Interview With Mod Sun on His Smile Machine Tour in NYC

News · October 23, 2018

Mod Sun plays at the legendary SOBs in NYC for the first time

I’m no stranger to seeing the happiest man on earth, hippy-hop artist Mod Sun while he’s spreading love and positivity city to city on tour, but this one was super special. The Smile Machine Tour was one for the books. For the first time, he performed in NYC’s legendary venue SOBs and I did my second interview with Mod Sun.

Prior to his high energy, unifying performance, I sat down with Mod Sun to catch up since our last conversation back in 2015. That November, we spoke about his debut album, Look Up, but a lot has happened since then. Last year, he released his sophomore album, Movie, and that’s where it all changed. I believe that’s where it truly all started.

In Mod Sun’s book, Did I Ever Wake Up, he talks about being reborn. Personally, I feel like after Movie was released, he was reborn to his friend base all over again. For realistically the first time, we got to see a different side to the always smiling ear to ear, happy all the time hippy we are all so accustomed to. We got tracks like “Make Somethin’ Of Yourself” and “The End Or Start Again?” These songs were real. They were honest. They were full of heart, emotion and genuine authenticity.

Continuing that journey of sharing more raw and real life moments, this year Mod Sun put out my new favorite track, Runaway. I can’t get enough of this song. It’s this pure self aware, self love anthem. A true test of strength and perseverance when maybe giving up would be easier. Not him, not ever. Mod Suns vulnerability opens up this undeniable connection and understanding. It offers another way to relate to those who listen. It opens the possibility to reach a whole new group of people. He’s truly just getting started.

Following our conversation, he took that legendary stage and showed the entire crowd why he was destined to be doing exactly what he’s doing. As we all screamed and sang every lyric with him, as we danced, as we had fun, as we all connected, I was again reassured why that’s exactly where I was meant to be in that moment. There’s just this energy Mod Sun radiates. This presence that demands your attention and makes you feel at home.

Arguably my favorite part of the entire experience is getting to show him my tattoo and explain why I got it. After our 2015 interview and conversation, I got “modsun” tattooed on my wrist. Hearing from him exactly how Movement On Dreams Stand Under None came about and what it means, stands for and represents, was incredibly inspiring and full of love. It now had an added meaning to me, and I knew then and there the tattoo was happening. Getting to tell Mod Sun that, have another beautiful conversation together and see him perform yet again all validates and reassures what I’ve known all along, he’s a one of a kind soul that makes the world better just by being in it.