The Kills have spent the past 15 years working out the fine art of balancing raw, edgy rock with delicate, breakable vocals and a shrewd sense of humor. The latest album from Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart, Ash & Ice>, pulls and pushes the two halves in perfect harmony. The duo took a break during the sound check for their show at First Avenue to talk about the process of making their new album, moving the recording process away from Michigan to Los Angeles, and their creative friendship.

Interview Highlights

On moving their recording process to Los Angeles:
"There's always a moment when you want your records to reflect the way you're living a little bit; that's how you end up being vulnerable and honest on a record. And we don't hide away and do things in secret in our lives — we sort of embrace the noise and the chaos of a city. And it felt like it was time to do that when we were recording, and trying you know to capture some of the — not just the room we were in — but capture the spirit of the city we were in and the degenerates that were coming around."

On how they balance friendship and a working relationship:
"We never have to talk about how to keep things on track with our friendship. It's a completely natural thing, it's kinda like … going for an initiation process and making a vow to a street gang or something, you're in it to death, even if it gets really ropey and bad for your health … we've made a pact. And I think it's important with friendship that if you're determined to stay friends 'til the bitter end, then you will. Everything will fit around that."

Songs Performed

"Doing it to Death"
"Siberian Nights"
"Hum for Your Buzz"
All songs from The Kills' recent album, Ash & Ice, available on Domino USA.