Modera on their new album ‘Together, Apart’, the importance of storytelling, defining success and more [Interview] – PLAYY. Magazine

Seattle-based melodic house duo Modera have returned with their sophomore album Together, Apart, which landed on August 8 via Colorize, the progressive imprint of Enhanced Music. Following their breakout debut album From Walks of Life, the producers have solidified their place in the scene with lush sound design, emotionally charged collaborations, and support from SiriusXM Chill, major DSP playlists, and festival stages across the states. Spanning ten tracks that explore themes of distance, memory, and human connection, the album arrives as one of Colorize’s defining releases of 2025.

Read our interview with Modera and take a listen below.

Tell us about the meaning behind the paradoxical album name, Together, Apart?

The title came to us before we wrote any of the music. At first, it was literal, we were living on opposite sides of the country when we started this album. That physical distance became the first hurdle and, ironically, the first source of inspiration. Over time, “Together, Apart” grew into something deeper, exploring the distances that exist in relationships, friendships, and even our connection to ourselves. Midway through the process, we ended up back in the same city, which brought the whole idea full circle and gave the album a fresh creative spark.

Together, Apart has such a cohesive arc. How do you approach album flow?

We think of it like scoring a film, every track has a role in telling the story, and transitions are as important as the songs themselves. We’re big on creating emotional peaks and valleys, moments of tension followed by release, so the listener feels like they’ve gone somewhere by the end. It’s about balancing variety with a sense of continuity, making sure no song feels out of place but also no two songs feel the same.

What song on the album surprised you most, either in how it turned out or in how it resonated with listeners during testing or live sets?

Probably ‘Faceless’. In the studio, it was one of the more experimental cuts, and we weren’t sure how people would connect with its moodier, more experimental energy. But early listener feedback has been incredibly strong. People have been telling us it hit them emotionally in ways we didn’t fully anticipate, while also getting the blood moving with its in your face type drops. Can’t wait to play this one live.

Your track titles are evocative, from ‘Faceless’ to ‘Someday You Will Know.’ How do titles factor into your creative process?

It’s different every time. Sometimes a title sparks the song since it represents the underlying idea. Or sometimes its a phrase we’ve been carrying around that suddenly feels right for the mood we’re building. Other times, the title comes last, almost like naming a painting after it’s finished. Either way, titles matter to us; they set an emotional frame before the first note even plays.

If you had to describe Together, Apart as a single sentence on a movie poster tagline, what would it be?

A soundtrack for the spaces between us, the miles, the moments, and the memories that hold us together.

Similarly, if someone only had 30 seconds to understand Modera, which 30 seconds from the album would you play them?

This is tough, oddly enough I think it might be the drop in ‘Coda’, the cinematic strings, the emotional pull, and musical thoughtfulness that really define our sound. Alternatively, I think there is an argument that some portions of ‘Someday You Will Know’ best represent our past works and where we might go next.

Your music is clearly emotional and narrative-driven. Do you ever write with specific scenes or memories in mind?

Always. Sometimes it’s as clear as a memory we both lived through; other times it’s a fictional scene we imagine, similar to a movie. We’ve always approached our music with a cinematic prospective, it needs to carry a story, even if that story is different for every listener.

How do you challenge each other creatively when you disagree in the studio? Who’s the perfectionist, and who is more instinctive?

We both have perfectionist tendencies, but in different ways. One of us might get laser-focused on details, a single synth patch, a snare tone, while the other will push to zoom out and look at the bigger emotional picture. It’s always changing, we can both play either of those roles depending on the context. There is also a new dynamic at play with me (Caleb) singing. I’m hyper critical of my own voice and how I want it to be presented, which is a common characteristic many singers share. With that being the case, I’ll be much more focused on that particular element of tracks often times than Evan is. But again, having him as a reference and person to take a less bias opinion helps.

Ultimately, the push-and-pull can be frustrating in the moment, but it’s also what gets us to the best version of a track.

Beyond music, what keeps you creatively inspired?

Film, for sure, it’s a constant influence. The way a score can make you feel something instantly is something we try to capture in every track. We also have a passion for videography and being the person behind the camera. This “hobby” of ours gives us much needed breaks on occasion, while also sparking new inspiration simultaneously. Lastly, the environment we live in, the quiet outskirts of Seattle, definitely shapes our mood and pace creatively.

Are there any rituals you follow in the studio — lucky snacks, sacred plugins, banned phrases?

Our unspoken ritual when we hit a creative block? Chess and ping pong. Somehow, stepping away from the session and getting weirdly competitive resets our brains. We also need energy drinks, lots and lots of caffeine. I don’t think we’ve ever gone a full session without at least a couple energy drinks or coffees per person.

You’ve built a reputation for musical subtlety, but if you were to go full chaotic mode for a side project, what genre would it be?

Probably some kind of raw, breakbeat-inspired electronic hybrid. Something that can be fast, but also sometimes slow and gritty. In the past we’ve been big melodic bass, future bass fans. We’ve actually experimented in those genres quite a bit before we started making melodic house.

Have you ever scrapped a nearly-finished track because it didn’t feel “Modera” enough? What makes a song unmistakably yours?

Absolutely. We’ve let go tons of tracks even after weeks of work if they didn’t feel emotionally true to us. A “Modera” song needs to have that cinematic DNA, strings, atmosphere, or a vocal moment that stops you, and it has to feel honest. If it’s missing those elements, it’s not going out. Fun fact for you, we had probably 50 demos for the album that were abut 80% complete before we even started the first song that actually made the album cut. Completely different vibes, I think we even had a punk rock/electronic hybrid song in there.

You’ve done a lot in a short time — but how do you define success personally versus industry milestones?

Industry milestones are great, they give you markers to celebrate, but personal success looks a lot different. On the less significant side, personal success could be breaking through a creative block, or coming up with a new way to process vocals that we never thought of – small wins. However, the more impactful personal successes come when we create something we’re proud of and it connects with people on a real level. If someone tells us a song helped them through a hard time, that means more than any chart position ever could.