Post punk Belfast band Kissed Air formed in 1982 having previously been gigging as punk band Know Authority (abreviated to KA). The name change prompted them to adopt a more post-punk style. Their style grabbed pretty liberally from the playbook of Joy Division and early A Certain Ratio. The singer Cormac’s vocals are reminiscent of Ian Curtis.

The band were Cormac Tohill vocals, John Watt guitar/synth, Norman Johnston bass and Mark McCormack on drums. The band moved base to Dublin and shortened their name to KA in the process. Once there they recorded some demos that came to the attention of Dave Wakeling of The Beat and Go Feet Records. Interest was such that the label contacted the band with a view to signing them but alas they failed to get the unanimous vote required by the rules of the Go Feet collective.

Undeterred the band recorded another demo and reverted their name back to Kissed Air and released the tracks on their own Kabuki record label with distribution through Rough trade in London. The “Kariba” single was released in 1982 and was quickly followed by the “Out Of The Night” 7” in November of the same year. A four track 12” EP entitled Kawaraya was released in 1983 and a fourth single was scheduled for release with the tracks “Hang Me High” & “Living A Lifetime” being recorded by these tracks remain unreleased. The band split in 1985. John 'Youthman' Watt on Guitar – went on to write the theme tune for the Channel 4 programme 'Dragons Den'.