to grips with what worked and what needed work. The first album was recorded before we'd really played live much, and we wanted it to have a raw, basic feel to it. We approached this album with many more ideas: layering instruments, vocals, using horn sections, and basically decorating the songs much more.
What did you do in Joshua Tree when you weren't recording the album, besides eating Dave Catching's BBQ and home cooking?
Dave's cooking is so good that when we weren't recording, we didn't really want to do anything else other than eat his BBQ! A lot of people drop by the studio, so it's good getting to meet new people. We used to go up to the local bar called Pappy and Harriet's and drink margaritas. Joshua Tree National Park is also a beautiful place to explore.
What's your personal favorite track of Neptune and why?
“This Ship Was Built To Last” was a track that I had big expectations for, and I love the way it's turned out. The way the track rolls and grows, and the way the horns build at the end are triumphant.
How was SXSW?
It was chaotic, as always. This was our third time. It's a great festival, but somehow I never get to see anyone play, usually because we're only there for a few days and we have lots of shows and promo to do. My main memory is of walking down the middle of Sixth Street and getting bombarded from both sides by bad rock music!
You got a lot of great press for your Cedar Street Courtyard afternoon show. Which was your favorite show?
That was probably my favorite show too. I was caught in a suntrap onstage and sweated more than I ever have. We had a good run at SXSW and were really happy with all three of our shows.
How was the benefit show you did at Royal Albert Hall with R.E.M., Foals, John Paul Jones, and Robyn Hitchcock?
We honestly felt very honored to be asked to play by R.E.M. and at such an amazing venue. All three of them came into our dressing room before we played and wished us good luck, which was very sweet and very surreal.
Was that your first time playing Royal Albert Hall as a band? I heard Liela sang with the Jesus and Mary Chain on "Just Like Honey."
That was our first time playing the Royal Albert Hall. Liela sang with JAMC at the Royal Festival Hall last year. We're big fans of theirs, so that was a huge compliment. It was cool seeing Liela onstage too; she looked totally unfazed!
So the band is finishing touring Europe and coming to tour the U.S., supporting Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. How did the BRMC tour come about?
I'm not sure how it came about. I think maybe they like our band.
What keeps the band most entertained between shows on the road?
The thought of food.
What is your favorite food you crave in the U.S., and where do you get it?
Having spent the last few years finding it impossible to eat well in the US, we've just discovered Whole Foods and spend most of our time tracking it down in each city now. It seems to solve all our touring needs. |
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