I’ve made it pretty well known that some of my favorite artists are bringing the sounds of the past into modern music and electropop duo The Flints are doing just that. Twin brothers George and Henry Flint infuse modern pop hooks with spacey synths, 70s disco-inspired basslines and harmonized vocal melodies that breathe new life into an otherwise vintage sound. Mixing different music genres is tough enough, especially when you’re trying to bring in styles of music that are older than you with today’s sounds, which is what The Flints are all about. It’s refreshing to hear modern music that still has some dirt and grit behind it. It’s not snapped to the grid with a robotic percussive mix. There’s humans behind those sounds.
Speaking of humans, the crowd was fairly packed by the time The Flints took the stage, and it was pretty clear that most of them were already fans. The die-hards on the rail were singing along and dancing to “Like You Mean It,” “The End Is The End” and “Finally Forever.” “Like You Mean It” features a cool half time chorus that makes it a unique track in the set. The song features energetic verses that transition into a relaxed, psychedelic-pop chorus before seamlessly returning to the original faster tempo. It’s not just metal artists who are switching up timings mid song, The Flints can do it too. My favorite track of the night was “Serengeti.” This track leans into the 70s vibes hard. The syncopation and basslines throughout the song bring out my “nasty riff face.” At the time of writing this, “Serengeti” is sitting right behind “Mannequin Love,” The Flint’s collaborative track with Justice, for most plays on Spotify. Is it because it’s one of their oldest songs or because it’s a banger? Why not both?
Let’s talk about Justice for a second. I’ve been known to blast Justice tracks while driving, but seeing their set live is a whole different experience. This isn’t just another electronic music show with some flashy lights and random videos looping in the back. The lights and timing felt organic. The whole stage reacted to the sounds being punched through the sound system by the Justice duo. The crowd was lost in the world that Justice built. I would have loved to see The Flints join Justice for “Mannequin Love,” but I also don’t see how that would have been possible without breaking the flow of the set.
With this Justice collaboration and US tour pushing The Flints popularity higher, I’m excited to see what the future holds for the duo. Their mix of old and new in this day and age of music filled with squeaky clean, sterile tones is refreshing. Today’s popular music often lacks the human element and the unique texture of analog instruments. The Flints are bringing those vital qualities back. Be sure to check them out on your favorite streaming platform.