hairpin – Modern Day Living | Release Review

It’s been a hell of a twelve months for South Coast based post-hardcore and emo four-piece hairpin, having released three singles since August 2024, the release of debut EP Modern Day Living this month and playing Hertfordshire indie event Goatfest.

Modern Day Living is the first (and hopefully not last) hairpin EP and is an exciting starting point into their career. ‘Okay Thru There’ is a worthy EP opener about the mundane nature of modern British life with group vocals, catchy riffs, and a nonchalant delivery aplenty courtesy of frontman Adam Edwards that really reflects on the brutally honest lyrical content of ‘Okay Thru There’ with the repeated refrain “modern day living gets the best of me”, a message that will surely resonate with the average listener as well as the average working-class British citizen. This nihilism is also highly prevalent on more downtempo entry ‘Wiped’ and although some may call the lyrical content of Modern Day Living repetitive and remorseless, it’s hard to deny that hairpin’s lyricism is human which is very much appreciated in a world of artificial intelligence and often disingenuous, overly-produced media.

Most recent single ‘Curtain Call’ is a lovely slice of power-pop that will surely appeal to fans of the first You Me At Six release, and combines syncopated riffs, memorable drum patterns and wonderful distortion courtesy of guitarist Perry Sears, and provides some well-needed respite and variety on Modern Day Living. Furthermore, lead single and EP closer ‘Self Portrait’ is another clear standout of Modem Day Living and wears its clear influences of UK emo icons such as Reuben and Hell is for Heroes on its sleeve and is the perfect EP for anyone who is nostalgic towards the UK emo and post-hardcore scene of the 2000s.

Despite starting out as a songwriting project in a spare room for lead vocalist Adam Edwards, hairpin are proving to be a worthy modern addition to the DIY emo and post-hardcore scene, whilst also staying true to the genre’s roots and sensibilities. Modern Day Living is just over fifteen minutes of punchy nihilism with an accessible, pop-punk twist and hairpin are definitely ones to watch due tot heir personal lyricism, memorable guitar lines, and surprising vocal prowess for a debut; Modern Day Living is a more than worthy addition to a scene that will surely strike a chord with listeners and ironically gives people an escape from modern life, even if it’s just for an evening.