Inspired #466 - Kissmet
London based trio Kissmet provide us a slice of feel-good indie-pop with infectious new single ‘Memory Star’.
Set within a dreamlike cinematic world, ‘Memory Star’ explores the complex relationship between limerence and alienation, blurring the lines between artist and muse, observer and observed. As usual, the band’s DIY approach to music-making results in yet another song produced and written entirely in-house, accompanied by unique and self-directed visuals. The trio consists of Ted Tarling (vocals), Maggie Baring (vocals) and Alex Anthony (guitar, production & vocals), with their collaborative approach being a defining element of the band’s distinctive sound.
Drawing inspiration from alternative-pop heavyweights The 1975 and French music icon Jean-Jacques Goldman, ‘Memory Star’ features a similar rhythmic, guitar-driven instrumentation with intertwining harmonies and a conversational lyrical exchange.
They took a moment to dive deeper into the inspirations behind the track and their music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
As a band from the UK, we always look up to those iconic British bands that paved the way before us. The 1975 and Coldplay are particular favourites of ours, as their catalogues cover a wide range of styles and touch upon genres which all three of us love independently; be it folk, indie or pop.
We are also inspired by French artists like Jean Jaques Goldman and Michel Fougin, not only because Alex (who was born in France) grew up listening to them, but because we also see the early French Chanteuse as the trailblazers for interesting and in-depth lyricism and storytelling in pop music, something we hope comes through in our own songwriting.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
We love the quirky Britishness of Working Title films like ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Nanny McPhee’ and ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’. They draw out the romance and individuality of British stories in the same way that we hope to achieve with our own music.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
We feel incredibly lucky to all be living in London, taking inspiration from this amazing city. We spend lots of our time playing live on the streets of Notting Hill, and consider that area of London to be our collective band home. We’ve even written songs about our favourite streets, and have made lots of friends and musical connections through playing in public.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
We’ve been incredibly lucky to have had the support of our manager and coach, Clare Scivier, for the whole time we’ve been together as a band. Clare approaches artist development from a wellbeing perspective, equipping artists for the challenges that the music industry presents. She has taught us that it’s important to put health and creativity above everything, to set goals and take actions in the same way that a sports person and their coach might approach training.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
Although the song was originally written on an old piano (extracts of which you can still hear in the final recording), we wanted to flesh out the production with bright and upbeat instrumentation, peppered with musical flourishes inspired by Jean Jaques Goldman and The 1975. Lyrically, we wanted to use the metaphor of Old Hollywood - the glamour, smoke and mirrors - to explore ideas around obsessive love and limerence.
How would you like to inspire people?
We often think of ourselves as a band that offers a safe haven to those who, like us, see the world a little differently. With our music and visual worlds, we always strive to be ourselves and create art that feels authentically us, which we hope inspires those listening within our Kissmet community to do the same.
