Mod Sun

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Mod Sun
Smith in 2015
Smith in 2015
Background information
Birth nameDerek Ryan Smith
Also known asDylan Smith
Born (1987-03-10) March 10, 1987 (age 34)
Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • drums
Years active2004–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitemodsunmusic.com

Derek Ryan Smith (born March 10, 1987), known professionally as Mod Sun[a] (stylized as MOD SUN or MODSUN) is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper from Bloomington, Minnesota. He has released four solo studio albums, three EPs, six mixtapes and thirty-one singles.

Beginning his musical career by playing drums in pop punk band the Semester and post-hardcore groups Four Letter Lie and Scary Kids Scaring Kids,[2] Smith began a solo rap career in 2009 under the name Mod Sun. The release of his fourth solo studio album Internet Killed the Rockstar saw a stylistic shift back to pop punk.[3] He is also a member of the alternative hip hop duo Hotel Motel.[4]

Early life[]

Derek Ryan Smith was born on March 10, 1987, in Bloomington, Minnesota. Later his father left for California and his parents divorced, after which Smith spent some time living with his father in Long Beach, California. From age five to ten, he moved frequently due to his mother having to relocate for various jobs.[5] He spent much of his time growing up on a farm in Corcoran, Minnesota.[6] Smith's father lived next door to Bud Gaugh, drummer of Sublime, who influenced him to become involved in music.[1]

In his teens, Smith began attending concerts in his local pop punk scene. He became an increasingly prominent figure in the scene through his mother encouraging him to attend concerts and ask the touring band members whether they wanted to stay the night at their house. In the follow years, Smith and other local bands and musicians in the scene became increasingly interested in fashion and influence by New Jersey and Drive-Thru Records emo bands, leading to them becoming members of the scene subculture.[7] In eighth grade, he designed merchandise for bands.[1]

Music career[]

2004–2010: Career Beginnings[]

Smith's first band was the pop punk band Sideline Heroes.[8] He then began playing drums for local pop punk band the Semester in his sophomore year of high school. He spent the following four years in the band, before being kicked out three months after his graduation.[3] In 2004, he became a member of the post-hardcore band Four Letter Lie.[9] In 2009, he was kicked out of the band and spent a period of time selling drugs as well as being a drum tech for Scary Kids Scaring Kids. He was eventually asked to be the drummer for Scary Kids Scaring Kids, which he accepted under the condition that he could be open for the band on tour as a solo artist.[1][10]

2011–2019: Solo career and Look Up, Movie and BB[]

Mod Sun has released five mixtapes and three EPs throughout his solo career. His style of music has been described as "hippy hop". Mod Sun's debut album, Look Up, was released on March 10, 2015, through Rostrum Records.[10] It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[11] On March 10, 2017, his second studio album, Movie, was released, also through Rostrum Records. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[12] His third studio album BB was released on November 10, 2017 and spawned the single "#noshirton".

2020–present: Internet Killed the Rockstar[]

In early 2020, Mod Sun announced he started working on his upcoming fourth studio album.[13] Its lead single "Karma" was released on October 30, 2020.[14] The accompanying music video was released three weeks later on November 16, 2020 and was directed by Machine Gun Kelly.[15] The song "Bones" was released as the album's second single on November 27, 2020.[16] The music video for "Bones" was released on December 21, 2020 via Mod Sun's official YouTube channel and was directed by Charlie Zwick.[17] The album's third single, "Flames", was a collaboration with Avril Lavigne.[18] On January 18, 2021, Downfalls High, a film Smith co-directed with Machine Gun Kelly was released.[3] On 25 January, 2021 Mod Sun officially announced announced the album title, Internet Killed the Rockstar, and its release date, February 12, 2021.

