The Kiss Book is the debut book by musician Tove Lo and photographer Kenny Laubbacher, a collaborative project spanning 15 countries and 18 cities, showcasing 600 + subjects captured in the sensual act of kissing.

Throughout 2023, during Tove Lo's Dirt Femme tour, Kenny and Tove, in collaboration with creative director Charlie Twaddle, initiated The Kiss Book. This body of work aimed to foster an interactive experience for tour attendees, inviting those interested in being photographed to participate in a kiss  "All pictures were taken soon after the world fully reopened following the pandemic, when kissing and dancing in sweaty crowds still felt surreal and a little forbidden. This added a level of ecstasy to these moments and you can feel that energy in the photos".

The book vividly illustrates couples, throuples and individuals caught in a passionate kiss. Their bodies are intertwined, and the images focus on their faces, hands and tongues, capturing the moment's intimacy. Central to the project is the participants' agency, as their active involvement and selfhood play a vital role in co-constructing the photographs.

 

The book invites readers to explore and embrace spontaneous and playful desires, presenting a thoughtful examination of love and lust and opening up a constructive dialogue about the multifaceted nature of affection. Kissing can be seen not only as a physical act but also as a form of connection that transcends traditional sexual roles. By exploring these varying interpretations, we can better appreciate the role of kissing in human relationships and how it fosters intimacy and emotional expression.

The book also introduces Charlie Twaddle, who, together with Samuel Burgess Johnson, have designed the book to resemble a relic from a past prohibition era 'when kissing was illegal.' "The choice of red as a colour serves as a symbol for flesh, while the red page edges reflect on the biblical concept of original sin in a 'post distancing' society."

Artists Bio

 

KENNY LAUBBACHER is a photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He has collaborated with various clients and publications, such as
 The Grammys, W Magazine, Schön Magazine, and The New York Times. He was also an on-set photographer for HBO's Hacks and Marvel's WonderMan. Additionally, he serves as the resident curator for the Academy Award-nominated company DOCUMENTARY+. This is the artist's debut book.

TOVE LO embodies every side of her own femininity in her music. She can be powerful in one breath and lusty in the next. Her cleverness will turn into introspection just before she makes herself heard again. She fights hard and loves even harder. Tove has always spoken her mind, and it’s why she’s left an ever-expanding imprint on pop. The Sweden-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and artist made waves worldwide with her platinum-certified 2014 full-length debut, Queen of the Clouds, uplifted by the quintuple-platinum Habits (Stay High) and double-platinum Talking Body.  Lady Wood [2016], Blue Lips (Lady Wood Phase II) [2017], and 2019’s Sunshine Kitty [2019] followed with sold-out worldwide tours, marquee festival appearances, and hundreds of millions of streams. Glad He’s Gone off of Sunshine Kitty earned her a second Grammy Award nomination in the category of “Best Music Video.” In 2022 Tove founded Pretty Swede Records, her independent label, and released her critically acclaimed fifth album Dirt Femme. Tracks No One Dies From Love and 2 Die 4 stormed the dance floor, radio charts, and fans' hearts. Her most recent release, HEAT [2024], is a collaborative EP with friend and producer SG Lewis. A love letter to their shared and beloved LBGTQ fanbase delivered four timeless club anthems. Ever the collaborator, Tove has worked with an array of producers and artists through her career: Kylie Minogue, Dom Dolla, Nelly Furtado, Coldplay, Flume, Charli XCX, ALOK, Sean Paul, Nick Jonas, Alesso, and Sean Paul to name a few. As a songwriter she’s penned music for everyone from Lorde to Zara Larsson in addition to co-writing Ellie Goulding’s quintuple-platinum Love Me Like You Do for Fifty Shades of Grey, receiving nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and the Grammy Awards. This is the artist’s debut book.

 

Pre-order Delivery - Summer 2025

Hardback

200 pages

23  x 30 cm