The 80s may have been 40 years ago, but their influence is alive and well in the music of 4 Minutes Later. 

A duo made up of rising producers Juynor and Moon, 4 Minutes Later describe themselves as an alien pop band- focused on creating music that serves as a form of self expression and discovery. 

Having started as an anonymous internet sensation back in 2018 after tweeting the vague message “music coming soon,” and subsequently watching as the internet exploded with intrigue and enjoyment, 4 Minutes Later has taken the last three years as a journey in creativity and growth. Changing themselves from an anonymous collective into a twosome that are finally gaining some facetime with their growing fan base.

And now, with a year of isolation and futuristic uncertainty behind us, the band have found themselves in a unique space. With no specific path forward and no specific genres tying them down- the duo are on a mission to both pursue full creative freedom and explore what it means to be a musician in an industry that is constantly evolving in taste, expectations, and demands.

As for what that means for 4 Minutes Later- that is still unknown, but we had the opportunity to talk to the band last week and find out a bit more about the history and trajectory of 4 Minutes Later and to find out what exactly music means to them.

You can read our full interview below, and be sure to stream the band’s latest single, “Holding On To Nothing,” out now.

Second Society Report: First, I am sure you have been asked this a million times but I think it is important- especially after the past year we have all had- to take a beat to check in. How have you all been doing over the past few months?

4 Minutes Later: It has been a bit of a battle for sure, managing life’s ups and downs. I find it helps to remember that the problems or concerns we have at this moment will most likely be different 6 months from now and to keep pushing forward.

Before diving into your new era, I want to also take a moment to talk about your beginnings. You have an interesting origin story- having announced yourself on social media and becoming a trending topic all while remaining entirely anonymous. What inspired you to start off this way?

4ML: Originally the idea of 4ML was to have this side project and every so often release music anonymously, as we were focused on another musical project. After we went viral we kind of reimagined what 4ML could become and in a nutshell, that has brought us to where we are today.

What made you decide to stop being anonymous? 

4ML: It came down to two things really. The amount of content the industry wanted and the idea of performing live. There is an unrealistic expectation the industry has on the amount of content that is needed to be produced to stay relevant/become relevant. As an anonymous band it was nearly impossible because we had to be so careful about what we posted to not give anything away. As a “normal” band, the demand for content by the industry really took a toll on us and has made us re-evaluate what it is we are doing here. There was also the idea of touring and the fact that nowadays that everyone has camera phones and the logistics of playing shows, it would be way too hard to keep up the anonymity. 

Now that you have made your identities public, has anything about how you share, create or produce your music changed? If yes, what?

4ML: I wouldn’t say it changed anything musically. How we share music definitely changed. Having faces for our fans to connect to was a cool moment. It has also been draining between promo photo shoots, videos, visualizers, music videos, Spotify Canvas’. We tried very hard (and succeeded) in producing all this content that the industry wants – even as an independent band, we played the game, but somehow it feels like we lost. The music is a different story however. That has always been true to us and our musical influence.

Obviously going through an unprecedented global pandemic has changed all of us in one way or another. I know for many bands not being able to tour was a huge setback, but since you had not yet hit the road, I am sure you both had different experiences. How has the pandemic impacted 4 Minutes Later? Either on a personal or professional level

4ML: It has definitely had a huge impact both personally and professionally. It’s hard to really determine how big of an impact without knowing the flipside of things of course. As a band we had hoped to be playing shows by now. We never had a chance to tour our EP which hurt our growth as a band, musicians and performers. We now have an album worth of material ready to go without even playing a show. Which is a bit ironic because performing is our favourite thing. Period. So having that missing ingredient the whole time has definitely affected us. It’s like having a Lamborghini, but there is never any gas in the tank. Sure it looks great, but you want to drive it. 

Now diving into 2021. Things are looking up for the music industry- with tons of new tours and releases on the horizon. How has 2021 been for you so far? I know you have released three singles so far, most recently being “Holding On To Nothing.” How do you think these tracks show your growth as artists since your self titled debut?

4ML: The best thing I can say is have a listen for yourself to see. Like anything in life, the more you do something, the better you become at it. We have been fortunate enough to spend time in different studios and working with different song writers and in return have been able to grow. Each time we leave the studio we feel like we have written our best song yet, which is want you want to feel as an individual – Growth.

Speaking of “Holding On To Nothing,” this track has a very sentimental and nostalgic feeling. Musically, the track is very reminiscent of an 80s movie soundtrack- something that would fit perfectly over a montage of a relationship falling apart- much like the story the track’s lyrics explore. And though this track isn’t a far leap from your past releases, it does contrast a bit with past singles- such as the popular “Can You Feel My Bones,” or other more alt-rock/pop rock tracks from your EP. What inspired you to take your newer songs in this more synth-pop inspired direction? 

4ML: Musically, the concept of 4ML has always remained the same. That is we will make music we like regardless of genre. When we talk about growth, it’s not about leaving one genre and heading into another, because we bounce back and forth and explore new (to us – from a writing perspective) genres. What you are hearing is the result of the music we are currently listening to and enjoying. Bands like Lany and joan for example. Even bigger artists have been dabbling more in the 80’s sounds and pop culture like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. 

When writing music, what do you feel comes first- the music or the lyrics? Which do you find is harder to piece together?

4ML: For us it has been the music. We find the music really sets the mood. So we will put together the music first and then go, “This song kinda makes me feel this way, or makes me think of this.” And we take it from there. I’m not sure if one is really harder than the other but I feel as though we spend more time analyzing lyrics and melodies where perhaps the music tends to flow a little more organically. I mean with that being said each song is different too. Songs like “Can You Feel My Bones” and “Holding on to Nothing” came quicker lyrically and took perhaps a little more time massaging musically than say “In My Head” or “Terrified.”

What do you want for people to take away from your music? 

4ML: Honestly, there isn’t anything. We make music for ourselves first. I probably listen to the song thousands of times before it is released, and once it is, it becomes the listener’s song. If a listener finds a take away for themselves then that is a beautiful thing and I don’t know of a greater compliment than that. That is the power of music. But I believe that is more for the listener to discover rather than a specific message we hope they hear.

Is there anything else you would like our readers or your fans to know that we haven’t asked yet?

4ML: Thank you thank you thank you to anyone who has supported us over the years. I cannot thank you enough. Don’t be afraid of change or starting over. You can be whoever you want to be in this life. You just have to ask the universe for it.

You can stream “Holding Onto Nothing” out now wherever you stream music. And be sure to stay up to date on all things 4 Minutes Later as well as the band’s separate endeavors by following along on social media. 

Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Website

Junyor: Twitter 

Moon: Twitter