Modern Color

Modern Color
OriginRedondo Beach, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2014–present
LabelsOpen Door, Other People
SpinoffsMilitarie Gun
Members
  • Fleming Valenzuela
  • Chad Leaf
  • Chris Martinez
  • Vince Nguyen
Websitemoderncolorband.com

Modern Color is an American rock band formed Redondo Beach, California in 2014. Beginning as a metalcore band, they released their debut self-titled EP in 2014. Following a hiatus and major lineup changed, the band became more experimental under the influence of later emo revival bands. In 2016, they released their second EP Somewhere Else and their debut album Chromesthesia. Around 2017, they shifted their sound to grungegaze, a genre they would soon become one of the defining bands for. Following the release of their third album From The Leaves Of Your Garden (2020), they began to gain international success, which followed to their fourth album There Goes The Dream (2024).

History

Modern Color formed in Redondo Beach, California, in 2014[1] from the ashes of multiple hardcore punk bands from the South Bay.[2] In the years before Modern Color's formation, there was a trend for bands to using the format "[adjective] [color]". When considering a band name for a previous group featuring some future of Modern Color, the members parodied this, listing off different names that followed the format. One name listed, listed by Leaf, was "Modern Color", which they noted as liking. Two years later, they used the name.[3] It was founded by Fleming Valenzuela on guitar and Vince Nguyen on drums, along with a bassist, vocalist and additional guitarist.[4] This lineup played metalcore[2] and recorded their 2014 self-titled EP. Following its release, the band took a break, soon reforming with a name lineup, including Valenzuela and Nguyen[4] alongside Chad Leaf (guitar), Chris Martinez (bass) and Vince Nguyen (drums). By this time, the members had discovered of Title Fight, leading them to shift their sound more experimental. The band searched for a singer, but were unable to find one, leading Valenzuela and Nguyen to take up vocal duties.[2]

At the beginning of 2016, they released the EP Somewhere Else.[5] On June 24, 2016, they released the single "Shade", announcing it would be a part of their debut album Chromesthesia.[6] The album was released on July 29, 2016, through Open Door Records.[7] On October 13, 2017, they released their second album Time Slips Behind Us.[8] On September 28, 2018, they released the EP Portuguese Bend.[5] Between November 6 and 10, 2019, they headlined a tour of Japan.[9] On April 24, 2020, they released the single "Out of Reach".[10] On July 10, 2020, they released their third album Time Slips Behind Us.[11] In 2021, they released the EP Now, Life Is Living You.[12]

On October 11, 2022, they released the single "Greener Grass".[13] On October 11, 2023, they released the single "Fortress".[14] Between April 27 and May 23, 2024, they toured the United States supporting Fleshwater, alongside 9million.[15] On April 17, 2024, they released the single "Star 9200", announcing that both singles would be included on their fourth album There Goes the Dream, and that it would be released on July 26.[16] Between May 5 and 23, they toured Europe supporting Scowl.[17] Between October 17 and November 23, 2025, they opened for Thrice on their North American headline tour.[18]

Musical style

Critics have categorized Modern Color's music as grungegaze,[19][20] soft grunge[21] and post-hardcore.[22][23] In a 2021 interview with Shoutout LA, they identified as an alternative rock band,[24] while in a 2024 interview, Nguyen stated "Most people would consider us an emo band through and through".[3] The Alternative writer Olivia Keasling called them "a reminder that genre isn't fucking real".[25] They incorporate elements of screamo,[26] indie rock,[27] shoegaze and college rock.[28] Stereogum writer Tom Breihan described them as "a bit like '90s Midwest shoegaze without fully locking into that sound".[14] On Time Slips Behind Us (2017), they pivoted their sound to grungegaze,[20] then on From the Leaves of Your Garden (2020), they moved closer to dream pop.[29]

Their music makes use of both clean singing and screaming, irregular rhythms,[30] and atmospheric guitars.[31] Often their songs are mid-tempo, based around dynamics,[19] and make use of rhythm sections reminiscent of hardcore alongside more indie rock-inspired guitars.[32] Some songs make use of breakbeats, subdued vocals and ethereal synths.[28]

Modern Color have cited influences including Title Fight, Hum, Dinosaur Jr.,[33] Turnover, Deafheaven,[3] True Widow, Joyce Manor,[2] Duster,[24] Touché Amoré, Deftones, Tears for Fears and the Pixies.[34] In an interview with Alternative Press, they cited the increased experimentation of the later stages of the emo revival as helping them feel free to experiment with their own sound.[2]

Modern Color helped to define the grungegaze genre. During the 2020s, they made up what Clash magazine writer Tom Morgan called "the contemporary grungegaze canon", alongside Narrow Head, Glare, Soul Blind, Trauma Ray and Leaving Time.[19]

They have been cited as an influence by Static Dress.[35]

Members

  • Fleming Valenzuela – vocals, guitar
  • Chad Leaf – guitar
  • Chris Martinez – bass
  • Vince Nguyen – vocals, drums

Discography

Studio albums

  • Chromesthesia (2016)
  • Time Slips Behind Us (2017)
  • From The Leaves Of Your Garden (2020)
  • There Goes The Dream (2024)

EPs

  • Modern Color (2014)
  • Somewhere Else (2016)
  • Portuguese Bend (2018)
  • Now, Life Is Living You (2021)

