.png){kind=small}
Episode 149: Interview with Ivan Doroschuk Of Men Without Hats
- Jul 11, 2025
- 2 min read
With the release of their nostalgic new single “I ❤️ the ‘80s,” Men Without Hats prove that time travel is real—you just need the right synth line. Frontman Ivan Doroschuk is bringing the energy, wit, and neon-lit charm of the band’s heyday straight into 2025, showing that their signature brand of joyfully defiant dance-pop hasn’t lost a step.
“I ❤️ the ‘80s,” released June 26, isn’t just a throwback—it’s a celebration. “The challenge was narrowing down everything I loved about that decade,” Ivan said in a recent interview. “The song could’ve been half an hour long!” Instead, it lands like a three-minute time capsule: a cheeky, synth-powered salute to boom boxes, tube tops, and shoulder pads. It’s everything fans love about Men Without Hats—clever, catchy, and impossible to listen to without moving.
The track marks the lead single from the band’s upcoming album Men Without Hats On The Moon, due this October. It’s a project with serious production pedigree: Grammy and Juno-winning Brian Howes (Hinder, Simple Plan) co-wrote and produced, Mark Needham (The Killers, Elton John) handled mixing, and mastering was done by the legendary Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, U2). In place of a guitar solo, the song cheekily nods to their 1987 hit “Pop Goes The World,” reinforcing the full-circle feeling that has long defined their legacy.
That legacy began in Montreal, where the Doroschuk brothers formed Men Without Hats during the late 1970s punk and new wave explosion. Ivan, who grew up playing piano and composing from a young age, credits the classical music of his childhood and Montreal’s disco-heavy scene for shaping their unique sound. “New wave was progressive rock plus disco,” he says. “It was synthesizer music you could dance to.”
From the global success of “The Safety Dance” to their influence across pop culture—including iconic placements in Glee, The Carrie Diaries, and Biodome, to name a few—Men Without Hats have never really left the cultural conversation. “Sometimes I feel like a musical museum curator,” Ivan jokes. “The song belongs to everyone now.”
Still, the band has no intention of standing still. In addition to new music, they’re heading out on their first UK and European tour in nearly a decade, with shows scheduled from August 21 through mid-September across cities like Leeds, Berlin, and Copenhagen. Ivan is joined by guitarist Sho Murray, drummer Adrian White, and keyboardist/vocalist Sahara Sloan—daughter of founding member Colin Doroschuk—proving this synth dynasty is multigenerational.
Even with his enduring success, Ivan remains focused on the message behind the music. “‘The Safety Dance’ is about marching to your own beat. That message is just as relevant now as it was then—especially with today’s social pressures,” he explains. “You can dance if you want to.”
And Ivan still does—night after night, city after city—with the same unfiltered enthusiasm that made his band a household name. With millions of streams, a new record on the horizon, and a tour that spans continents, Men Without Hats aren’t just back—they never left.
🎧 To hear the full conversation with Ivan Doroschuk, tune in to his episode on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience, streaming now.
