Fuelled by their love of post-punk and new wave, three-piece band Years of the Modern have found their voice through mixing in elements of synthpop and indie rock to craft a unique sound of their own.
While coping with the absence of live music during lockdowns this past year, the St. Catharines, Ontario, based trio channeled their pent-up creative energy into writing songs and designing new sounds. Coming from a wide-ranged background of various genres, guitarist Jason Edonel and keyboardist Lauren Leprich threw themselves headfirst into writing instrumentals for the project in the spring of 2020, and by the summer were joined by lead vocalist Amanda Lyn Parker. Once all three members were in place, the songs formed naturally, one after another.
Where are you based?
St. Catharines
How long have you been making music?
The band started in April/May of 2020 during the first COVID lockdown. So, almost a year and a half now.
What genre would you consider your music to be?
This is tough because we try to incorporate similar but different elements from a few genres. Maybe a “post-punk and new wave influenced indie synthpop” descriptor would suit us!
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I don’t think any of us could ever be WITHOUT music in our lives. Every day we write, record or perform, whether it’s with this band, other projects or as part of our careers. It’s just in it and it’s more than a hobby. It’s a passion.
What are your biggest musical influences?
I think our individual influences are extremely varied, but for this band we turned to sounds of the 80s we loved so much. The Cure, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen for the broody sounds and then a lot of synthesizer based stuff for the poppier elements. Newer bands like Black Marble, Graveyard Club, Alvvays, Chvrches and House of Harm are always inspirational as well.
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
We are fully independent. We tackle everything ourselves, from media to recording to design and art.
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Definitely trying to navigate the music scene during COVID. Live shows and actually performing are such an integral part of being a band, and the pandemic has definitely put a halt to that.
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
Currently, we’ve released two singles.
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
The inspiration for the song came from the image of an aerosol can being sprayed near a flame. We related it to a relationship that grows out of your control- it was meant to be something casual but somehow it got out of hand and real feelings got involved. Then you’re left not knowing how you should deal with it, especially if you felt unprepared for a true commitment.
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Oh yes! We have more than an album’s worth of material ready and are planning on our third single soon. Alongside all of that we plan to get out to the world as live music seems to be poking its head out again. Can’t wait to share it all with everyone.