References

  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (17 April 2024). "Modern Color - 'Star 9200'". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Zanes, Anna. "Growing up with Modern Color". Alternative Press. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Payne, Allison. "Modern Color, In Passing, With Rambler Magazine". Rambler! Magazine. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b Vince Nguyen (August 14, 2024). #185 - Modern Color (Vince Nguyen). Event occurs at 06:59. Retrieved March 18, 2026. In regards to Modern Colors specifically, it's always been me and Fleming, but it did start out with a slightly different lineup. We were a bit of a different band. We had a vocalist and a different guitarist and a different bassist. And we did put out one release. with that lineup. But Modern Color, as we know it now, didn't really come together until, I guess, the year after. So that was 2014 that we put out the release as that lineup. And then we kind of took some time off. And then later in 2015, Fleming and I got together and wrote "Pale".
  5. ^ a b "Modern Color". NTS Radio. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  6. ^ Calixto, Joe (24 June 2016). "Modern Color Releases New Song "Shade" from Debut Record". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Modern Color Release Debut Album 'Chromesthesia'". New Noise Magazine. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  8. ^ Banci, Francesco (20 October 2017). "Flow #56 - It comes at night". SENTIREASCOLTARE (in Italian). Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Modern Color Announce Japan Tourdates". Unite Asia. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Modern Color: Cali Melodic Rock Outfit Goes 'Twilight Zone' on Us in "Out of Reach" Music Video | Features". www.noecho.net. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Modern Color - From The Leaves Of Your Garden". Release Wave. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  12. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (11 October 2022). "Modern Color Release New Song 'Greener Grass'". Our Culture. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  13. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (11 October 2022). "Modern Color Release New Song 'Greener Grass'". Our Culture. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  14. ^ a b Hodgson, Harry. "Live Review: Outbreak Festival Day Three (30th June 2024)". Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  15. ^ Hatfield, Amanda. "Fleshwater announce 2024 tour with Modern Color & 9Million". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  16. ^ Breiham, Tom (17 April 2024). "Modern Color - 'Star 9200'". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  17. ^ "SCOWL announce European/UK tour with MODERN COLOR". lambgoat.com. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  18. ^ "THRICE Announces Fall 2025 Headline Tour With MODERN COLOR And DOWNWARD". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  19. ^ a b c Morgan, Tom (28 July 2025). "Stuck In A Loop: The Rise Of 'Grungegaze' | Features". Clash. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  20. ^ a b Stewart, Ethan (10 March 2026). "Why Grungegaze Dominates 2026's Music Underground » PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  21. ^ Glacial, Rod (October 22, 2025). Hardcore 40 ans de rage de Black Flag à Turnstile (in French). Marabout. p. 247. Le label New Morality Zine de Chicago est un incroyable pourvoyeur de groupes de quall-té, que ce soit dans le registre hardcore sauvage (Porcupine, Spaced), post-hardcore stylé (Excide, Spite House) ou emo/soft-grunge (pour ne pas dire Deftones-core) qui est devenue sa spécialité avec Downward, Sweet Soul, cursetheknife, Prize Horse, Trauma Ray, Fake Eyes, ASkySoBlack... [Chicago's New Morality Zine label is an incredible purveyor of quality bands, whether in the realm of wild hardcore (Porcupine, Spaced), stylish post-hardcore (Excide, Spite House), or emo/soft-grunge (not to mention Deftones-core), which has become its specialty with Downward, Sweet Soul, cursetheknife, Prize Horse, Trauma Ray, Fake Eyes, ASkySoBlack... Other People and Exploding In Sound offer Soul Blind, Modern Color and Gleemer]
  22. ^ Breihan, Tom (12 October 2023). "Modern Color - 'Fortress'". Stereogum. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  23. ^ Vandergeer, Jacob (5 November 2025). "SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THRICE w/ MODERN COLOR & DOWNWARD @ DANFORTH MUSIC HALL, TORONTO". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  24. ^ a b "Meet MODERN COLOR | Musicians / Band". SHOUTOUT LA. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  25. ^ Keasling, Olivia (15 December 2020). "The 75 Best Albums of 2020 + The Alt Music Awards". The Alternative. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  26. ^ Kenworthy, Ian (8 May 2019). "Review: Trade Wind and Modern Color with Scott Ruth – Night People, Manchester – 07/05/2019". Already Heard. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  27. ^ "Track By Track: Modern Color - 'There Goes the Dream'". The Alternative. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  28. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (11 October 2022). "Modern Color - 'Greener Grass'". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  29. ^ "Best of 2020 - Chris DC's Picks". www.punknews.org. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  30. ^ PLANK, JASON MATTHEW (17 July 2025). "Modern Color 'From The Leaves of Your Garden' (2020)". MUSIC OF MATTHEW. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  31. ^ Shephard, Amy (13 May 2025). "LIVE GALLERY: Scowl, Modern Color, Bodyweb & Plastics at the Dome, London". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  32. ^ Galil, Leor (21 February 2025). "Southern California band Modern Color bend posthardcore toward pop". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  33. ^ "Modern Color: Cali Melodic Rock Outfit Goes 'Twilight Zone' on Us in "Out of Reach" Music Video | Features". www.noecho.net. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  34. ^ "Meet Vincent Nguyen of Modern Color in South Bay - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  35. ^ "Listen to Static Dress' Playlist of Tracks That Influenced Rouge Carpet Disaster (Redux)". Crack. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.