In 2024, I loved and shared Modern Guilt‘s EP We’ll Always Have Vegas. So, when I saw they had new music out, I wanted to post about it too, and chat to them to learn more about what makes them tick.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Ash Walker
After an into that borrows the dialogue from one of cinema’s most famous scenes, Modern Guilt’s latest track, You Know Who You Are, hits a Strokes-eque indie rock groove. There are jangly riffs, rumbling bass and chilled percussion to back the expressive vocals in the verse before things get freaky during a chorus that leaves it all out there.
The lyrics are cutting and full of fire, especially in the raucous chorus, and they come to a fore during a late track breakdown.
As well as the aforementioned ’00s legends, there are influences that go further back, including The Velvet Underground and The Doors. The retro nods in the music are enhanced by the video which depicts an old school cityscape.
“This track is really pulled from personal experience; it’s one of the most ‘first-person’ tracks I’ve written,” says Jaz of the band. “It’s not autobiographical in chronology though; it’s a series of snap shots across loads of interactions with people and how I watch the world unfold on a grander scale.”
To make the track a reality, Modern Guilt worked with producer Mikey Buckley and mastering came from Tim Turan.
“We’ve worked with them both across all of our recordings so far, and Mikey is now part of the band too which is great – bringing an added dimension to the set up – him and Andreas are like Keith and Ronnie duelling on the guitars,” says Modern Guilt’s Scott. “Sometimes there’s a wall of guitars with Jaz playing too.
“Recording with Mikey is really smooth – he’s always prepped, schedules the time well and chooses the right equipment for the sound we want to achieve. Same with the mixing process. There’s usually very few revisions to get to the final mix as he understands the vision.”
I loved Modern Guilt’s 2024 EP, We’ll Always Have Vegas, and was struck by how the band’s sound has evolved since that release. I asked them about it.
Jaz said: “the sound has started to whisper. The songs have started to sneer a bit more, the dryness, the crackling of time – there’s a tiredness I’ve never written about that’s found a place.”
Scott adds: “we’re always consciously trying to evolve our sound, whether it’s the instruments, effects or structures. So, it is a bit deliberate, but feels natural at the same time.”
It’s a sound that is getting them all the right attention. Jaz recounts how Steve Lamacq notably congratulated him on “not writing a sh*t song,” something he considers to be “the kind of praise I can genuinely hear.” He’s not resting on his laurels, though. “There’s still quite a few more prominent people I’d love to get the attention of, so I’m not done yet,” he says.
And the band have plenty more in the pipeline. “There’s some shows, some writing, so much we haven’t done yet, releases, new artwork, back to the studio – a Spinal Tap related release that we can’t say too much about yet – and hopefully new cities and new songs,” says Jaz, while Scott adds: “we’ll be playing O2 Academy Islington again next month [July 2025], and putting the final touches to the next long player… watch this space, there’s gonna be some exciting news to come soon.”
And we eagerly await it. For now, you can enjoy You Know Who You Are below.
