During CMA Fest in Nashville earlier this summer, the indie-rock band New Translations captured attention with their vibrant performance, showcasing their synth-driven sound led by the magnetic frontperson, Oliver Pierce. The band took the stage at Jon Bon Jovi’s honky-tonk, sharing a lineup with headliners Cage the Elephant in what proved to be a unique rock & roll experience.
New Music and Nostalgia
On Friday, New Translations debuted their latest track, “Modern Lovers,” produced by Yves Rothman (Blondshell). The song presents a captivating blend of hypnotic synth-pop, where Pierce reflects on the nostalgia for a time when uncertainty reigned—specifically, during the pandemic, when he and his friends fantasized about escaping to Thailand. “It’s a song about the distance between who we were then and who we are now: the shortcomings, the vices, and the miles of hindsight,” Pierce shared. “‘Modern Lovers’ is about longing — not to be who we were then, but for the feeling that anything was possible, whereas now so much of life feels so pathed out and certain.”
Looking Ahead
The new track serves as a preview of New Translations’ upcoming album, the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2025 debut, Vacation. With its infectious sound reminiscent of kingpins like the Killers, “Modern Lovers” is expected to solidify the band’s place in the evolving indie-rock landscape.
A Thriving Nashville Scene
Joining other notable acts like Lombardy, Flight Attendant, and Snooper, New Translations are at the forefront of Nashville’s emerging indie-rock scene, which has gained prominence through initiatives such as the Rocknite live showcases. “Rocknite has done a really good job in establishing a community of the alt scene, whether that’s alt-rock, pop, anything left of country,” Pierce noted in an interview with Rolling Stone in June. “Maybe in some way it’s infiltrating, but I’m happy to be a part of any sense of putting a spotlight on the community that we have. It’s been around for a long time and this is just a great magnifier.”
