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Photo: Daniel Alexander Harris

Has a song ever tricked you before? One moment you're vibing to an upbeat track, and the next you're realizing that it may not be what it seems. You find yourself paying more attention to the lyrics, and what initially appeared to be a feel-good hit of the summer turns out to be something a little more real and raw.

Hot on the heels of multiple successful singles, Irish pop-rock band modernlove. are finally releasing their highly anticipated EP Oh My Mind. This EP channels the spirit of punk rock yet manages to deliver something new and fresh. These tracks are high energy, full of bright vocals, and punchy guitar riffs. Yet, as upbeat as Oh My Mind sounds, this EP is a deep dive into pop culture, heartbreak, and the ensuing fallout. 

"Oh My Mind explores the modern day neuroses of young people and the mental health challenges brought upon them by pop culture, the internet and most recently, the coronavirus lockdowns. I think we all went a little mad over lockdown and most of this EP was written in that state of social isolation. Without distraction or release from cycles of negative thought you can begin to spiral to the point of derealisation and being in a constant state of panic. But then we kinda juxtaposed that by a brighter and more playful sonic composition. I think as young people, we tend to joke about our mental health as a way of relating to one another and not feeling so alone in all of it. So it felt natural to write a poppy, upbeat song about such dark themes rather than treating them with a forced solemnity and formality," shares the band

One major strength of Oh My Mind is the storytelling, which is evident in the track "Us." It serves as a visceral account of the growing divide between two people. The chorus echoing " Love, what have we done to us?" is a poignant reminder of the tragedy that not all relationships last. The song "Familiar" hones in on that universal experience of running into an old flame. There are so many complex emotions connected to that moment and modernlove. use their brilliant songwriting ability to provide us with a track we can all engage with. The outlier on the EP is "Take My Head," which trades traditional instruments for 808s and autotune — a departure from their typical sound but equally as catchy.

With Oh My Mind, modernlove. has assembled an EP that's equal parts infectious and vulnerable. It's an anthem for the heartbroken carefully crafted to be both tragic and fun, which when you think about it, also kind of sums up life.

Listen to Oh My Mind below: