(EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW) IN COLOR: “We try to put vulnerability at the heart of everything we create.”
Music should have the power to make you feel any emotion. But… How many of us truly find a song that truly hits you on the first listen? The kind that makes you sit, reflect, and just absorb the sounds of the instruments and vocals washing over you? Well, let me introduce you to a band that will give you that wall of emotion: In Color. Their track “Headlights” did exactly that, spawning them a hit that resonates with listeners around the world. Released on Valentine's Day, the song struck deep within many and has gone on to amass over 5.4 million streams – not bad for a debut, right?
The Nashville group is made up of Holden Clontz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt, and Miles Laderman. Their social media is a strong tool to connect and draw people in, and they use theirs wonderfully. It's a dreamy mix of art and indie films. Following the release of their debut EP Snow Day on October 3rd, the band are back with a new single, “Lighter”, dropping on November 7th. A track they describe as a kind of memory that lingers longer than it should. Again, these guys create tracks that resonate with many, little pockets of storytelling that have many tuned in.
We spoke with In Color about their new EP, the beauty behind “Headlights”, and them hitting the road this month with CAMINO on their US tour. Lighten up your alt-pop palette and keep your eye on In Color!
SpinVybe: What is the meaning behind your name, In Color?
In Color: Our name was honestly the last thing we came up with, we had already written and recorded the Snow Day EP for the most part. I think we had been looking for names in songs/albums by our favourite artists. Radiohead got their name from a Talking Heads song. Foo Fighters’ “The Colour and the Shape” was what led us to find the name. It just sat well with us when we all said “In Color” in the room. We wanted something that felt timeless, and we felt it represented us sonically.
SV: Having only formed in 2024, you guys have made moves fast. Do you attribute that to passion and drive? What keeps that dedication flowing, and where do you draw your inspiration from?
In Color: We love making music and are very passionate about it. We try to be intentional with every song, every video, and every aspect of the art we release. We’ve all spent so much time together that our tastes and instincts overlap, so it’s easy for us to stay dedicated to it with a shared vision. Our inspiration comes from spending countless hours listening to different genres of music, watching movies, music videos, etc.
SV: You released your debut EP, Snow Day, on October 3rd. Could you please tell us more about the EP and the meanings and creative process behind the songs?
In Color: We spent a solid 8 months writing songs before we even went public with “In Color”, trying to figure out our sound and how we wanted to represent ourselves. “Headlights” was the first song to really show us the way; it came together in about 30 minutes, and there was such an immediate love for it that we knew we should feel that way about every song going forward.
The rest of the EP was written at a cabin in the North GA mountains. We had no idea how to produce or mix at the time, but we learnt out of necessity, and gradually that helped us find our sound. The EP you’re hearing is us in real time trying our best to find ourselves.
SV: For each of you, which track on Snow Day do you feel best captures who In Color is right now, and why?
Val: “Is There Anyone?” I love the production on it so much. I remember writing that song with the guys and feeling like I had never heard anything like it before. We were just doing what we thought sounded cool.
Holden: “Holiday Rd” It feels nostalgic but also like you’re looking forward to something. It feels like change and captures the feeling of excitement as we started this new chapter together.
Photo Credit: Slater Goodson
Matt: “Headlights” – the structure is left of centre. Sonically, it’s spacious but grounded, and lyrically, it captures that in-between feeling of holding on and letting go without spelling it out.
Miles: “Headlights” This song is so hard to categorise into a genre, and that is something that I feel very inspired by. It doesn’t ask anything of the listener and still commands emotion.
SV: Do you see the tracks from the EP as extensions of your own lives? Songs like “I Want You” sound deeply personal. How much do you balance storytelling with vulnerability in your writing?
In Color: The songs reflect us trying to make sense of our daily lives and the world we experience. We try to put vulnerability at the heart of everything we create. Even the brightest songs we release have hints of introspection and melancholy to them. Writing these songs has helped us heal, and hopefully these songs can do that for others.
SV: I was particularly struck by “Headlights”. That track is so beautiful, and there is so much emotion in the vocals. How do you get into that emotional space to not only record but also perform it?
