Duncan Moss’s ‘Mnemonics’ album is a stunning musical soundscape and a labour of love, encapsulating Duncan’s memories and life experiences. The result is eleven, intensely moving tracks, each sincere, powerful and breathtakingly beautiful. Pre-order
here.
Duncan has been a musician all his life, however his path to becoming an artist was a journey that has taken him some time to arrive at. Having played the piano for over half a century, been a boy chorister and, in his early twenties sang with the London Symphony Chorus, he wrote his first song at the age of 6 and everything was pointing to a career in music. However, the twists and turns in life sent him down another road and ultimately, by accident, a career in commercial property ensued. This opened up a very different world and, whilst the composing never stopped, it would become an escape and refuge for him from the busy corporate world, he found himself in. His life was full of joy with his family, whom he adores but his career decisions had left him artistically unfulfilled. Then came a life changing moment for Duncan, whilst he was on holiday, when he collapsed suddenly. Ill health had crept up on him and heavily overweight and burnt out he was diagnosed as being diabetic, which would see him injecting insulin into his body four times a day.
This shock diagnosis changed his life dramatically. It was the spur he needed to re-evaluate what was important to him and pushed him to reconnect with music.
Duncan Moss Comments:
“To quote the great Charles Bukowski, “Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?” Also. “Find out what you love and let it kill you.” I knew what I loved, music, but had deliberately kept my creative self supressed in order to be fully focussed on a life that seemed to take me further and further away from music.”
Duncan was still working in property at this time and had forged a very successful career. The expectations and responsibilities that came with this continued to make it difficult to take the ultimate step to change course and follow his instinct to pursue music full time.
His career was one with many accolades - A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a member of the Investment Property Forum, a member of the Institute of Directors, a Freeman of the City of London, and a one-time Court Member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors. He specialised in commercial property, was a main board director of a FTSE 250 listed public company then founded, owned and managed his own property group. Latterly he was involved in private equity and investment.
With a “lifelong itch that needed scratching”, Duncan’s reticence to devote himself fully to music occasioned largely due to finding unfounded reasons not to take a leap of faith, give up everything that had become the norm in his life to date, he finally accepted that he had to take the plunge and immerse himself in a fully artistic life. To that end seven years ago Duncan and his wife relocated to London where he has built his music foundations, composed and recoded continuously. He also lost 5 stone and doesn’t have to inject so much insulin either.
So why is the time right now? To step out of the shadows and release Mnemonics? Duncan explains:
“I really couldn’t find a credible reason not to focus my complete energies on music and composition which go to the very core of who I am. I don’t regret this but, given the feedback I’ve had to date, I do feel that I should probably have done it earlier. I’ve worked it out, finally, that being an artist seems to have two diametrically opposed conditions, insecurity and supreme self-belief. Now I know this, it really is much easier.”
All of Duncan’s life experiences were meant to be, without them the Mnemonics album would not exist. The album was recorded at London’s famous Air Studios with a 60-piece live orchestra, conducted and arranged by Grammy award winning, Steve Sidwell. The experience was hugely emotional, exciting and thrilling for Duncan. A dream come true moment and with it, it heralds the start of an exciting new chapter, for him finally, as Duncan Moss, the musician.
Mnemonics Album Track by Track: Goodbye Mum:I wrote this the day after my mum passed away three years ago. She was huge fun, with a zest for life, also quite whimsical which I tried to encapsulate in the music.
Better Times:Written in one of those tortuous lockdowns and feeling the claustrophobia of being hemmed in and unable to do anything but hope that there were better times ahead (minor to major keys)
Carefree Days:Written in my early 20’s and sums up the inner feelings of being aware, independent and totally free.
Soul Notes:If my soul could write a song, this would be it, hence the title.
When We Were Children:Written after the birth of my first grandson which made me very reflective and conjured up memories of my own childhood and my children’s and the joy and wonderment that went with it. I tried to express, musically, the innocence and excitement of childhood and the great happiness of watching my own children grow up.
Little Bird:Written years ago and inspired by a little robin and the thoughts about what it did and how it managed to get food and water in the depths of winter.
Joy:As is often the case, the inspiration for a happy song comes from when you’re feeling rubbish! I wrote this to cheer myself up. I’d worked myself into the ground over many years so booked into a hotel to overcome what I coined “structural tiredness”. I hated every minute of it. I wrote the song in 5 minutes ……..
Moonlight Lullaby:I wrote this when I was 17. The top line melody came out of nowhere which then inspired the descending base line. Wrote loads around this time but, sadly, this is only one of a few that survived my memory.
Your Smile:Written nearly 40 years ago when I first met my wife, Dee. Her eyes and her big smile just blew me away; they still do. She is the nicest, most decent, compassionate and joyous person I’ve ever met and it’s all personified in that smile.
Sunday Afternoon:I wrote this when cogitating on being a child of the 1960’s/70’s when everything shut on a Sunday! Written out of adversity to cover a languid (read dull) day
New Birth:Written two years ago, following the birth of my grandson. Can’t begin to describe the feelings of my eldest son producing his own son. The music came quickly and I wanted to encapsulate the wonder and the miracle that is birth; the joy and hope as well. Also, the future and the faltering steps from there to an adult future.
The album will be available to download and stream from the 21st April 2023.
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