The MODERN MEN play Electro-Pop and sophisticated elevator music..........In Space!
INTERVIEW WITH THE MODERN MEN by The Coast Weekly in Halifax - August, 2007
Where does the name Modern Men come from?
There are lots of reasons why we named ourselves The Modern Men- we cook using only the freshest ingredients, dress nicely, say please and thank you, believe in the theory of evolution, are open with our emotions, and none of us have any wisdom teeth. We also thought it was an ironic name given the style of our music and the fact that we play a lot of early 80's analog synths.
Could you tell me a brief history of the band, how did you meet, and how long have you been together?
The Modern Men are Fee Chee, Brother Jonah and Sid Jackson. Fee Chee and Brother Jonah are brothers from different mothers. Brother Jonah and Sid Jackson are brothers from the same mother, Judy Bernstein. The band pretty much started with a trip to Lunenburg about a year ago to purchase a Fender Rhodes and Moog Prodigy off a German woman living in the area. Once they entered our lives, all guitars were quickly put aside and the birth of our synth electro-pop sound began to take shape. We initially conceived the project as a diversion from our regular roots-based musical explorations, but the response to the songs was so overwhelmingly positive that we all decided to make it a primary focus. Listeners have described our music as "sensually intense", with sweet 80's electropop grooves seducing them much in the same way a fluorescent flower with radioactive pollen captivates an ultraviolet bee.
Who are your musical influences?
We are influenced by 80's soundtracks such as 16 Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Scarface, sophisticated elevator muzak such as Air and The Cinematic Orchestra, and French electro-pop such as Sebastian Tellier and Simone Elle est Bonne.
Where do you draw inspiration lyrically?
The Modern Men are inspired lyrically by Modern Women- not to be confused with Post-Modern Women who also inspire us, just not lyrically.
