In Color – Snow Day

For my friends who love indie rock, and those who might yet become fans.

For me, Snow Day is one of those records where an important rule applies: do not judge it by the opening seconds. Just let it play.

Calling it a “record” is perhaps a little generous: Snow Day is In Color’s debut EP, six songs lasting just over 20 minutes, released on 3 October 2025.

A band born in a snowstorm

In Color are Holden Clontz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt and Miles Laderman, four Nashville musicians who had been friends for a long time and had previously played in different bands and projects. I like the story of how they became In Color almost as much as the music.

A heavy snowstorm swept through Nashville in early 2024. The four decided to get snowed in together. Musically, all of them were a little dissatisfied with what they were doing at the time. They spent a few days together making music and talking, apparently reminding themselves why they had started in the first place.

After the snow had melted, Val sent a message to the group along the lines of: we should start a band.

That was the beginning of In Color, and the reason their first EP is called Snow Day.

They name musical influences ranging from Coldplay, Kings of Leon and U2 to the Beatles and Michael Jackson. You can hear that mixture. It is indie pop, alternative and rock, but none of those labels fits so neatly that you could comfortably put all six songs in a single box.

And that is exactly where Snow Day started to get interesting for me.

Songs that change direction

With “Headlights”, it happened fairly quickly. Quite early on, I had that moment of thinking: yes, there is something here.

“Is There Anyone?” was completely different. The opening seconds went by and I genuinely thought: this is not going to work for me. Then, after perhaps 20 seconds, those guitars arrive, and suddenly the song had me.

That is what makes this EP so interesting: sooner or later, every song finds a different way to get me.

Sometimes it is the guitar sound, sometimes the voice or a melody. And sometimes it is a change in the sound that I did not expect at all: a moment ago, everything was quiet and restrained, and suddenly it turns into proper rock.

Some passages that initially seem a little difficult or awkward develop such a pull that, eventually, they become almost headbanging material.

Giving the music time

Perhaps that is exactly why I would also recommend Snow Day to people who have not previously connected much with indie pop or indie rock. The songs do not demand that you understand the genre. You only need to give them something we sometimes barely give music anymore:

Time.

Do not click away after ten seconds. Do not decide straight away. Just let it play.

Because with Snow Day, after the first 15 seconds you may still have no idea what kind of song it will have become a minute later.

And that is what eventually really drew me into these six songs.

So: for my friends who love indie rock, and those who might yet become fans.

What stays with me

One listen without skipping

Put on Snow Day once. Do not skip. See which moment gets you first. I would love to know!