Strangeways return with fiery new single ‘Modern Art’.
The Kent band first entered the rehearsal together in the summer of 2021, armed with a barrel-full of indie-punk anthems and some raw determination. Since then, they’ve gigged relentlessly across the South of England, engaging a fan army in the process.
Key shows like supporting Carl Barat spread the word, while a recent packed out show at The Ship in Medway saw fans practically storming the venue to get in.
Closing 2024 in fine style, new single ‘Modern Art’ is an acerbic indie-punk burner that sits somewhere between IDLES and Buzzcocks. Reminiscent of Chubby & The Gang in places, there’s also a nod to Medway greats of yore, such as Billy Childish or The Prisoners.
Catchy-as-hell, ‘Modern Art’ leans into that early blur panache while giving it a ragged, lo-fi work-over.
Guitarist Max comments…
“I intended to write a song about the human race’s new habit of social media and doom scrolling but as I wrote it, it became more about the act of ‘stalking’ someone’s social media profile and detailing how casually you can find out so much about someone, ironically at their own discretion.”
The lyrics explore how there is almost a standard and an etiquette to social media profiles, that people clearly spend time and make artistic decisions around, whether that be a colour scheme or theme. It also investigates, particularly in the chorus, how casual and flippant this modern act of ‘stalking’ is now, thanks to the immediate availability that phones and social media provide.”
“Musically and lyrically, I drew a lot of inspiration from bands like The Kinks and The Jam. Particularly lyrically, as Wellers choice to write about subjects other than romantic relationships or love always fascinated me. The mundanity of life has changed, and my aim is to capture that same sneering attitude from all those years ago and use that to strike some familiarity with our modern-day rituals.”
Tune in now.
