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Canadian twin brother duo Retrofile release melancholic indie-pop single ‘Modern Tricks’

• 20th Jul 2023

Twin duo hailing from Edmonton, Canada, Retrofile are back with their third single ‘Modern Tricks’ taken from their forthcoming EP and releasing 14th July 2023. The EP is due to drop 14th September 2023.

The new track has a melancholic feel that matches the general malaise of the lyrics, especially when the chorus hits with its Fleetwood Mac-esque three-part harmony. When creating the single, the duo were hoping it would land on someone’s “Riding my bike on a sunny day” playlist. ‘Modern Tricks’ showcases the siblings ability to encapsulate the indie rock, indie pop and dance pop genres, creating a catchy, yet morose tune.

Speaking of the new single, member Noah Martino explained: “Modern Tricks started out as a one-minute demo we wrote during one of the Covid-19 lockdowns. We wrote the music first and then Luke improvised most of the lyrics on the track. The song is about our relationship with social media. With time, we have noticed an increased proclivity towards individuals using their social media as a self hype machine. The key lyric here is “are you preaching to the choir or playing the idol?”. The line between the performer and audience has certainly become blurred. It’s all a bit forced and fake, hence the title ‘Modern Tricks’.”

By combining the melody driven hooks of 80s pop, the rhythmic pulse of disco and the guitar/synth interplay of 00’s rock, Retrofile burst onto the alternative music scene in 2017 with the release of their debut single ‘Two Words’. Recorded in twin brothers Luke and Noah Martino’s makeshift studio, the single became a surprise word of mouth sensation, garnering hundreds of thousands of streams within months of release and kickstarting their career. As of right now, the duo have accumulated 27 million streams in 2022 and are on pace to have over 70 million+ streams by the end of this year..

In 2019, with a wave of sold out live shows under their belts and an enthusiastic fan base backing them, Retrofile released their debut EP ‘Heard It All Before’. Spawning two successful singles (‘Running’ and ‘Heard It All Before’), the EP saw the duo invigorate their sound and look with a blend of new wave and modern pop sensibilities. Although the global pandemic halted their live performance ambitions, Retrofile took the downtime as a chance to write and perfect material for their debut album (set for release this year). Retrofile were selected as a showcase act for Canada Music Week 2023 and are currently booking shows for 2023 into 2024.

Retrofile’s third single, ‘Modern Tricks’, is due for release 14th July 2023.