Post-Modern Indie Band Midcentury Premieres New Music Video, 'Fallen'
By: A.A. Cristi Feb. 09, 2018
Austin-based indie rockers Midcentury premiered the music video on Thursday, Feb. 8, for their single, "Fallen," with Glide Magazine here. The music video was directed by Zachary Griggs and the track is the impetus for Midcentury.
"It was born out of some serious turmoil in my life, toxic relationships, continuous failures in my music career, and dramatic artistic changes," says Bruce Allen Smith Jr. "Through all of this I was forced to confront major insecurities and hindrances in my life in order to make the choice: is this really who I am? Is this really what I want? 'Fallen' represents letting go, it represents acceptance of yourself and your faults, but at the same time learning to see the things that people take from you. Letting go of people that you love, of ideals that you cling to, letting go of controlling circumstance and people around you so that a real truth can exist."
"Fallen" is the second single off Midcentury's debut album, "Modern Nostalgia," set to be released on Saturday, Feb. 17. There will be an official album release party on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at Swan Dive, located at 615 Red River St., Austin, Texas 78701. More info and tickets for the album release show can be found at www.midcenturyband.com.
"Austin's Midcentury may be fresh, but their members are veterans of the local music scene (namely yacht rock-esque outfit Wonderbitch)," said KUTX. "Their sound blends decades of intentional and unintentional influences, from contemporary notes by the Bright Light Social Hour, to Cut Copy, to classic rock with a hint of that '80s sax je ne sais quoi, ultimately creating something fresh and totally their own. 'Warrior' is the group's debut single and a brilliant display of the quartet's proclivity for creating a sound that is as intricate as it is catchy. Blending some smokey, '80s rock glory with a contemporary indie mood, 'Warrior' charges ahead with full ear worm status."
Over the past two years, Midcentury has been reworking and refining their debut project, honing in on their production abilities and entertaining new techniques and methods while recording. The album is a unique, modern reinterpretation of '80s pop, '90s alternative and early 2000s indie post rock. And at the same time, it radiates with rhythmic funk and tinges of hip hop.
When asked about the title of the album, Midcentury says, "The commodification of nostalgia is used to manipulate society into thinking that things will never be as good as they were. It is the veil over our eyes that separates us from the time and place that we live, thus stripping us of the power that we inherently have to change the circumstances that shape the world."
"The album is built to where each song is paired with another to showcase the duality of every choice, every circumstance in your life, every milestone that you have to pass," says Bruce Allen Smith Jr. "They paint a picture as a whole of feeling powerless by the apathy of the modern world. Accepting that the fate of our generation is to never see the changes want, but we must continue to strive for them. Have faith in the passing of time."
THE "MODERN NOSTALGIA" TRACKLIST IS AS FOLLOWS:
- Fallen
- Warrior
- Nah, Ima Stay Here
- World's Apart
- Invoke
- Foul Play
- Push It Around
- Revolve
- Chariots
- Super Classic
About Midcentury:
Austin-based indie rock band Midcentury could be described as a group that straddles the line between classic songwriting and post-modern music; their sound is crisp and new age, yet, it is reminiscent of indie and classic rock with hints of '80s synth pop. Bruce Allen Smith Jr. and Eric Harrison first met during recording sessions, while Harrison was engineering for Smith's former band Turncloak in 2014. The two musicians immediately formed a friendship that would eventually lead to the birth of Midcentury. After leaving their previous projects, Smith and Harrison were determined to create music that focused on replicating the feeling they got from artists that moved them. Drawing their initial inspiration from '80s pop hits and influenced by musicians such as David Bowie, Tears For Fears, Tame Impala, The Shins, Brand New, Hall and Oates, Depeche Mode and the Talking Heads, the guys quickly found their groove. "We wanted to create a band that was focused on collaboration between songwriters and making music that spoke to the times that we are living in," says Harrison. Shortly thereafter, Paul Murray was introduced into the writing process. Murray and Harrison had a history of playing in bands together and collaborating on their own material.
The guys spent the next two years honing in and refining their sound in the studio Harrison was building, now known as Studio 601, and playing gigs around Austin with their first drummer Justin Huling. Huling ended up leaving the group to join another local band, Quiet Company, prompting the other members to take a step back and focus more on their production and songwriting abilities. Evan "Butch" Wade, of the band Wonderbitch, was tapped to re-record some drum tracks, and in the process became a permanent member of the band. Once the debut album, "Modern Nostalgia," was completed, they brought in Alex Chod, to help reproduce the multiple layers of keys/synths and vocals to their live performances. At this point, Midcentury has become the powerhouse of songwriters and musicians it set out to be. For more information on Midcentury, please see: www.midcenturyband.com.
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