Jimmy Pitts
Some people go to parties and exchange glances with a stranger. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get a number you can agonize texting the perfect emoji to. But if you’re New York City’s synth-pop trio Moon Kissed, you leave the party with a full-blown band.
After releasing their debut, 2019’s aptly titled I Met My Band At A New Years Party, Moon Kissed shifted from a songwriter’s vehicle to a full-fledged band. “I wrote the majority of I Met My Band At A New Years Party before we were a band,” says vocalist Khaya Cohen. “I feel like that is what we used to introduce ourselves to each other, those songs.” With their latest release, I’d Like To Tell You Something Important, the trio has become a pop music brain trust, turning their synthy jams toward more nuanced, experimental textures.
Cohen explains, “I’d Like To Tell You Something Important is definitely more collaborative. I feel that is really important and I am really grateful for that… I think it’s special that we help bring things to the table and zoom out and see them as a work of art… no matter who wrote them.”
Moon Kissed has hijacked NYC and given it back to the youth. Their live shows crackle with the freedom of individuality unshackled from gender or sexual constraints. This infectious vibe makes the exploration of loneliness and longing that creeps into their songs all the more profound.
Music Fiends recently caught up with Moon Kissed and put them under The Probe:
1) If a roach crashed your rehearsal space, would you run or would you kill it?
Khaya Cohen: KILL IT. We all grew up in NYC which means we’ve had to kill a roach or 2 in our lifetimes ◡̈
2) Does anyone in the band like to play practical jokes? If so, what’s one of the all-time best ones?
KC: Yes. Emily used to tackle me every time she got drunk. Also, one time on tour in Nashville I went to bed before Leah and Emily, and a couple of months later they told me that night they ran around naked and kept it a secret from me the entire tour. I think they were way more amused by it than me. I didn’t really care. But looking back it makes sense why they acted so suspicious for the rest of the tour. It’s pretty funny. I’m sure there are more too they’re both jokesters and I usually end up being the butt of the joke. Oh, a really sweet one that’s not a joke but more of a surprise is that Leah’s mom, girlfriend, and I all plotted them surprising Leah at our show in Chicago in November and pulled it off, Leah was so shocked. It was super heartwarming.
3) What’s the last gift you received?
KC: My friend gave me a 1000 piece puzzle yesterday :’)
4) If you could pick one thing about yourself that you’d like your fans to know, what would it be?
KC: Ooooo. probably that I used to be super shy and have extreme stage fright and that Moon Kissed helped open me up and make me feel more comfortable in my skin….and that it can do the same for them if they let us in :’)
5) What music are you listening to lately?
Lots of drone music, namely Éiane Radigue. Also Nation of Language
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