Every week, the Milwaukee Music Premiere sponsored by Density Studios connects the city’s artists with our listening audience. If you’re an artist with a track you’d like us to debut exclusively on Radio Milwaukee, head over to our Music Submission page to learn how.
Modern Joey are a rock group. Says it right there in their bio. However, you’ll notice when you hit the “Listen” button above that the track we’re helping them premiere today doesn’t only rock. It also R&Bs, discos and even gets a little yacht-y.
At nearly 5 minutes, “Wash You Off” has ample room to do all of those things and starts — appropriately — with a prominent bass line from Christian Porter. It’s fitting because Porter’s the one who got the song off the ground by sharing a demo with his bandmates that covered the main verse sections. That still left a fair amount to fill in, so they set to work writing and arranging while staying true to the R&B flavor Porter brings to the table.
The result of their efforts is a ’70s-style track featuring the sounds you’d expect from the era: groovy keys, waka-waka guitar licks, and a call-and-response chorus. The words for that last one came from guitarist Carl Erikstrup, who chose the classic subject of heartbreak to go along with the song’s classic sound.
“The lyrics are mostly rooted in feelings of post-breakup aftershock, the confusion that comes with it and the multitude of ways everyone tries to get over someone,” the band explained. “Drowning your sorrows at the bar, trying to meet someone to distract you, going for a walk after laying awake for hours, and navigating the unshakable desire to reach back out to a lover that left you in the dust.”
I turn out the lights, just to stay intact
I haven’t found any answers in the ceiling fan
Tonight’s no different, as I drift through the city
No point in even trying to sleep
I wander the neighborhood, and pray you’ll call
It beats counting a million sheep
You can hear those lyrics in the full track using the player at the top of the page or by catching “Wash You Off” on 88Nine throughout today (7:30 and 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.). The single comes out this Friday, April 25, and will be on Modern Joey’s forthcoming album. If you want to catch the band live, the last installment of their residency at Mad Planet is this at 9 p.m. Saturday as part of a bill that includes Moonglow, Stone Theory and Sulestial.
