In Color are an emerging alt-pop band, formed in 2024, with four members: Holden Clontz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt, and Miles Leaderman. As a group, they blend modern pop sounds with indie and alternative influences, creating music that feels emotional but still accessible. Their identity as a band centre on atmosphere, they focus less on loud, flashy moments and more on building moods that listeners can sink into.
From the start, what stands out about “In Color” is their chemistry. Each member plays a specific role in shaping their sound as a band. Matthew Hastings’s vocals sit at the heart of their music. His voice has a soft, reflective tone that works well with the band’s emotional themes. He doesn’t over sing; instead, he keeps things controlled and sincere, which makes the lyrics feel more personal.
Holden Clontz adds depth through his bass. Rather than overpowering songs with complex lines, he focuses on tone and groove, using subtle textures and warm melodies to shape the feeling of each track. Val Hoyt brings the pop and electronic edge through synths and keys. The tones and ambient layers help define In Color’s alt-pop style. Meanwhile, Miles Leaderman’s drumming holds everything together. His rhythms are steady and groove-focused, giving the songs space to breathe instead of feeling rushed.
PHOTO: KAIO CESAR
Overall, In Color makes music that feels reflective and cinematic. Their songs often explore themes like distance in relationships, loneliness, late-night thoughts, and emotional uncertainty. There’s a strong sense of mood in everything they do, the kind of music that fits night drives, rainy afternoons, or quiet moments alone.
Their latest EP “Snow Day” is a prime example of that, it portrays who they are as a band. The EP is cohesive and easy to listen to from start to finish, with each track flowing naturally into the next. The title “Snow Day” fits the music well. There’s a calm, slightly melancholic atmosphere across the EP, like the stillness of being snowed in, where everything outside is quiet and you’re left alone with your thoughts.
The EP highlights their strength in layering sound. Synths, guitars, vocals, and drums all blend smoothly without any element overpowering the others. It shows a band that understands restraint, they don’t rush emotional moments; they let them unfold slowly.
SOURCE: SPOTIFY
The most popular track from their EP is “Headlights,” and it’s easy to hear why it connected with listeners.
“Headlights” capture the band’s style perfectly. It opens with a sense of motion, musically and emotionally, and it builds into a chorus without losing its introspective tone. The rhythm feels like forward movement, almost like driving at night, which matches the imagery in the lyrics.
The track focuses on fleeting connection and emotional vulnerability. It paints pictures of late-night conversations, distance, and the uncertainty of relationships. The storytelling feels personal but still reliable. Musically, it’s one of their most balanced tracks. Because of this balance, “Headlights” works both as a casual listen and an emotional deep dive, a big reason it stands out on the EP.
After the release of their EP “Snow Day”, In Color took a step forward with their latest single, “Big Deal.” The song builds on the dreamy, atmospheric feel they introduced earlier but adds a brighter, more of an exciting edge. The lyrics focus on the intensity of diving into emotions headfirst, even when the outcome is unclear, giving the track a reflective but energized tone. The track “Big Deal” feels like a natural progression, rooted in the mood of “Snow Day” while hinting at where the band is headed next.
Overall, In Color is a promising addition to the alt-pop space. They prioritize feeling over flash, mood over noise, and cohesion over chaos. “Snow Day” introduces them as a band with clear vision, and “Headlights” stands as their defining early highlight, a track that captures both their emotional depth and pop accessibility.
If this is their starting point, they’re on track to create even more vivid and affecting music as they grow.