Liela Moss – My Name Is Safe In Your Mouth

It’s not uncommon for a lead singer to fly the coop and make a bid for that solo record. The Bohemian Rhapsody biopic showcases Freddie Mercury’s fractious solo efforts (although contrary to the film’s timeline, Roger Taylor had already released two records under his own name before Mercury). Similarly topical, all of the Spice Girls gave the solo routine a go. Who can forget Geri Halliwell’s sassy hit Bag It Up, or Mel B’s casual collab with Misdemeanour Elliot?

So to Liela Moss, frontwoman of shoegazing alt-rockers The Duke Spirit, who promised a fresh and bold adventure when she announced her debut record’s release via Bella Union back in August. Recorded over a year, watching the seasons change, Moss' debut is not only the birth of a new creative outlet, but her songwriting approach, as she explains how “the songs were growing inside the studio, transmitting back.”

Lead single Wild As Fire has reverb-soaked guitars and minimal drums, building into multi-tracked voices for a chorus that could be straight out of the Stay Gold era of First Aid Kit. Into the Flesh sits atop pillowy synths and ethereal harmonies, as we’re ushered in softly. Much like the senses the title rouses – taste, touch – My Name Is Safe In Your Mouth is warm and intimate, offering a moment of reflection and introspection.

With a career that spans almost 15 years, Moss has been prolific in her output. From The Duke Spirit’s brawling rock (not gone, just on pause) to lending her vocals to studio and live collaborations with UNKLE, Nick Cave and Giorgio Moroder, she’s an artist that isn’t afraid to take risks. While her debut won’t push her into iconic status, it cements her position as one of the most potent voices in British music.

Listen to: Wild As Fire, Into the Flesh, Subequal