On March 12, 2021, he released the single "Heavy" featuring Blackbear.[19] The same month he signed a long-term deal with Big Noise.[20]

On August 26, 2021, it was announced that he would star in and co–direct the film Good Mourning With A U, alongside Machine Gun Kelly, Dove Cameron, Megan Fox and Becky G.[21]

Personal life[]

Beginning in October 2018, Smith was in a polyamorous relationship with internet personality Tana Mongeau and actress Bella Thorne. After the throuple's breakup, he began a monogamous relationship with Thorne.[22] Smith and Thorne became engaged, got married and then subsequently divorced within fifteen months.[23] In early 2020, he began a monogamous relationship with Mongeau, and broke by the end of the year.[24] He is currently in a relationship with Canadian musician Avril Lavigne.[23]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

List of albums with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[25]
US
Alternative

[26]
US
R&B/Hip-Hop

[27]
US
Heatseekers

[28]
US
Independent

[29]
Look Up
  • Released: March 10, 2015
  • Label: Rostrum
  • Format: CD, Vinyl, digital download
120 6 13 1 7
Movie
  • Released: March 10, 2017
  • Label: Rostrum
  • Format: CD, Vinyl, digital download
16 40
BB
  • Released: November 10, 2017
  • Label: Rostrum
  • Format: digital download
Internet Killed the Rockstar
  • Released: February 12, 2021
  • Label: New Hippys/Big Noise
  • Format: CD, Vinyl, digital download
21

Extended plays[]

Title Details
The Hippy Hop EP
  • Released: January 15, 2010
  • Label: Mod Sun
  • Format: Digital download
In MOD We Trust
  • Released: February 8, 2011
  • Label: New Hippys
  • Format: Digital download
Happy as Fuck
  • Released: June 13, 2012
  • Label: Bananabeat Records
  • Format: Digital download

Mixtapes[]

  • 2009: I'll Buy Myself[30]
  • 2009: Let Ya Teeth Show
  • 2009: How to Make a MOD SUN
  • 2011: Health, Wealth, Success, & Happiness
  • 2011: Blazed by the Bell
  • 2012: First Take

Singles[]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Alt.

[31]
US
Rock

[32]
CAN
Dig.

[33]
NZ
Hot

[34]
UK
Down.

[35]
"Need That" 2010 In MOD We Trust
"Paradisity" 2011
"All Night, Every Night"
(with The Ready Set)
2012 Non-album singles
"Save"
(with Ab-Soul, Rich Hil and Metasota
"My Hippy" 2013 Look Up
"1970" 2014
"Howlin' at the Moon" 2015
"Pound on the Way" Non-album single
"We Do This Shit"
(with DeJ Loaf)
2016 Movie
"Two" 2017
"Beautiful Problem"
(with gnash & Maty Noyes)
happyBB" BB
"#noshirton"
"poundzzzzzz"
"address on the internet"
"Runaway" 2018 Non-album singles
"Burning Up"
"Psycho Smile" 2019
"Tell Me All Your Secrets"
"Blue Cheese"
"Selfish"
"Shoulder"
"Amen"
"Tipi/2005 Flex Up"
"I Remember Way Too Much"
"Uppers & Downers"
"Stay Away" 2020
"Karma" Internet Killed the Rockstar
"Bones"
"Flames"
(with Avril Lavigne)
2021 21 35 50 40 74
"Heavy"
(with Blackbear)
Internet Killed the Rockstar: Deluxe[36]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Featured singles[]

  • 2011: "Good Times" by Swimming With Dolphins
  • 2012: "I Think It's Hot" by Def Gone Graphic
  • 2012: "Catch Me Smilin" by Joe B.
  • 2013: "Right Now" by Goody
  • 2013: "Get Loco" by T.T.
  • 2013: "The Tortoise and the Hare" by The Weekend Hustler
  • 2013: "Let It Bang" by Jbre & Dougie Kent
  • 2014: "All I Need Is Sunshine" by The Gooneez & Sidereal
  • 2014: "Raw Cypher" by Dizzy Wright, Like, and Sir Michael Rocks
  • 2015: "me you & the moon" by Call Me Karizma
  • 2016: "Sublime" by Machine Gun Kelly
  • 2018: ":)" by LIL PHAG and Dr. Woke

Books[]

Non-fiction books[]

  • 2012: Did I Ever Wake Up?

