What’s the meaning behind “RetroMode?” It’s a cool name!
It’s nothing cryptic or anything, pretty much as cliche as it sounds. I got the name in math class. When the band formed, during that period of not having a name, I decided the word “Retro” made sense as the music I was writing was (and still is) heavily driven by a lot of older music I was into and we base ourselves quite heavily in influence to bands of the past.
The word “Mode” came up when I was doing a notes page for Mode and Median in math and I just thought “yeah that goes doesn’t it?” and thus the name “RetroMode”. Didn’t ace that test like, but hey, got a band name out of it so pick your battles innit?
It says in your Instagram bio that you label yourselves as a “Rock ‘n’ Roll group.” Are there any other genres you identify with?
Rock N’ Roll is probably the most accurate generalization of it, yeah. But I suppose our tunes draw from all sorts. Everything does. Sound-wise it’s very similar in sort of mood to that of the Brit-pop movement in the 90s, which me and Connor (drums) are really into.
That and a lot of punk and grunge sounds, especially considering that is a lot of Brock’s (bass) taste in music. I think the idea for us is to make something people can dance and jump about to, whether that draws from blues to like even Indonesian folk or something. I suppose we’re making the music we want to
make and drawing from anything that could help get out the tune we want to get out.
What is the origin of creating the song, “Take It EZ?” Are there any other songs with cool background stories that you’d like to share?
I wrote the guitar riff in the tail end of 2021, but I didn’t end up finishing the song until almost the same time a year later, in 2022. It was a riff I was so happy with, because I knew it was catchy and it just fell out of the sky, but I kept coming back to the words. I don’t tend to write about specific things majority of the time and the theme sort of finds itself as the song grows and that. Sometimes lyrics just appear and sometimes they take ages, it all depends, which is the fun part about writing music as it’s never just one same process for every song.
Are you overall satisfied with the progress the band has been making so far?
More than satisfied. We had a lineup change this year in May this year and the lads are just the best two guys to be in a band with. We’ve been getting loads of gigs, including one as a part of the One Big Voice youth talent segment live at RAC Arena in-front of over 10,000 people and we’re getting a lot more recognition. It’s mental exciting. We’re halfway writing tunes for a new release. Music is the best thing in the world and it makes us feel on-top of the world.
What’s your advice to people trying to start a new band?
Do it. Being in the band is the funnest thing. Play your music for yourself and then you’ll get the right people listening. It’s a proper laugh.
What musician (s) pop in your head the most when you’re writing songs? So basically, who are your main influences?
For me, writing. Oasis is the top one. That whole UK scene of music. Noel Gallagher has got to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time for me. But most of all, cheesy as it sounds you just draw from all sorts. Band-wise, you want to make your own thing, and for me I use bands like Oasis, The Who, Green Day, The Stone Roses, The Jam and all that as sort of references for what we’re doing. It’s all about what makes a good song to whoever’s writing. And in my case, I can sing probably the first five oasis albums back to front. So there you go.
What’s the update on a potential first album?
We’d do one, we’ve got more some singles in the works to go with our four already out. But we’d need a lot more listeners at the moment (wink wink). But it’s something that we’d love to do, so it’ll definitely happen.
Is there anything else we should know about RetroMode?
Well, you can find us on Spotify and on Instagram @retromodetheband, and if you fancy some rock n roll, keep a look out for gigs, because we can promise you energy. I am 16, and Brock & Connor are 18. So if you come to a gig and you think we’re decent and you wanna buy us a drink, ill (legally) be on apple juice. cheers.
also, if you liked this interview, just know i have sideburns, hope this doesn’t take you out of the experience.
Take it Ez