Tara Rez is the charismatic lead singer with The Duel, my favorite Punk Rock band, as well as being a very supportive and giving human being. One of the hardest working bands I know, The Duel are very active both on the UK scene and in Europe so I was really pleased when Tara agreed to interrupt her busy schedule to speak with me for Punk Globe.

First Tara, can I thank you again for talking to Punk Globe.

Thanks Will :)

Its been quite a long time since you last spoke to our readers and you've released two albums since then. How were they received?

Really well I think! ! And its been brilliant to get positive feedback and support from fans online, at the gigs and we got a lot of good write-ups from fanzines .. It all means a lot to us ! – we re really happy that we can make music and people like what we do :)

I read somewhere that your second album was very much a DIY recording. In what ways have you developed your sound since then?

Since then I think our self recording/producing skills has been improving. It's meant we can 'play' more in the studio, rather than getting bogged down with technical stuff. The first official album released 'Lets Finish What We Started' was produced by Pat Collier in his studios. By the time we came to do the 2nd album and after loads of gigging up down, here there every where- we were too broke to go into a pro studio again, there wasn't much of a music industry around to help so we just did it however we could in our own small studio then released it out to the world! Wort's and all! Kinda exciting it being all so raw. Just like some of the early punk recordings .

Your latest album, "Soundtrack to the End of The World" is different, tell us about it and how it came about.

We were just writing for fun and we'd never done a concept album before, so we thought we d have a go, then we couldn't leave it alone til it was done

Has more recording experience influenced your live performance at all?

Yes I guess it has ! Never thought of it like that. Actually I think its more the other way round.

The Duel has been together some 10 years now, what's the current line-up?

Tara Rez – VOX
Andy Thierum – Keys
Chris McDougall – Bass
Thanos Oscar Pap – Guitars
Pumpy - Drums

You and Andy Thierum make a great songwriting team, have you been working with anyone else??

Thank you for saying! Yes we have collaborated with friends on a couple of various tracks and Chris our bass player has written a few songs with us.

What about touring, what have you been doing over the past year or so?

We've been mainly UK based this year, a few shows in Europe but we mainly got engrossed in songwriting. The year started with the release of the album 'All Aboard The Crazy Train' In January 2012 then we released Soundtrack To The End Of the World (The Zak Splash Story) in October 2012 which was fun, we enjoyed working with Max Splodge. Show wise, there s been some great highlights , 3 Shows with Vic Godard, with Paul Cook on drums on a couple. Rammed out gig at 100 Club with Legends Chelsea and Performing the new album live with Max Splodge. Loved playing with The Selector, had a killer time playing in Berlin AGAIN .. Historic memories with the 'Do It Together Punk By The Sea' people , that left us all on a high for weeks after – a life changing event in many ways .. Winning the 'Golden Punk Pin Award' from Jimmy Pursey ! 2012 has some v happy memories for The Duel.

And you still play Rebellion regularly, how was this year's Festival?

Yes they asked us to play again in 2013 :) Rebellion just keeps getting better and better each year.. and I think its role has become more important in the music scene. They have some seriously great bands over the four days, thousands of people come to the festival and it's become an annual meeting place for punks all over the world.

Describe yourself in three words.

. .. Passionate. Obsessive. Addictive.

How did you first get into the music business Tara?

That’s a hard question, I've never thought of myself as in the music business , I just do what I love at the time. Music has played a big part throughout my whole life, I've always followed the music and not the scene – it’s taken me to some weird and wonderful places… which I wouldn't change.

The Duel is very much an international band but I still associate you with London. How would you describe the current punk scene in London?

Top notch!! Current punk scene is hot as ever, plenty of great new bands springing up all over the UK and there's always an over generous amount of shows to go to .. Its a thriving scene over here! we love it .. and you can't knock a good punk down ;)

I know that FFR UK, the DIY Band support and info site, has always been important to you, are you still very involved with it?

Yes .. But not as much time writing/updating the blog these days as would of liked to.. The Duel is keeping me busy! we've been promoting shows and getting album releases ready. FFRUK will be teaming up with some great people in 2013 though.

I'm guessing that if people are reading this Armageddon was a no show, so what can we look forward to seeing from The Duel in 2013?

Ironic am doing this interview on 21/12/2012 ! Few exciting things cooking .. And we re getting so many requests to go to USA that we really hope 2013 will be the year we are able to make it back there ! <3

Are there any web links/addresses you'd like to share?

The Duel – Some Free Downloads for you here x : www.reverbnation.com/theduel New Official Website : www.theduel.co.uk (coming 1st Jan 2013) FFR UK: www.ffruk.com

Thank you for talking to us Tara. Is there anything else you'd like to say to the Punk Globe readers?

It's been cool talking to you Will! Cheers to you & Ginger for the interview and everyone reading this. Looking forward to catching one of your shows :) Wish you all the best New Year and New Era! May these times bring out the best in all of us. Stay True. Live Free. Happy 2013 X