Every year around Valentines Day, people are either looking for significant gifts, or significant others. One option for singles is speed dating. It gives you just enough time to get a feel for someone, but not enough to get the full story. When you hear Boy Kiss Girl's music, it's like being caught in a bachelors anxiety dream. It's like meeting the perfect someone but not being able to find them at the end. One would think that with a major release on Armada Music, more would become known about this undeniable talent. But after you've fallen for that sweet sound, there's hardly info about the artist, other than some encouraging words about dancing, following your heart, and a slight variation of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Intrigued, we sent our crack team deep into the wild to find out more. Although having sworn to secrecy and under threat of extradition to a country we fear to name, the answers have come to light...
What was your childhood like, especially the music inside and outside of the house?
My childhood was a constant journey, traveling across different continents and different cultures. The Boy Kiss Girl music is a sum of all these. Underground London-Cockney Reggae Tapes of my mother like Smiley Culture accompanied me throughout these adventures. I couldn’t read yet so my mother drew different types of Jamaican flags on the cassette boxes. So I could pick my music by pictures.
What was your first exposure to Dance music like?
I used to be at the Berlin Love Parade. Dr. Motte had a crush on me [smiles].
When did you start creating your own music? What was that process like?
I’ve never really done anything else apart from music. Nothing else ever caught my attraction as intense as the music. Long before I played an instrument or had recording equipment I used to work on melodies and songs, arranging them out in my head--over and over again.
It seems that you have a particular draw to the guitar in your music. Is that your favorite instrument to work with? What is it that draws you to it?
I enjoy taking the guitar out of the classical long haired, smelly, long-pinky-nailed world and metrosexualizing it with the dance kick drum. They go extremely well together. Last autumn I built my own personalized guitar in a small, old carpenter’s workshop. It’s the sound of the recent single “Ocean." I am always looking for a special organic, handcrafted and original sound.
What is the reason for keeping your identity hidden, even when you play live shows?
It’s not really hidden. I’m just a little shy.
There aren't traditional drops in your songs and they often feel like Pop songs with all of the lyrics. Are you trying to break norms in Dance music or are you naturally inclined to compose songs that reflect what you grew up listening to?
Actually I don’t put too much thought into what genre my music is or should be. But I would definitely consider it as pop music.
We love the irony of a mystery man making "pop" music. We also love the sound. Check out the special guitar he made on the new single 'Ocean'.
Last Call
1. What is your favorite movie of all time?Dead Poets Society – “Don’t be a follower.” That’s the statement of this great movie. To me it’s important to think outside the box.
2. As a young DJ, who was the one DJ you looked up to?Paul Oakenfold, DJ Hell, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Derrick May.
3. As a DJ, what's your biggest pet peeve?If It’s All Gone Pete Tong would come to reality for me.
4. What is your current set up at home?Actually I don’t have a DJ set up at home. My home is free of most technical gadgets. I don't have a TV. In the studio I have a lot of instruments including a bunch of guitars, a Steinway, dozens of microphones and an analog 24-Track tape machine by Studer which runs on 2-inch-tape.
5. What's your favorite record of all time? “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. That is not just my favourite song of all time, but also the song I’ve listened to the very most. Every morning whilst brushing my teeth I turn it up on my bathroom radio. It’s an essential part of my everyday ritual. There are many good cover versions such as Diana Ross and The Supremes but my favourite is the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell original version.
Keep up with Boy Kiss Girl on his/her Facebook, Instagram, website, and Twitter.