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Emerging out of the self-conscious confines of Los Angeles, Moderne Man, a new electro-pop project from former Until June
bandmates Dan and Josh Ballard, instead look to trends in mainstream European dance music in an attempt to filter a lifetime of radio rock
and pop influences through their love of contemporary production techniques. After the success of their former group’s 2008 overseas hit
“Sleepless,” these brothers and longtime musical associates embarked on their new project with a keen interest in replicating the communal
d ...read more
Emerging out of the self-conscious confines of Los Angeles, Moderne Man, a new electro-pop project from former Until June
bandmates Dan and Josh Ballard, instead look to trends in mainstream European dance music in an attempt to filter a lifetime of radio rock
and pop influences through their love of contemporary production techniques. After the success of their former group’s 2008 overseas hit
“Sleepless,” these brothers and longtime musical associates embarked on their new project with a keen interest in replicating the communal
dance floor euphoria they witnessed while touring mainland Europe. According to songwriter and lead vocalist Josh, the duo “wanted to write
a record that we enjoyed; something that was catchy and not necessarily cool, something the hipsters would hate. We have no agenda other
than writing songs that make you want to tap your foot.”
This sense of benign confrontation fits the resulting music perfectly. Built on the brothers’ unique array of synthesizers and arpegiatted
guitar textures, the Moderne Man sound has hints of contemporary touchstones such as the Danish dance-prog band Mew and the popular
indie-pop production team Miike Snow. Reflecting their omnivorous M.O., however, the two share an equal affinity for the modern radio pop of
Justin Timberlake, whose high falsetto falls in a nearby register to that of the Moderne Man frontman. Coming of age against the gaudy
backdrop of the burnt-out Hollywood music scene, and with a stage set-up decked out with everything from neon light rigs to back-up keytar
accompaniment, Moderne Man fully embody their pop star aspirations in the face of one of America’s most superficial and emotionally
vacant cities.
After a strong two year push by Until June, over which time the band signed to a major label and toured throughout Europe and Asia on
multiple occasions, Moderne Man slowly became a living entity as the realities of the mainstream music business conspired to curb the
band’s trajectory. “We realized what a dichotomy our life is. Living in L.A. we’re often times surrounded by materialism. We had spent the
better half of our lives defining the Modern Man as that of wealth, yet most of the wealthy people we’d met seemed miserable. Moderne Man
is our reaction to the idea that success is not defined by wealth,” explains Josh. Appropriately, then, the first single from the band’s
forthcoming debut is entitled “Perfume,” while its sleek instrumental interplay (produced in full by Dan and Josh) and sinewy vocal hook
further speak to the Ballard’s knowing acknowledgment of their place in the industry.
Already hotly tipped, “Perfume” has been remixed by popular European DJ and pop star Adrian Sina. With Dan and Josh both writing music
and the latter continuing to contribute his pointed yet sensitive lyrics, Moderne Man is truly a collaborative project. And as Dan prefers to
mostly work towards fine-tuning the band's technical precision, that leaves his younger brother Josh to command the audience with his
natural showmanship and infectious energy. Yet they’ve come together again here as they always have in a meeting of the minds, fully
embracing the possibilities inherent in the worlds of dance and pop music. Moderne Man’s self-titled debut is set for release summer 2011.
Moderne Man came after the Ballard’s schedule started to slow down after the two year push from Until June. “We realized what a dichotomy
our life is. Living in LA we’re often times surrounded by wealth and yet I have none. We had spent the better half of our life’s defining the
Modern Man as that of wealth, yet most of the wealthy people we’d met seemed miserable. Moderne Man is a proverbial middle finger to that
idea that success is defined by wealth.” « hide |
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