Fast-rising New Jersey quartet The Modbeats have released their debut LP, ‘Ballad of a Starving Artist’, a vibrant concept album that serves as both a love letter to the golden age of rock and a defiant reflection on modern life. Out now via Mayleen Records and recorded at the legendary Lake House Studio in Asbury Park, the record channels a kaleidoscopic blend of surf rock, power pop, and rockabilly through a raw, garage-band lens. Frontman Philip Dunn, joined by a lineup featuring guests like Bryan Haring of The Gaslight Anthem, crafted the project around themes of artistic identity and resilience, moving from the cinematic surf energy of “Frankie” to the Eastern-tinged power pop of “The Setting Sons.” Designed with the analog warmth of vinyl in mind, the album poses a central question about the place of “real music” in today’s world, ultimately inviting listeners to find the answer through pure sonic bliss and high-volume rebellion.