modernlove. The Irish four-piece catches up with Rock ‘N’ Load in Belfast.

modernlove. has been making waves of late and it was a real pleasure to catch up with Barry, Graham, Cian and Daniel at The Deers Head in Belfast on a cool Saturday night.
When modernlove. was formed in 2016, they reacted to the lack of opportunities for live music in their hometown of Drogheda by effectively creating their own scene. By organising rammed DIY pub gigs and encouraging other local bands to step out, they provided a creative outlet for themselves as well as a vibrant community for young music obsessives in their area. That ethos of making something from nothing still serves them well to the current day. And now their music is being embraced on a much bigger platform - including support from Jack Saunders at Radio 1 for their recent single ‘Take Me Far Away’.
Now modernlove. demonstrate their recent progress is only the beginning as they unleash the new single ‘until my heart stops beating’. It’s a shocking, savage declaration that a relationship is over, but both parties are already sufficiently disinterested to explain why or assign blame. Extending the band’s ability to paint pictures of bewildering emotions that come with young adulthood, the song’s pain is addictive with early ‘80s post-punk reference points melded through the arena-scale ambition of The 1975 or Inhaler. ‘until my heart stops beating’ was written by modernlove. and produced by the band with Adam Redmond. Listen HERE.
modernlove. commented, “‘until my heart stops beating’ is a song about losing feelings. It chronicles the moments of tension leading up to a breakup. The lyrical narrative of the song explores arrhythmia and cardiac arrest as metaphors for the end of a relationship and invokes that sudden wrenching feeling when something goes terribly wrong. The song is stark, realistic and unromantic. It’s clear that the relationship is beyond hope and beyond saving. The lyricism and sonic composition of the tune are extremely minimalist, almost as if there’s nothing left to say.
In keeping with this sober, dejected, minimalist vibe, the song takes its sonic inspiration and sensibilities such as a simple two chord structure and monotone droning chorus vocals from early post-punk artists such as The Cure and Joy Division.”
The video for ‘until my heart stops beating’ features energising live footage from the band’s recent debut European shows, which were filmed and edited by their friend and visual collaborator David Ofmg. Those images were then projected onto the band as they performed the song and kicked back at their studio in Drogheda, providing an unusual feeling of nostalgia for a moment that has only recently happened. The location also provides a nice Easter egg for modernlove. fans - the studio is the same place that they filmed ‘Liquorice’, their first ever video. Watch HERE.
Consisting of Barry Lally (vocals/guitar), Graham Fagan (guitar), Daniel Rooney (bass), Cian McCluskey (drums), modernlove. started making music with little consideration to genre conventions, instead weaving together their own sound from influences such as Bloc Party, The Japanese House, New Order and Jon Hopkins. Songwriting became a release, a way to cathartically purge their darker emotions and experiences into something altogether more positive. From their early improvised gigs to recent European shows with NEEVE, they discovered that honesty speaks to fans wherever they go.
Quickly modernlove. became the quartet’s all-encompassing way of life. They have no back-up plans or safety nets, just a full-on commitment to the band and a decadent desire to live for the moment. After two EPs, their ‘monochrome blue’ debut and this year’s ‘On My Mind’, the demand for modernlove. to tour more widely was palpable - and connecting with fans in person is their current big priority.
modernlove. are currently on a UK and Ireland tour which has seen the opening seven gigs sell-out after several venues were upgraded due to demand. They have just announced big touring plans for 2023. Their debut North American headline tour in March also includes SXSW before they come to the UK in April and then Europe in May. Remaining tickets for their UK and Ireland shows, listed below, as well as a full list of all worldwide tour dates are available HERE.
NOVEMBER
9th - Bristol, Louisiana (SOLD OUT)
10th - London, Camden Assembly (SOLD OUT)
11th - Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club (SOLD OUT)
12th - Belfast, The Deer’s Head
13th - Derry, Sandino’s
17th - Listowel, Mike The Pies
18th - Limerick, Kasbah Social Club
19th - Cork, Winthrop Avenue
24th - Galway, Roisin Dubh
25th - Dublin, Button Factory
APRIL 2023 - JUST ADDED
6th - Cambridge, The Portland Arms
7th - Southampton, The Joiners
8th - Liverpool, The Shipping Forecast
9th - Edinburgh, The Mash House
11th - Oxford, The Bullingdon
12th - Nottingham, Rough Trade
13th - Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
14th - London, Lafayette
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