English American rock duo- The Kills Photo: Myles Hendrik
Alison Mosshart became a recognisable voice in modern rock n roll, as captivating lead singer for The Dead Weather. In 2001 she formed The Kills with English guitarist Jamie Hince. The two have been a staple in alternative music circles for 22 years. So it’s not surprising loyal fans were eager to hear more new music.
The Kills sixth full length album, God Games released on October 27, is full of glitchy beats, Alison's familial bluesy vocal and textural layers. Hince and Mosshart recorded with Grammy Award winning producer Paul Epworth, who was The Kills very first soundman in 2002. Choosing a sacred studio to lay down their latest record, The Church Studios in North London. A place many accomplished musicians have recorded from The Stone Roses to Elvis Costello, Robert Plant and Florence and The Machine.
When asked about her relationship with God, Mosshart says she doesn't have one. “The title I love so much because it's challenging and provocative and really open to interpretation’.
The Kills became a force to be reckoned with in the early 2000s, when British guitarist Hince and Mosshart stumbled across each other in London while living in the same building. Mosshart overheard Hince’s stellar guitar playing through the ceiling of the flat she lived below and the rest was history.
The secret ingredient to a lasting musical collaboration is a solid foundation of friendship.
“We are best friends, we talk everyday, we hang out almost every day. The secret is really wanting to do it and wanting to get along.. It’s constant work but it’s the greatest pleasure of my life”
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills Photo: Myles Hendrik
Two decades on, the result is a clear musical alchemy full of electric stage shows and minimalist bluesy garage rock. From the East Coast to the West Coast, the band explored familial places in God Games, with experimental singles 'New York' and 'LA Hex'.
“New York is my favourite city in the world. It has been since I was a little kid. It’s always been dazzling to me and inspiring. Everytime I’m there I feel full of excitement and life and art and music that I wanna make lots of things. It's a magic trick and I don't want this to go away for me.. I want to be lost in the dream”.
Mosshart found the pandemic uninspiring, watching too much news and being overwhelmed by life's complexities didn't inspire her to write much music. Instead she wrote most of her parts on God Games when the world opened back up again.
The intention with God Games, “is to try to find something we are not comfortable with and push it and get to a place where we own it.
The Kills Photo: Myles Hendrik
