With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s a time to appreciate and reflect on the valuable contributions that our mothers and parental figures have made to shape us into the individuals we are today.
Pop-punk sensation MOD SUN did just that on a global scale when he paid tribute to his mother on his latest album God Save The Teen with the powerful track “Single Mothers.” The song serves as an anthem that celebrates the fortitude and strength of single mothers, and it became a staple of MOD’s live headlining tour, which ended in April. The track holds a special significance for those who have gone through similar situations or upbringings to MOD SUN and his mother, creating a deep emotional connection between the song and its audience.
Opening with the heart-wrenching verse, “Yes, I had a dad/But a woman taught me how to be a man/At the age of six, my parents split/I was left there fatherless/Mom’s heart would never heal from it/She traded her life for her kids,” MOD SUN‘s lyrics are filled with empathy and admiration for these women, recognizing their hard work and dedication in the face of adversity. The chorus, with its catchy melody and uplifting message, is an affirmation of the value and importance of single mothers in our society.
idobi caught up with MOD SUN to discuss the touching tribute to single mothers and the impact of sharing his experiences growing up. Listen to “Single Mothers” and read the full interview with MOD SUN below.
The track “Single Mothers” starts with a recording of your mom answering the phone and saying, “Hey baby” and ends with a recording of her encouraging all single mothers out there. Why was it essential to ensure that the song went beyond a love letter to your mom, but included her on the track?
I wanted this song to come from the voice of what a single mother actually has to go through, not just my idea of what they go through. To write it, I actually asked my mom questions about what it was really like raising my sister and me by herself. It was honestly the first time I ever asked her those questions…by doing that, we grew even closer, and I had a better appreciation for what she did for us. I recorded our conversations, and when it came time to release it, I felt like her voice was such an important part of the song that I wanted her to give a message to the listeners.
You also included the track on the setlist for your recent headlining tour despite it being slower and sadder than most of the tracks you performed live. The track gave you an opportunity to connect with other single mothers and their kids in the crowd as well as all of the adults in the crowd who grew up with a single mother. Why was that moment so important to include in your live set?
I’m so proud of this song. I’ve never heard a song for single mothers, and they deserved one. I think when not everyone can relate to a specific song it makes the connection that much stronger for the ones that do. It feels like it belongs to them. So every night I enjoyed being able to look into the crowd and see the individuals this song resonates with and perform directly to them. I don’t know, I guess that’s just what I want from an artist I love.
Your mother has always been an extremely important part of your life. Why was now the time to release a song that would embody her forever and connect with so many people who grew up in a similar situation? Beyond that, did the track serve as a release of the pain you felt growing up while watching your mom raise you and your sister alone?
On my album, Internet Killed The Rockstar I wrote a song called “Smith” for [my dad] after he passed away. I realized he would never be able to hear that song. I needed to give my mom that so she would be able to hear it. I wanted her to know how much I love her and appreciate all the sacrifices she made for us. Making the song was a cathartic experience for me. I felt like I was telling her story more than mine and my mom is my superhero. I want the world to know that.
Aside from everything you wrote in the track, what would you want to say to all of the single mothers out there and the kids who grew up wishing they had their dads around more?
To all the single mothers, I would tell them how appreciated they are. To let them know that what they went through does have a witness. To know that the kids they raise do notice the pain they went through, and we all wanna say, “Thank you.” Sometimes that’s all someone needs to hear is, “Thank you.”
To the kids, go easy on your mom because they are doing double the work to raise you. They most likely have given up all their dreams to give you the life you want. Tell them how much you love them every day and never go to sleep mad at each other. It’s ok to argue but come to terms with each other before the next day starts.
