INTERVIEW: JESSE FROM LA'S KISSES

Los Angeles’ based boyfriend/girlfriend duo, Kisses, are causing quite a stir on the blogs with their debut album, The Heart of the Night Life. Luckily for us, Jesse (vocals) and Zinzi (keyboards) will be bringing their ‘sunny but sad’ danceable songs down under next month – including a show at LAST NIGHT in Sydney. Richard Scott caught up with Jesse Kivel (on tour with his other band, Princeton, supporting Sleigh Bells in New York) to chat about Palm Springs, Scarface and going to bed with Reese Witherspoon.

So Jesse, NME said “This duo are so laid-back they sound like Erland Oye in a crushed velvet smoking jacket.” We have no idea what that means. How about you just describe yourselves..

I can certainly try. With this record [debut, The Heart of the Night Life], we attempted to capture the essence of the wee hours after the party. It’s the feeling of driving home after the club. It’s not really a party record. Sure, you’ve danced your ass off earlier but now a post-party haze has begun to set in. I wouldn’t call us ‘laid back’, more fatigued on the journey home.

Over here we’ve got some pretty strict drink-driving laws against that.

Oh, we do too. But we come from LA, and everybody here gets around in cars. It’s almost impossible to go out otherwise. We drink wise.

Would you say living in Los Angeles has had an effect on how you sound?

Probably sub-consciously. But that was never our intention on this record. The temporal aspect was more Palm Springs, actually. Early eighties Palm Springs. They've got a fascinating spatial aspect to their homes down there. These modernist houses have a real sexual ambiguity to them. Lounging poolside in Palm Springs, that’s the visual aesthetic we wanted. But not necessarily musically.

So, do you picture your music being played to coked-up ladies and Scarface types in eighties discos?

That’s the only place for it! In fact, we’re thinking of mining the visual element of Scarface for our next record. That Cuban gangster look. Excess chic. It’s a surprise at this stage, but hopefully I can get Zinzi [his missus] to dress up like Michelle Pfeiffer. She could be into that.

Kisses have been called both heartwarming and sad but danceable. Which one can we expect to see from you live?

I anticipate weeping the whole time. I just stand on stage and start crying, eventually everybody joins in.

Really?

No! Our live show is very much dance-orientated. We pretty much play the whole record. It’s very dancey, very up-tempo. You won’t be disappointed. We’re bringing out a live drummer too. So expect a live set, with live drums. It’s fun. We’re really excited about coming to Australia.

Any favourite Aussie bands?

I always loved The Ruby Suns, but they’re from New Zealand aren’t they? Who else? I love Architecture in Helsinki. Actually, there’s a bunch of you Aussies in LA right now. Stella from Warpaint is a close friend of ours. She’s cool. Oh, and Andy Clockwise. Is he a personal buddy of yours?

Can’t say I've ever met him. But please say hello from me next time you see him.

Will do.

Yes! Given your name, have you any future plans to dress up in Kiss-themed makeup?

It’s funny you say that, I've got this idea to print up Kisses t-shirts using the Kiss logo. But that’s just begging for a lawsuit, isn’t it? I’m already a little jumpy that Kiss will come after us for our name. Luckily nothing has happened. I’ve heard Gene Simmons is a tricky man though. Perhaps when Gene comes knocking, we’ll have a full-on dress-up blow out. Actually, let’s not mention Gene Simmons by name. Don’t want to give the man any ideas.

Ok, we’ll bleep it out. Last question. Growing up, which famous person (alive or dead) did you most want to kiss on the mouth?

Does it have to be growing up? Or can it be current?

I wouldn’t want to antagonize your girlfriend…

Reese Witherspoon!

Arrgh. Why?

I know! It’s a bad one, right? I've become fixated on her. Me and my other band [Princeton], we’ve got this hypothetical game we like to play. Basically, its how much torture you’d have to endure to be allowed to sleep with Reese Witherspoon. I wasn’t interested at first, but she’s really taken over my mind. We’ve all done sordid things for her. I have to give the girl her dues.

What sort of things?

I cannot say. Sordid things. We've lost fingers for that girl. I’ve said too much. But off the record…..

[Sordid things] Wow!

Don’t mention any of that. I don’t want Reese Witherspoon coming after me too.

No, ok. So how’s the Sleigh Bells tour going?

It’s just been awesome. We just played the Bowery Room. Got four shows left now. We've been playing to some amazing crowds. Best ever.

You say that, but you haven’t played in Australia yet, have you mate…

True, true. I can’t wait!

KISSES AUSTRALIAN TOUR DETAILS