Interview: The Dutchess & The Duke
We spoke to him right in the midst of the band’s current North American tour which will make a stop in Montreal just after the new year on January 11. After some technical difficulties and some laughs, Jesse Lortz was more than willing to answer some of our questions.
Meet You At The Show: So, first off, what’s the origin of the band’s name “The Dutchess and The Duke”?
Jesse Lortz: It’s because Kimberly’s nickname in this band we used to be in was Dutchess. So when we had to come up with a name for this band, it kinda just seemed to make sense. The Dutchess and The Duke fit, and that’s the way it is!
MYATS: What are some of your musical and non-musical influences and why?
JL: Well, musical is my uncle. He was a drama teacher and as a kid he would always make me mixtapes with show tunes, and that’s where I learnt that music can really tell a story. And non musical is this writer, Richard Brautigan – you should check it out he writes some really good short stories and some cool poetry.
MYATS: Ya, will do for sure. What was your most memorable performance and why was it so special?
JL: Well (laughs) I think it was last night. Um, last night we played in Atlanta, there were a lot of people there and it was really cool. We’ve got a friend that lives there that would come out and play, and a bunch of his friends came out too. I don’t know, it was really emotional, an emotional night, we haven’t been back there since a couple of years.
MYATS: Sounds great! How do you think the band has grown between the releases of your 2 albums, Sunset/Sunrise, and She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke?
JL: (Laughs) Uh, I don’t know how we have, we just have. I feel like we’ve kinda gotten more confident with ourselves, and, I don’t know, we’ve learnt how to embrace… what’s the word… hardship I guess? When things go wrong, you just have to kind of to accept them.
MYATS: Have you guys started working on any new material?
JL: I haven’t really started working on any dutch and duke stuff. I wrote some songs for a solo record I’ve been working on. Something with a label in Brooklyn.
MYATS: Will it be the first time you’re performing in Montreal?
JL: Ya, it will be. We’ve been there a couple years before with Santa Monica, but otherwise ya this is our first time performing.
MYATS: Are you excited to play in Montreal? Is there anything you’re looking forward to?
JL: Ya, very. It’s definitely going to be cold, that’s for sure!
MYATS: Oh that’s a given, it’s -20 celsius today as we speak!
JL: Oh man, looking forward to that.
MYATS: Seeing that you guys are from Seattle, do you find that there’s much of a difference when you perform on the east coast compared to the west coast?
JL: Um, I don’t know. Not really. You mean in terms of the crowd and stuff? I mean, not really. (Laughs)
*Technical difficulties/lack of computer skills/lots of giggles*
MYATS: Sorry about that, now back to what we were saying, what’s your favorite song to perform live?
JL: My favorite song to perform live is “I Am Just A Ghost”.
MYATS: Is that a crowd favourite as well?
JL: I think so, it’s almost at the end of the set list. (Laughs)
MYATS: Any exciting plans for the band in the new year?
JL: Well, we’re going out east at the beginning of January, then doing a mini tour around Washington, mostly in coffeeshops, very acoustic style. Then around march we’re heading southwest for a few weeks, and then in May we’re gonna go to Europe and do a couple of weeks there, and just keep on working!
MYATS: Will that be your first time touring Europe?
JL: It’ll be the first time this band will be in Europe, I’ve been there a few times.
MYATS: Well that’s exciting! Now finally, last but not least, if you could have anything for Christmas this year, what would be the top three things on your list?
JL: Oh man, what I want for Christmas.. Man, I don’t even know, there’s nothing I really need. Well in February I’m getting a new apartment, like my own place. So I guess I need plants. Lots of plants. And a dutch oven. Oh, and there’s also these pottery classes I want to take. Someone can pay for those. Ya, that’s what I would want this Christmas.
MYATS: Awesome! Thanks so much for your time, and we look really forward to seeing you in January!
JL: Yeah, no problem, see you in January!
Interview Conducted by Sarah Touyz
Click here to purchase ticket’s for The Dutchess & The Duke’s upcoming show in Montreal on January 11th at Il Motore.
