We are massive fans of the work of Justin Stokes through his work with the band Wilding, admiring his ability to craft intelligent self-deprecating pop of the highest order. We are therefore honoured to bring you the debut single 'This Is How It Hurts' from his new project called Modern Ideas. Modern Ideas explores a new synth pop universe, as Stokes eloquently explains: Synthetic forms can be the most authentic way to express emotion. Something is revealed in the antithesis. Plastic dreams, electric romance, and machines humming with human desire.

Modern Ideas released the debut single 'This Is How It Hurts' back in April (see our premiere here), and the follow-up single 'Everybody Calls Except You' maintains the gentle melancholy pop genre with a yearning paean to hurt. The razor sharp electronica buoyantly supports singer Justin Stokes's yearning pathos-filled delivery with a backbeat bounce reminiscent of Blancmange or early Depeche Mode, while the lyrics capture the thrilling beauty of emotional and physical pain: I’m not feeling wellI can’t get out of bedIt's not that I’m illIt's only that I‘m feeling boring…