3 Kisses Interview

Alaskan grown, energetic front woman Tish Meeks and her hard-hitting band 3 Kisses have performed in front of more than a thousand live audiences with crowds of up to 35,000 people, wrenching out their crisp, thought provoking, and well-written pop-punk/hard rock style of music. Strong, gritty, with a tone that is tailor-made for the rock industry, 3 Kisses is the next big thing.

3 Kisses is coming up on their 4th studio album release in Alaska, 'Angels Bleed Black" – a brazen collection of ten high-energy tunes, bringing them back to their hard rock roots. Drew Owens shreds with impeccable guitar and bass skills, both of which he wrote and tracked for the album. Dale Payne's hard hitting drum lines deliver a smack to the face as he provides the album's precision point rhythm. Powerful front woman, Tish Meeks, delivers the bands intelligent lyrics and tantalizing melodies that have become her signature trademark.

Encompassing the party punk anthem and a standard for any 3 Kisses show, 'Lovesick Ending" possesses the hooky, sing-a-long qualities that the band is known for. Chart topper? Probably, evidenced by the energy of the crowd in the video for this track, 'Lovesick Ending" is sure to be worthy of any musical charts. Reminding you that 3 Kisses band members have hard rock roots, 'Shot Down 1000 Chances" is a pure hard rock explosion that will certainly get your blood pumping, fists pumping, and legs jumping. Speaking of backgrounds, Owens' metal background shines in many of these tunes and the collaboration with Meeks magically ignites the diversity of the two writers, creating a perfect union. There is nothing better than a band that surprises you at every turn with a new batch of tunes, shocking your ear holes with how much better they are than the last.

3 Kisses' hard work has enjoyed them much success licensing songs to entities such as Lifetime, Mattel, Nickelodeon, HGTV, the Food Network, and video games such as Sonic Boom and Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare. 'Lethal Love Addiction" was featured in the independent film, 'Crazy Bitches" and the track 'Save Me" was featured in the Lifetime original movie, 'The Hazing Secret."

3 Kisses has been described as 'spectacularly fun," and 'incredibly savvy" by Indiemusic.com.

Be excited for the musical metamorphosis of 'Angels Bleed Black" that has paved the way for a bolder, fiercer 3 Kisses. The band embarks on a national tour in the Spring/Summer of 2017.

Interview with Tish Meeks

Question: How would you describe your music?

Tish Meeks: 3 Kisses has been described as "a big metal pot of punk rock stew." I think that is about the most accurate description I've ever heard. Its a mix of hard rock, punk and metal.


Question: What should audiences expect from the upcoming tour?

Tish Meeks: Audiences should expect a fun, high-energy show with songs they will immediately be able to sing along to. Lots of hooky earworms that will make the music seem familiar even if they've never heard it before. We're also one of the friendliest bands out there. We'll be doing autographs and pictures with fans following each show.


Question: Can you tell us about the process of filming your video clip?

Tish Meeks: We shot videos for all 10 songs on the "Angels Bleed Black" album. Eight of them have been released. The process begins with flying our videographer, Peter Doucette, to Alaska from Green Bay, Wisconsin. We do all of the live band shoots first, then conceptual scenes and he does all the editing when he returns home. Shooting 10 videos was a pretty big undertaking, but it was a lot of fun.


Question: Are you able to talk us through your career as a Special Education Teacher?

Tish Meeks: I have been in education since 2011 and this is my second year as a certified teacher. I started out working with at-risk youth as a tutor/advisor. I taught music in our high school in an after-school program. The students learned how to write and arrange original songs, write hooks, and then my band worked with each of them to create an original song. We work with a producer, Eric LaBrosse, out of Milwaukee, WI, and we fly him to Alaska, also. He agreed to record a song for each of the kids and we released a compilation CD. Some of them are getting airplay on the radio in Anchorage, AK.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Tish Meeks: I've been in the music industry for a long time. I'll be releasing my 10th album in Spring 2017. So, the answer to that question is 'no.' It is a brutal world out there and you have to be extremely passionate to be willing to get out there possibly fail. There are so many bands and so little room at the top. I'd certainly be happy with a niche underground following that is fiercely loyal. I think 3 Kisses has a lot to offer to the world.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Tish Meeks: Yes, we write all our own songs. Literature, pop-culture, current events, life - there is inspiration everywhere


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Tish Meeks: We all have a wide eclectic taste in music. Drew's favorite band is Kiss. He's also a huge King Diamond fan. Zach is a Beatles Wikipedia. Dale likes a lot of 80's metal (really, I'd say most of us do), and I am currently listening to a lot of Volbeat, Avenged Sevenfold, Halestorm, Pretty Reckless, Shinedown and such. We all listen to a lot of different things.

Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Tish Meeks: Our next album is already recorded and will be released just prior to the tour. We will be playing some dates during SXSW in Austin, TX, in March and then we hit the east coast May 24. We'll be out until mid/late July. The new album is the most epic thing we've ever done, so we are all super-excited about releasing it. I know bands say that all the time, but it really is. We've let a few folks hear it and gotten rave reviews.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Tish Meeks: More times than I can count. But persistence is the key to any sort of success in this business - any business, really - so I always find a way to keep going. There are so many exciting things for us happening at the moment, I'm focused in a positive direction, so now is not one of those times!


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Tish Meeks: I love them both and they are rewarding in different ways. It's an adrenaline rush to hear your songs come to life in the studio, but there is nothing like playing in front of real people who are moved by your music.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Tish Meeks: I've met so many amazing musicians over the years and I know what music has meant to me throughout my life. My desire to share that with others is the driving force.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?
Tish Meeks: There have been hundreds of them - my ex-husband was in the band when I started it, so rebuilding after our divorce was a major challenge. Finding the right bandmates is another big one. Having the financial means to tour and promote at the level we'd like has always been an obstacle. But you just have to plow through all of those things and keep your eye on the prize. It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Tish Meeks: Slammed. During the week, I get up early, go teach all day, come home, spend some time with my kids, then work on 3 Kisses until I drop - usually around 1 or 2am. That's when I do all of my marketing, fan reach, writing, etc. The guys help out a lot, too. I couldn't do it without all of their contributions. It took me awhile to find this line-up, but they were worth the wait. I could not ask to work with a better bunch of guys.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Tish Meeks: Playing music is the best part, of course. It is what every musician lives for. You have to play for yourself first in order to be any good for others. But, there is nothing better than connecting with fans and having an impact on the lives of others. That is such an awesome feeling.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Tish Meeks: In a perfect world, Lzzy Hale. That would be a dream come true.


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Tish Meeks: Our official site is www.3kisses.com. We can be found all over the web, though. If you Google 3 Kisses, we're going to show up everywhere.


Question: What is the story behind the band's name?

Tish Meeks: When my son was little and I'd tuck him in at night, he'd say, "Mom, one kiss isn't enough. I want 3 kisses." My kids get 3 kisses to this day and probably will as long as I'm alive.


Interview by Brooke Hunter