Modern Day Cain

"**Modern Day Cain**" is the first official release by iDKHOW. It is a non-album single that reached the top 10 on the iTunes alternative charts. It was released on August 18th, 2017, with a music video that came the same day. There is another version of this track, which is called the "slow jam version." There were also 3 Q&As relating to the song posted on the duo's YouTube channel. The final one was posted on Instagram to promote the release of "Choke." The track was written by Dallon Weekes.

## Background

Around the time August of 2017 rolled around, the duo released their first video on YouTube. It was followed by another video titled "Follow Along" nine days later; the description of the video said there would be "more to follow" on the 18th, which was when "Modern Day Cain" would be released.

***(More background info prior to this can be found on iDKHOW.)***

## About

### Lyrics

When asked about the song's lyrical meaning, Weekes stated that the song was inspired by *Broadchurch*. However, he stated in another interview that the song wasn't about the show specifically. When asked about what specific lyrics were inspired by the show, he said it "sparked a lyric or two."

To provide more context, Weekes clarified the second verse's meaning on Twitter:

> "It’s about people who put on a public show to let everyone know how religious and close to God they are. People who do that usually are overcompensating for some dark thing in their lives. Televangelists, etc."
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Weekes also confirmed that the lyric "The room is on fire" is a reference to *Room on Fire*, an album released by the Strokes in 2003.

### Music

Weekes had first started writing the song with its chorus being played on a Six-Trak. It was musically inspired, or "ripped off" according to Weekes, by a Real Life song. The beginning of the song is actually from a Speak & Spell; Weekes had been spending "a weird amount of time recording feedback." When people started speculating that "Modern Day Cain" was sonically tied to a Panic! at the Disco song that he co-wrote titled "Girls/Girls/Boys," he disapproved of the validity.

### Music Video

Weekes explained the inspiration behind the music video:

> "While I was in the middle of making the record, I was up late one night and I fell into this weird YouTube vortex of these old cable access talent shows from like thirty-something years ago. It was so bizarre to see this parade of people–like each of them were so sure that this cable access show was their big shot and that they were going to be a star. I was fascinated by it. I immediately fell in love with it, and I wanted to be on this show so bad, but obviously that’s not really possible. The whole idea of IDK being an act from thirty something years ago, who was on this show, and got that chance–that’s where it started."
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Weekes recalled that the video was shot in a room at Musicians Institute and that it had to be finished within a day. As for the others in the music video, he credited Bryna Weiss as the grandma, whom he stated "was the best part of the video," and the Glitter Gals as "friends of the director."

#### Personnel

* Written and Directed by Dallon Weekes
* Produced by Breezy Weekes
* Edited by Giselle Dias, Melissa Quintas and Dallon Weekes
* Director of Photography, VFX and Color Grading: Melissa Quintas
* Camera Operators: Giselle Dias, Melissa Quintas, Orestes Gonzales and Carlos Orellana
* MUA: Jessie Yarborough
* Special thanks to Mike Ramsey

#### Lore

> "IDK performance from the cable access series 'Superstar Showcase' (1983)"
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## Slow Jam Version

A "slow jam version" of the song was released on May 10th, 2020. It was later featured on the deluxe edition of *Razzmatazz*, which was released in 2021. The song is most notable for the high note that Weekes hits near the very end.

### Music Video

The music video for this song was released on the same day as the song itself. It's one of the few music videos that only show the duo performing.

#### Personnel

* Audio recording by DW
* VHS by BW

#### Lore

> "It is believed that this home recording was intended to serve as an audition for the band, in order to perform on the regionally popular cable access talent show 'The Superstar Showcase' in the early 1980's. It was found among boxes of other audition tapes in the abandoned studios where the program was originally broadcast. It's unclear if the performance ever made it to air."
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### Q&A 1

* Q: *What was your inspiration for the song?*
* A: *Cain.*

#### Personnel

* Written & Directed by Dallon Weekes
* DP: Giselle Dias & Melissa Quintas

### Q&A 2

* Q: *Was the video fun to make?*
* A: *Yes.*

### Q&A 3

* Q: *What was your first reaction when your song reached the top 10 on the alternative charts?*
* A: *I was very, very happy.*

### Q&A 4

* Q: *When will you release another song?*
* A: *Tomorrow.*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20170821074337/https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/first-look-qa-i-dont-know-how-but-they-found
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CwT9xlxdlw
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.altpress.com/dallon\_weekes\_idkhbtfm\_interview/
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieThrn5Ujmg
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mD7kw4pd7E
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwzOjB3uNmE
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2R49uJso0o
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://www.altpress.com/i\_dont\_know\_how\_but\_they\_found\_me\_choke\_song/
9. ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/performer/i%20dont%20know%20how%20but%20they%20found%20me/title/modern%20day%20cain?at=false&searchFilter=SVW&page=1
10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7otqRu4qVcs
11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lVTwT30JUw
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20210927073025/https://www.altpress.com/features/dallon\_weekes\_idkhbtfm\_interview/2/
13. ↑ https://twitter.com/DallonWeekes/status/1078824939308802049
14. ↑ https://twitter.com/dallonweekes/status/1341228013602570240
15. ↑ https://idkhow.bandcamp.com/track/modern-day-cain-slow-jam-version-2
16. ↑ https://youtu.be/-mD7kw4pd7E?t=157