Liela Moss

Liela Moss demonstrates remarkable vocal range and adaptability whether performing alongside the Duke Spirit, joining forces with UNKLE, or pursuing independent work. Her voice shifts seamlessly between an airy high range and richer, darker registers, suiting everything from blues-infused rock and synth-driven tracks to ethereal pop and opulent, orchestral songs. These varied approaches converged on her individual releases, notably the 2020 effort Who the Power and the 2023 album Internal Working Model, where atmospheric electronic rock conveyed urgent themes surrounding environmental issues and collective bonds.

As a teenager, Moss immersed herself in music fandom, especially embracing the riot grrrl scene, yet her own singing career commenced only upon reaching age 19. Enrolled in photography studies at an art college located in Cheltenham, England, she was enlisted by her roommate Luke Ford to provide vocals for what evolved into the Duke Spirit. The ensemble crafted their blues-tinged first record, Cuts Across the Land from 2004, under the guidance of Simon Raymonde, initiating an extended artistic alliance with the ex-Cocteau Twin member.

She forged another lasting association through guest vocals on UNKLE's 2007 release War Stories, later adding her voice to the expanded 2011 version of Where Did the Night Fall (Another Night Out).

After the Duke Spirit issued Bruiser in 2011, the band paused activities, allowing Moss to branch into varied endeavors. She lent her talents to the 2012 film soundtrack Lawless crafted by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Together with the group's bassist Toby Butler, Moss established the electropop outfit Roman Remains, which put out two singles during 2013 before unveiling the full album Zeal in 2014. That same year saw her joining the Heritage Orchestra for a Sydney Opera House event honoring producer/composer Giorgio Moroder. In 2015, Moss rejoined UNKLE on the track "Touch Me," featured on Global Underground #41: James Lavelle Presents UNKLE Sounds - Naples. The Duke Spirit reconvened during the middle of the decade, producing reflective records Kin in 2016 and The Sky Is Mine the next year. Moss also participated in 2017 on Ojalá, Raymonde's initial Lost Horizons outing, as well as UNKLE's The Road, Pt. 1.

Moss launched her solo path in the latter part of the 2010s, extending the reflective tone from her band's final projects. Created in her Somerset residence under Butler's production, the November 2018 album My Name Is Safe in Your Mouth highlighted her singing and drew from influences including Emmylou Harris through to Massive Attack's Mezzanine. Once more working domestically with Butler for the August 2020 record Who the Power, she blended classic synth elements with words that incorporated folk heritage alongside contemporary political and environmental topics. While raising their children, Butler and Moss developed her third solo effort, Internal Working Model, released January 2023. Drawing from Moss's fascination with attachment theory and the importance of connection following the COVID-19 worldwide crisis, this introspective electro-rock collection featured input from Gary Numan, Jehnny Beth, and Dhani Harrison.