Today, The Kills–Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince–release their first newly recorded music in nearly seven years. The international duo who continue to set the pace for the genre with a pair of singles, “New York” and “LA Hex.” The former conjures classic Kills with its sticky guitar riff and Mosshart’s iconic croon. While the latter layers warped trumpets over a glitchy, captivating beat.
Alongside the new tracks are a pair of music videos both directed by Andrew Theodore Balasia (Prada, Jeffrey Deitch Gallery). “New York” finds the duo ringside and bloodied while “LA Hex” sees them amongst LA characters fit for a Harmony Korine casting call. A celebrated painter in her own right, Mosshart crafted the artwork for both singles herself, reminiscent of her ongoing series of painted-over playing cards.
To celebrate the singles, the band has announced release events in NYC and LA featuring exclusive merch pop-ups at both. This Thursday, July 27, the band will DJ in one of the many spaces that make up iconic rock/fashion photographer and metaverse pioneer Steven Sebring’s expansive Lower East Side studio. On Thursday, August 3, the band will take over the legendary Viper Room. Fans can enter for a chance to attend a private party featuring a Kills DJ set after the merch pop-up closes that evening. “New York” / “LA Hex” will be available as a limited edition two track 7”. Autographed, limited edition and exclusive merch will be available at the New York and LA pop-up events. Fans can also order the 7” and new merch here.
The Kills have tallied hundreds of millions of streams across albums such as Keep On Your Mean Side [2003], Now Wow [2005], Midnight Boom [2008], and Blood Pressures [2011]. Most recently, Ash & Ice [2016] spawned fan favorites “Doing It To Death” and “Heart of a Dog.” Inciting critical applause, Pitchfork hailed the latter as “an ambitious record that encompasses everything they’ve done before,” and NME rdescribed it as a ‘career highlight’ rating it four stars out of five. Following the praise of Ash & Ice, the band ventured back in time, taking a deep dive into their b-sides and rarities with Little Bastards [2020], a compilation album featuring a previously unreleased demo entitled “Raise Me.” All the while, The Kills hammered away at reissuing their renowned record, No Wow (The Tchad Blake Mixes) [2022], featuring remastered and reimagined mixes of the pivotal album.
In 2023, The Kills continue to reach new heights in their careers. They’re the rare force of nature whose music leaves onlookers awestruck, and with these new songs, “New York” / “LA Hex,” The Kills further etch the marks they’ve made on bending genres and pushing musical boundaries.