Poetry books[]

  • 2015: My Dear Pink
  • 2018: So Long Los Angeles

Journals[]

  • 2015: "Happy to be here"
  • 2016: "Happy to be here pt. 2"
  • 2019: “Happy to be here pt. 3”

Filmography[]

  • 2021: Downfalls High (director, cameo)
  • TBA: Mourning with a A (director, actor)

References[]

  1. ^ Smith has said that "Mod Sun" is both an abbreviation of Modern Sunshine and an acronym standing for Movement on Dreams, Stand under None[1]
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Adam22 (June 22, 2016). "The Mod Sun Interview" (Podcast). Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Here's How Mod Sun Ended Up Singing with Fall Out Boy at an Early Gig". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c MCCARTHY, LAUREN. "THE NINE LIVES OF MOD SUN". Nylon. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  4. ^ HAVENS, LYNDSEY. "How Mod Sun Became Pop-Punk's Go-To Songwriter, From Machine Gun Kelly to Avril Lavigne". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Mod Sun - Topic (November 30, 2015), Did I Ever Wake Up? (Pt. 1), retrieved April 15, 2017
  6. ^ Mod Sun - Topic (March 10, 2015), Mod Sun: "Hip-Hop Is Ready for Positivity Again"
  7. ^ "HERE'S HOW MOD SUN ENDED UP SINGING WITH FALL OUT BOY AT AN EARLY GIG". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Finn McKenty. "Mod Sun" (Podcast). Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Baker, Brian (February 11, 2013). "Mod Sun". CityBeat Cincinnati. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mod Sun - Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "Mod Sun Look Up Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "Mod Sun Movie Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  13. ^ Dolby, Nuha (March 9, 2020). "Mod Sun talks growing up in the Midwest, sobriety, new album". The Badger Herald. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Stagnitta, Ally (November 24, 2020). "Mod Sun Emotionally Reveals Putting Down Drugs & Alcohol Has Shaped His Career Upon Release Of "Karma"". Hollywood Life. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  15. ^ Wilcox-Adams, Deidre (November 16, 2020). "Mod Sun's "Karma" Video is Here & MGK Directed it". The Honey Pop. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  16. ^ Shamim, Aman (December 4, 2020). "We Can Fell It in Our Bones, Mod Sun's Latest Single Really Hits Deep". The Honey Pop. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "Mod Sun Drops Cinematic Visual for Recently Released Single "Bones"". Broadway World. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  18. ^ Wass, Mike (January 1, 2021). "Avril Lavigne & Mod Sun Team Up For "Flames"". Idolator. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Mod Sun And Blackbear Join Forces For New Song "Heavy" — LISTEN". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Deals: MOD SUN Signs With Big Noise, ADA Pairs With Billy Mann". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Carter, Emily. "Machine Gun Kelly and MOD SUN are co-directing and starring in new movie Good Mourning With A U". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  22. ^ Contreras, Cydney (February 26, 2019). "Bella Thorne Splits From YouTube Star Tana Mongeau After 1 Year". E! News. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b "Avril Lavigne is dating Mod Sun!". The Times of India. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Briscuso, Lex (May 15, 2020). "Tana Mongeau and Mod Sun Reveal They Kept Their Distance When They First Met … Now, Not So Much". Life & Style. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  25. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  26. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History (Top Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  27. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  28. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Top Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  29. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  30. ^ "DatPiff :: The Authority in Free Mixtapes". DatPiff.
  31. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  32. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  33. ^ "Mod Sun Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  34. ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot 40 Singles Chart:
  35. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  36. ^ White, Logan. "Mod Sun And Avril Lavigne Release Acoustic Video For "Flames"". Retrieved April 24, 2021.

External links[]

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