Liverpool-based artist Todd Modern’s debut single Yyours is a lo-fi indie rock banger laced with slacker vibes and audible indifference. The pioneering young man mixes audio and visual art with impressive ambition, making the most of his musical talents on vocals, guitar, and laptop, working in conjunction with visual artist Mike Poynton.
The blend of wild guitars, distorted vocal, lyrical earnestness and artistic experimentation conjures undeniable images of The Velvet Underground. We are also reminded of aspects of acts as diverse as Oasis, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Pavement and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Lyrically, the song is centered around the feeling of wanting someone who doesn’t want you back – and trying to offset that desperation with detachment. There is also palpable despondency here – specifically in the delivery of the line “And you told me from the start, I can be anything but yours”.
Beyond music, Todd is drawn to the energy of Jackson Pollock’s chaotic abstract expressionism and the otherworldly intensity of Francis Bacon’s work. Their approach to art – immediate, imperfect, and emotionally charged – inspires and impacts his own and is reflected in both the rough and ready production of the song and the accompanying music video.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