In Color: We can all tap into the feeling we first felt when creating “Headlights.” We were sitting in Val’s living room tearing up about how the song affected us each. That feeling never really goes away.
SV: What drew each of you individually to music, and how did your personal musical journeys converge in this band?
Val: Music has always been the easiest way for me to communicate since I was a child. I’ve played guitar since I was 10 and fell in love with songwriting maybe 4 years ago. I’ve spent the last 5 years with these guys being my best friends. I've known Miles since high school, we’ve played in bands together, and we’ve toured each other's projects. It was just a matter of time until we did it together.
Holden: I was a really quiet kid, but I would walk around the house singing made-up words and tapping on things. I would go through my parents’ CD collections all the time. I don’t know what drew me into music, it’s just always been powerful to me. When I was about 10, I got my first real drum kit, and from then on, playing music consumed my life. I moved to Nashville at 19 to try and see if I could make a life out of it, and these guys were some of the first people I met. Starting a band was basically a side effect of our years of friendship and shared life experience, being young and trying to figure it all out together.
Photo Credit: Slater Goodson
Matt: Some of my earliest memories are of playing or listening to music. I was homeschooled, so I had a lot of time to spend with it and gradually fell more in love as I learnt more (still am). The friendship roots run deep with us. When we first met, I think we were all looking for connection… young guys in a city who shared the same passion. Through all of our previous projects, we spent so much time together, constantly inspired by each other. We all felt the same pull for change last year, and that’s what led us here.
Miles: Music is so intertwined with all of my earliest memories. My folks being such fervent fans of music gave me a desire to be in music even from a young age – something I’m incredibly grateful for. Val and I go all the way back to forming a band in high school. Meeting Holden and Matt in my early 20s was a very significant part of those formative years fresh in Nashville. We went through a lot as friends, all pursuing careers in music. There’s something so special about having that history and foundation now that we’ve entered this new chapter as a band.
SV: You’re all set to support Camino on select North American dates this upcoming autumn. When it comes to performing, what is the most important aspect for you to showcase to fans and also first-timers seeing you?
In Color: We just want to have as much fun as possible in those 30 minutes we get every night. We’re such a new band, to meet and see our fans in real time is such a cool feeling. The Camino fanbase is also so incredibly supportive and kind; we’re just lucky to be here and share our music.
SV: If someone is hearing your music for the very first time, what track would you want them to hear out of your catalogue, and what do you hope they take away?
In Color: We always envisioned Headlights being the entry point into our music, almost like the introduction to “In Color”. Hopefully it feels as much like a cathartic experience as it does a question mark. We want it to encourage people to dive deeper.
SV: Your social media has this almost indie film-like quality to it, almost chic and not just a typical band page. Which is a great way to stand out. What influences your creative approach to visuals and content? How do you decide what resonates with you for your socials?
In Color: Most of our decisions creatively are a mix of gut instinct/feeling and the inspiration we take from movies, music videos, and other visual mediums. We’re lucky to work alongside some very talented people.
SV: The reels you create look like mini music videos with the lyrics; they're soft, gentle and always reflect the mood of the music perfectly. What do you intend for the viewer to take away from it in those brief few seconds that social media demands from people?
In Color: Ideally we cut through the monotony of scrolling and convey the emotion we felt when writing the songs as best and as quickly as possible.
Photo Credit: Slater Goodson
SV: After having achieved so much, and the latest signing with Big Loud Rock. The future looks incredibly bright. What would you love to achieve in 2026?
In Color: We’re looking forward to our first headline tour in spring 2026! There will be more music, more shows, and more videos. We’re especially excited to keep watching this thing grow and meet our fans wherever they are.
SV: Finally, what does the rest of 2025 have in store for you as a group?
In Color: Our new song “Lighter” comes out this Friday, November 7, we’re especially excited about that one. Other than that, we’ll keep writing more songs.
Written and Interviewed by Kirsty Bright
Follow In Color:
Instagram| YouTube | Spotify |TikTok |Tour Tickets
