12 Questions with Modern Age.
Modern Age are a band from the Wirral who have been writing and gigging for several years now, an amazing feat considering they are all still so young!
NSG spoke to them about what inspires them, how hard it can be starting out so young and what they dream of as a band!
NSG: Hi guys and welcome, how have you been and what have you been up to since we last met?
Band: We have currently been writing songs and rehearsing, we have been rehearsing in a cellar of a local pub where we get most of our gigs and get our first break. We have now been starting to get some gigs back and are about to do a charity gig called BootFest in Liscard.
NSG: Prior to the pandemic, how was 2020/2021 looking for the band? What did you have planned and how much has that plan, if at all changed?
Modern Age
Band: we had about 40 gigs booked around Wirral but were cancelled due to covid, and we could not practice, so we just wrote more songs, as school was also closed we were able to write more of our own material, we are hoping to get more gigs so we can play our new songs.
NSG: You’re actually the youngest band we’ve interviewed, I was wondering what it is like being young in the music industry? Do you find there are barriers you encounter being young? Do you feel there’s much support for young artists out there?
Joe William, Singer/songwriter/guitarist: It is hard because there are a lot of barriers due to our age, and we can’t get enough exposure with only being 16yrs old.
Charlie Holden, Singer/songwriter/bass guitar: We feel like we have been taken advantage of due to our age, we’ve been given the name a young Merseyside band and that we need to please the public, and feel they only want to hear covers and we don’t feel that is necessary as we want to go places with our own music.
Jamie Cartwright, Singer/guitarist: We feel underestimated as people wouldn’t know what to expect because of our age, by people haven’t actually come to see us play.
David Vine, Drummer: I don’t feel there is a lot of support again due to our age I’m 15yrs old, our parents have been very supportive getting the gigs and buying some of our gear.
Modern Age
NSG: Can you describe your sound to us?
Band: We are the music so we don’t have a particular sound, we are a mixture of what we play and our influences of parts of the band, Jamie is Blues country flair, Charlie and Joe write material to suit the whole band.
NSG: Who’s got the coolest or strategist hobby in the band and what is it?
Band: Music is our main hobby, but we do like football. Charlie enjoys cooking.
NSG: How did the band form and how did you all meet?
Joe Williams: Jamie and I have known one another since we were about 7yrs old and played guitar, we met Charlie through social media about 4yrs ago and David joined in high school 1 year later, and we all became Modern Age in Feb 2019.
NSG: We see you’ve had some gigs since restrictions have been eased. What was that like after not playing live for so long? What gigs have you got coming up?
Band: The first gig after the lockdown was awesome. It was in Liscard and we played outside in the beer garden and the weather was amazing. We only rehearsed for about a week and played our new songs and they went down really well with all the audience.
NSG: What artists would you say are your biggest influence as a band?
Jamie Cartwright: Beatles, Don Maclean, Arctic Monkeys, Everly Brothers.
Charlie Holden: melody-Syd Barrett, Thom Yorke Lyrics -Josh Tilman Joey Diaz.
Joe Williams: John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Roger Waters, Bob Marley.
David Vine: Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl, Kevin Parker, Matt Helders.
Modern Age
NSG: If you could pick a venue to play, anywhere in the world, for each of you, what would that be and why?
Joe: Madison Square garden.
Charlie: Wembley.
Jamie: The Cavern Club.
David: Knebworth.
Band: These are big venues and attract a lot of tourists and our favourite bands have played in these venues.
NSG: How is the rest of 2021 looking for you?
Band: For Joe, Charlie, and Jamie things are looking up as we are getting new venues and gigs and we are going to music college.
David: I still have my final year in school before I can go to college.
NSG: What has been the most enjoyable gig you’ve played and why?
Band: We did a private garden 60th Birthday party and it was awesome. We did 3 sets and the time flew by. We wanted to carry on, the guests really enjoyed it, and we got really good reviews and hopefully have a 21st birthday party, another garden party, and a wedding booked from it.
Modern Age
NSG: If you could have one wish as a band what would it be?
Band; to be signed.
Charlie: enjoy the songs I’m writing, record them and perform live.
Band: We would all like to do a festival.
NSG: Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed, is there anything else you’d like to add?
Band: Thank you for allowing us to do this interview and for reading our comments, look out for us, a fresh new up and coming band, MODERN AGE!
To follow the band on social media click on the links in pink below.
