New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Modena Official Website) As five guys dressed in various levels of rocker attire, from the most basic jeans and T's to the full-on lead guitarist rockstar wardrobe, walk into the studio they exchange the same familiar barbs and ribbing that they have for the last 5 years.
The jokes about each other's style, equipment preferences, and state of facial hair upkeep are old. What is new is the status of signed band they acquired last year when signing with independent label Filament Records; their first professional music video for Second Time Around; and the songs they are currently to laying down with producer Jamie King.
There is a nervous excitement about this event, the untested songs, and the band's first experience with King, after dropping the 2010 Second Time Around demo produced by the revered Jim Wirt (Incubus, Hoobastank, Jack's Mannequin, Live).
The band said the decision to go with King had a lot to do with the quality of music he is becoming known for regionally, the work he has done with their label mates Irvine, and with the ability to work around schedules by going with a local producer to complete the album.
"Our label (Filament Records) always supports us in our artistic decisions and never tries to interfere with our music, but Tony (Andrews, Filament CEO) strongly encouraged us to take a long look at Jamie King. We heard some of the music King was putting out and felt like he could add some diversity to the album while maintaining the high quality that we required to go along side the work Jim had done with us."
"Jim is like a coach, a member of the band almost when you work with him. He pushes you hard toward being the best musician you can be, and getting the best take possible. He doesn't like to splice together two half-decent takes to make it sound synthetically correct. He prefers that everyone play their parts how they are meant to be played, rather than use a computer to make you sound 'good.'
Jamie has a different style than Jim which we respect as well. We knew going in that we had to push ourselves and he would give us back as much as we gave. All in all, it drew us closer as a band, having both experiences. It also gave us two different sounds, which we feel like our fans will really appreciate when they buy the CD. This album will have the kind of diversity that we want to hear on a CD we purchase."
A release date has not yet been set, but the label is more "Thrilled" than
Michael Jackson with the preliminary rough mixes they are hearing coming out of the studio so far. Filament owner Tony Andrews continues to rave about the edge that King leaves on the songs and the pure rock sound that brings out.
The Second Time Around video portrays Modena's vision of the title track. Complete with smashed glass, beer bottles, and the tell tale text message on the iPhone left behind, it's a story of breaking up in the new millennium.
Currently available on youtube https://youtu.be/jCQqIlcZ07w.
For current show schedule 'like' the band on facebook: www.facebook.com/modenamusic
