In and of itself, chemistry may be quiet, but you see, hear, and feel its impact.
Such close chemistry drives the interplay of In Color. The Nashville band—Holden Clontz,
Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt, and Miles Laderman—lean on a silent bond sealed by years of
friendship and a collective passion for pushing boundaries. They bring dimension to alternative
pop, threading unshakable melodies through multi-layered soundscapes.
After buzzing with millions of streams independently, the group simply transfix and invigorate on
their 2025 debut EP, Snow Day [Big Loud Rock].
“To us, there’s definitely an unspoken vision for what In Color is,” observes Holden. “We don’t
talk about it a lot. It comes from being friends for so long and listening to the same music. We’re
all different in our own ways, but it works so well.”
“It’s a special thing, because we trust each other’s instincts,” agrees Val. “We enjoy writing
together. So, we’re able to authentically create and put out music that feels like we’re putting
ourselves on the line.”
Though the members’ paths had crosses over the years, you can trace the band’s genesis back
to a particularly brutal snowstorm in early 2024. Val and Miles first met at an Atlanta middle
school, attended the same high school, made their way to Belmont University, and lived together
for a handful of years in Nashville. Holden had moved to Music City at 19-years-old and linked
up with Matt through his roommate, hitting it off and “becoming best friends.” By way of this
friend group, Matt eventually moved in with Val. Not to mention, the guys had separately played
in various bands or released solo music.
However, it took a blizzard to unlock the potential among them.
“The four of us were hanging out every day,” says Matt. “Val and I lived together. Once the snow
started, everybody just decided to stay over at our place. Musically, we had been doing different
things, but getting snowed in was the catalyst we needed. A few days later, Val sent everyone a
text, and it was a picture of all of us. He was like, ‘We would look really cool as a band’. That’s
all it took!”
“We all secretly wanted to be a part of something bigger,” notes Holden. “We had lived life as
friends, so why not do this?”
For the next year, the band operated “in private,” as they like to say. Under the radar, the guys
got together, jammed, wrote songs, and tightened up a collective approach. They drew on
inspirations as diverse as Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Switchfoot, The Beatles, U2, and Michael
Jackson, cultivating a signature style. With the sound dialed in, the group started to record.
“When you listen to the music, it’s multi-faceted,” says Miles. “We don’t abide by any confines of
genre. We look and feel like a ‘rock band’, but it’s not traditional.”
Powered by this perspective, In Color instantly resonated by threading timeless pop songcraft
into an airy ever-evolving sonic fabric. Released on Valentine’s Day 2025, their debut
“Headlights” surpassed 4.5 million Spotify streams followed by standouts such as “Liar” and “Is
There Anyone?”
Elsewhere, “Time” rides out of the gate on a steady beat, warm bassline, and delicate vocals.
Keys glimmer, and a palm-muted riff boosts the refrain, “Over again, the sun is turning around. I
won’t pretend that I don’t need you now. I’d fall in love with you forever, oh we don’t have
enough time.”
“We were thinking of seasons, and it aligns with the leaves changing colors and a new start,”
adds Miles. “It fit this mindset.”
The EP single “I Want You” strikes a balance between a bouncy hip-hop-esque cadence and
nineties alternative ambition. Simultaneously, it delivers a straightforward, albeit impactful
message.
“It’s a simple love song that truly encapsulates the feeling of wanting someone,” notes Holden.
“It was a great way to close out this introductory chapter.”
Ultimately, In Color pull a vibrant sound from their union as collaborators and friends. It’s natural,
and that’s why it resonates.
“We had all been around the music industry for years, and when we chose to start this, it was
like we were unlearning everything before,” smiles Matt. “We found our people, and everything
made sense.”
“Having each other has allowed us to be the best individual versions of ourselves,” concludes
Miles. “You’re constantly thinking, ‘How can I show up for the guys in this moment?’ All I need to
do is be myself so I can be part of this with the guys and build it up. That’s what we’re doing.”
