The electro pop duo, Kisses, have announced the release of their sophomore album, ‘Kids In LA’, set to be released on May 14 on Cascine. The first single, “The Hardest Part,” takes you on an epic journey of heartbreak and loneliness in a cold, empty version of the once sun-drenched streets of SoCal. The larger than life, thumping drum machines and 80s inspired synth leads take center stage as Jesse Kivel (formerly of the band Princeton), waxes poetic about starting over after losing love in the catchiest way possible. These are master storytellers adept at imagery that takes the music to the big screen in your mind. My movie of this song has the protagonist on a lonely search cruising through an empty city on a stealthy, sleek motorcycle in a dystopian future. Where does he search lead? The bottom of a bottle, a seedy disco, the arms of another woman? I’m itching to hear the rest of the album to find out, but mostly I’ll be humming that hook in my sleep. Catch Kisses on tour this spring. – Jacqueline Caruso
