Modern Liv on Vulnerability and Friendship in Boy Band
Modern Liv has taken the indie rock scene by storm with her debut EP, Boy Band. The 24-year-old East London-based artist delivers a powerful blend of jazz, soul, and indie rock, seamlessly weaving introspective lyricism with her versatile vocal style. From navigating self-doubt to celebrating friendships, Liv invites listeners into her world through her poignant storytelling and genre-defying sound. With Boy Band, she explores themes of love, vulnerability, and growth while paying homage to the music that shaped her.
As we sit down with Modern Liv, she opens up about her creative process, the stories behind her songs, and the lessons learned along the way.
FAULT Magazine: Your EP ‘Boy Band’ has lots of different influences—from jazz and soul to classic rock and French electronic. How did you approach blending these genres into a cohesive sound while still making it feel authentically you?
Modern Liv: A lot of work went into producing and mixing the EP in a way that retains the essence of the genres that inspire me while adding my own twist, through trial and error. I made sure to find synth sounds and guitar settings that resonated with the rock artists I wanted to reference while complimenting the jazz chords I snuck in. There are also certain instruments that I think tie a song together really well, like the Hammond organ. I sprinkled in a lot of old-school instruments like that, which are inspired by classic rock but pair really well with electronic elements.
FAULT Magazine: ‘Together Tonight’ is a powerful opening track, and you mentioned it was written before a big concert. Could you walk us through the moment that inspired the song and how you translated that vulnerability into music?
Modern Liv: I had a deep conversation with a friend about why I felt really conflicted about going on stage, and it goes back to childhood experiences of coming into a new environment and being made fun of. It was really difficult for me to let the part of me that had been hurt go in front of hundreds of people and be vulnerable. At the same time, I knew this was what I really wanted to do, and that the stage is my happy place. After talking that over, I wrote ‘Together Tonight’ as a negotiation between those two parts of myself, basically telling myself to get out of my own way. Translating that into music came really naturally: the lyrics are almost like a diary entry, and there’s duality throughout the song. For example, there are only two very similar chords in the verse, two guitars in dialogue in the solo—I was trying to create a push and pull.
FAULT Magazine: You’ve described ‘Boy Band’ as a coming-of-age project. How did your personal experiences shape the stories behind the songs?
Modern Liv: I think the EP is an exploration of my experiences with love. Self-love in Together Tonight, platonic love falling apart in Betting on Illusions, romantic love in Shake the Feeling, and then triumphant friendship with Boy Band. It’s a sort of summary of my relationships throughout the years, and a celebration of knowing myself better.
FAULT Magazine: The title track ‘Boy Band’ is such an interesting metaphor for the power of friendships. Can you share a specific moment or person that inspired this song?
Modern Liv: The song is inspired by two of my childhood friends, including my best friend since we were seven. She and I would pretend to be part of The Beatles. It was my first experience of blending music and friendship, and it’s still one of the best memories from my childhood. The other person I refer to has been my best friend since I was ten. We never pretended to be in a boy band actually, but we dreamed big and have always supported each other in that. I wanted to write an anthem in honour of platonic love, now that we’re adults pursuing those dreams hand in hand.
FAULT Magazine: You’ve mentioned grappling with self-doubt as a new artist. How do you navigate those moments of insecurity, and has writing ‘Boy Band’ helped you overcome any personal fears?
Modern Liv: Together Tonight is a really helpful song to start a gig with in those moments of fear because I’m talking myself through the doubts. Mostly I try not to think about it and just keep driving forwards, and taking in the support when it’s there. Otherwise, singing jazz standards helps remind me that I’m doing this because my passion is singing, and that getting on stage to do that is my favourite thing.
FAULT Magazine: Looking ahead, what do you hope listeners take away from ‘Boy Band’?
Modern Liv: I hope the main takeaway is in my song Shake the Feeling. It’s a song about asking for support from your loved ones when you think that being loved would take too much effort from other people, or that you’re fundamentally unlovable. I hope that song sets a high standard for how you should be treated, and reminds people that if your friends or loved ones are unreliable, like in Betting on Illusions, you can find people who make you feel like you’re in a Boy Band instead.
FAULT Magazine: What are you most looking forward to next year?
Modern Liv: My second EP!!! My first single will be out in January and I’m so excited for this new era of Modern Liv.
FAULT Magazine: What is your FAULT?
Modern Liv: I can really hold a grudge…