Written by Sydney Durst
Mod Sun, also known as Derek Smith, after almost a decade of releasing upbeat “hippie rap” has returned to his musical roots in the alternative scene with his latest pop-punk release titled “Flames.” This angsty ballad features Avril Lavigne, known for hits like “Sk8er Boi” and “Girlfriend”, and acts as a continuation of two of his previous singles, “Bones” and “Karma.”
While “Bones” discusses wanting to give a relationship one last try despite being an obvious failure and “Karma” speaks of the rage that can follow a breakup, the theme of “Flames” is desiring a situation that you’re self-aware enough to know is toxic. The back-and-forth between Mod Sun and Avril Lavigne’s vocals shows that conflict within yourself set to music.
Lavigne’s smooth high-pitched vocals work well to compliment the rougher sound that Mod Sun displays throughout the track. They also work contextually within the story of the song, the tale of a "smooth" or uneventful relationship (smooth vocals), and what is reality, a toxic situation (rougher vocals and louder instrumentals).
Lyrics like “Up in flames, up in flames / Light a match and put it to my name” only further represent the temporary nature of the situation that was created. While this single is different from Mod Sun’s work in the past, it's something that can still be loved by long-time listeners and bring in new fans as well!
Mod Sun’s new single “Flames” is available to stream everywhere and he can be followed on Twitter @ModSun or supported by purchasing his merch. Let us know your thoughts about “Flames” and what you think Mod Sun will be up to next by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
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