Kevin Bronson on October 26th, 2020

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The music of L.A. duo They Kiss represents the sultry synergy between Anna Makovchik and Francesco Civetta (aka Cash), who, in their first two singles, light a fire under the vintage sounds of British trip-hop and ’80s synth-pop and let it simmer into the future.

Makovchik, a multi-instrumentalist, previously was the lead singer-songwriter in the San Francisco band Kiwi Time. Besides a background as a DJ, Civetta fronts the band Cash and the Whitelinez.

“I Gave It All,” which officially releases on Tuesday, is the duo’s second single, both of which see They Kiss teaming up with members of London dark-pop luminaries Hælos on production. Makovchik is enthralling on this one, which percolates on synth and drums … moving the song forward while the singer muses wearily about doing the same with her life.

“‘I Gave It All’ is a redemptive song encapsulating the sobering moment when you realize a relationship didn’t work out. Still … you’re moving on with a lesson learned, ready to embrace the fullness of what the world has to offer,” the duo says.

Hælos’ Dom Goldsmith teamed up with the duo on “I Gave It All” (it was Hælos’ Arthur Delaney on the April single “This Love Is Real”). And the new video, directed by Pamela Garcia-Aguirre and Azure Valencia, follows Makovchik and her moods through the streets of L.A., until, in the end, the duo’s name becomes a reality.

The duo has also penned five songs for the upcoming movie “The Gateway,” staring Shae Wiggum, Olivia Munn and Bruce Dern, including the track, “Enter the Gateway,” which is the opening post-credit song and appears throughout the film.

||| Watch: The video for “I Gave It All”

||| Also: Watch the video for “This Love Is Real”