Kiss Insight

IF KISS WERE A.... 03 February 2010

We set our Kiss Insight Panel a challenge - imagine Kiss as something else completely different but it must hold the same Kiss ethos. We didn't set any boundaries; it could be an object, a person, a place or even just a concept that captured their imagination. And it didn't just have to be in essay form, they could take a picture or even paint a picture, whatever summed it up for them. The Panel were brimming with visions of the station in abstract. These students have reincarnated Kiss as, well I'll let you see for yourselves....

EVE GESBERT 

KISS AS...A DANCEFLOOR

I thought about Kiss for a long time before being able to think about it as something else. It was hard to disconnect my perception of it as a radio station and try to imagine it out there - in the "real" world.

After a long brainstorming session, something poped up from my notes: Kiss as a stage/dancefloor.

Firstly, and the most obvious point is that Kiss, like a dancefloor, makes people dance. You can dance everywhere and in several styles. People feel the music and let themseves go. The feeling that you have when you are giving everything you've got on a dancefloor is almost undescribable. You forget all your problems and you just feel your body moving through the waves of music, sharing the moment with a crowd who are there for exactly the same reasons.

Kiss can also give you this feeling by playing the songs and artists that you love. Many people can't go clubbing, so listening to Kiss in their house or wherever they wish gives them the feeling and the opportunity they miss out on.

As I said previously, on a dancefloor you are moving, expressing yourself, jumping up and down. Kiss also has known some ups and downs.

A range of all style of music can be played on the same dancefloor. Kiss put the accent on a certain diversity and people like it. UK Garage, Jazz, oldies, D&B and Grime. Like a good DJ for the dancefloor, Kiss is a good soundtrack for your life.

Also a dancefloor sees all and captures those moments that become memories; first kisses, first friendships, first fights. All those emotions can be found in the songs that are played on Kiss. The Kisses that may happen on the dancefloor are like the "radio's Kiss" touching people and playing it daily in thier house. I often hear my mum talking about her own memories " Oh!! this song was played in nightclubs when I was 18 or 20...". KISSTORY sums this up perfectly, everyday people can go back to those memories. Music helps you to keep track of your life, it guides you to your friendship group and reflects your personality.

Not only is Kiss a dancefloor, but it is also a stage. The dancefloor and the stage may be opposite each other but they can be put together and this is what Kiss does. On the dancefloor there is the public and on the stage there are the artists. Kiss has a place in both. The Kiss stage shares music with it's listeners and gives them knowledge.

The stage also represents how important the Djs are in order to reach the maximum audience. But the Kiss stage also gives people like me a chance to give their point of view. Thus, the stage is also our stage, giving us music as well as including us in the way the station works.

FRANCESCA BABAOYE

KISS AS...A GAME

Kiss as ‘A Game’.

I imagined Kiss to be a game as I see Kiss as something that has power over its listeners, Kiss is an act of control.

Francesca's collage of Kiss as a game.

There are two aspects to the game which involves Kiss and its listeners. The player playing the game and the game itself. I imagined Kiss to be the player playing the game and the listeners to be the game being played. Which ties in with the idea of power, the player always has the power which I feel represents Kiss.

In reference to music, ‘Kiss’ has the power to engage its listeners to get hooked and want to listen to Kiss all day and so ‘Kiss’ as a game, being the player has control over how the game is being played. Music is the key and so the idea of ‘music is life’ is embodied in this game by it being played by Kiss it is transmitting this to its listeners through the player having control over the game.

I think technology is a big part of people’s lives nowadays, especially mine and so a game being apart of technology ties into what best represents Kiss in my world.

The comparison between Kiss and a game is the creative way of looking at music and the meaning behind it.

HEMA CHAUCHAN

KISS AS...AN INSPIRATION

I am the blank sheet music that you write on. You use me to express your thoughts and desires. Your emotions become alive when you write them on me and play them off me. Whatever spurs you on I see, I feel, I know. Love, hate, sorrow. They're a part of me. They make me what I am.

I am the music being played. I am used to convey the emotions you feel, to tell your story, to share your experiences. Take whatever part of me you will. Use it to be inspired. Re-create me to tell your story.

I am the person inspired to tell my story. I create this music that is part of me, to be shared with the people that want to listen. I want to play the instruments that strike through the ear to the soul. I let the muses fly over me and I write music about the things that have touched my heart.

I am the music teacher that teaches you how to use the instruments to speak the words of your soul.  I will show you the glorious nature of music. Beautiful music, inspirational music, music that has an impact. I will teach you how to use what has inspired you and teach you to inspire anyone that listens to your music.

I am the person that hears the story. I am the person that gets lost in the story you tell me. I am the person that follows the stories you tell. I am the person that can't re-create this music, but uses it to go beyond the limit.

I am the next generation of music lovers. I will listen to the music of the past and help create the music of the future. I will dance, sing and smile to the music of this generation. I will listen to the music of my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and it will shape the music I love.

I am the music that will be played at the events of your life. I will play at the happiest moments and saddest moments and be remembered for it. I will be your wedding song, your birthday song, your favourite song, your sad song.

I am the soundtrack that accompanies the films and shows that capture time. I will become a classic that the future generations of music lovers will love to hear time and time again. I will encompass the most memorable moments of the films and shows you love.

I am the music that you will hum to. I am the music that you will sing to. I am the music you recognise within a heartbeat. I am the music you lose yourself in.

I am every step taken to create the soundtrack of your life.

JULIA AUFDERKLAMM 

KISS AS...WELL EVERYTHING, IN ONE CAREFULLY CRAFTED PICTURE.

I would say that music is life. Music is fun. Music is friends. Music is public. Music is intimacy. Music is an action, we react. Music makes us vulnerable and strong. Music is colour. Music is black and white. Music is young, music is old.

Music is love, music is life, music is Kiss.