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Chromatics (band)

From Alfawiki
Chromatics
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded2001 in Portland, Oregon, United States
FounderAdam Miller
Headquarters
Portland, Oregon
,
United States
ProductsElectronic music albums and singles
OwnerItalians Do It Better (label)

Chromatics was an electronic music group originating from Portland, Oregon, established in 2001. The band's final roster featured Ruth Radelet on vocals, guitar, and synthesizer; Adam Miller handling guitar and vocoder; Nat Walker on drums and synthesizer; alongside Johnny Jewel, who served as producer and multi-instrumentalist. Initially recognized for their punk-inspired, lo-fi "noisy" sound, the ensemble underwent several personnel changes—ultimately leaving Miller as the only founding member—and transitioned towards an Italo disco style with releases beginning in 2007 under the Italians Do It Better label.

Their third studio effort, Night Drive (2007), garnered widespread critical praise, followed by similar acclaim for their fourth album, Kill for Love (2012). Chromatics’ tracks were prominently featured across various television series including Bates Motel, Gossip Girl, Mr. Robot, Riverdale, and Twin Peaks: The Return, as well as in films such as Drive (2011), Taken 2 (2012), and The Perfection (2019).

In December 2014, the band revealed plans for their fifth studio album, Dear Tommy, which ultimately remained unreleased despite multiple singles being issued. Instead, they unveiled Closer to Grey in October 2019. Chromatics officially ceased activity in August 2021.

2002–2003: Formation and initial lineup

Adam Miller, previously a member of Seattle’s art punk band The Vogue, formed Chromatics following The Vogue’s evolution into Soiled Doves. Taking on vocal duties himself, Miller was joined by Devin Welch on guitar, Michelle Nolan on bass, and Hannah Blilie on drums. Their debut record, Chrome Rats vs. Basement Rutz (2003, Gold Standard Laboratories), preceded the departure of most members who went on to form Shoplifting, leaving Miller as the only original participant remaining.

2003–2005: Reduction and stylistic shift

Miller reassembled Chromatics with bassist Nat Sahlstrom and percussionist Ron Avila, releasing Plaster Hounds in 2004 via Gold Standard Laboratories. Further lineup adjustments saw Lena Okazaki replace Sahlstrom on bass while Avila’s percussion was substituted by a drum machine, indicating a move towards electronic music elements. Following Okazaki’s exit, by 2005 the band solidified into a quartet featuring Miller, Ruth Radelet, Johnny Jewel, and Nat Walker. This formation marked a notable progression in both their musical direction and live performances. Chromatics frequently toured alongside labelmates Glass Candy and are linked to side projects Desire (involving Jewel and Walker) and Symmetry.

2006–2010: Release of Night Drive

The group’s third album, Night Drive (2007, Italians Do It Better), was met with critical acclaim due to its sleek dance-pop sound that diverged from their earlier punk roots. Critics such as Pitchfork praised the band’s fluid stylistic transition and assured songwriting abilities. Tracks from Night Drive have been extensively licensed for use in films, television shows, commercials, and fashion runway presentations. During this timeframe, additional releases included the EPs Nite and In Shining Violence. Non-album songs like "In the City" and "Hands in the Dark" appeared on the Italians Do It Better compilation titled After Dark.

2011–2013: Kill for Love

Chromatics rose to prominence with their track "Tick of the Clock," which was featured in the 2011 motion picture Drive and its accompanying soundtrack, as well as in the 2012 film Taken 2 and its soundtrack. On December 23, 2011, Jewel and Walker, performing under the name Symmetry, released Themes for an Imaginary Film, a two-hour, 37-track collection of cinematic noir-electro music that included contributions from Chromatics alongside other artists signed to Italians Do It Better.

On October 23, 2011, Chromatics unveiled the lead single from their forthcoming fourth studio album, Kill for Love. This track received acclaim for its mesmerizing and ethereal atmosphere, drawing comparisons to New Order. The publication The Fader praised the song for resisting mainstream trends, underscoring Chromatics' unique sonic identity.

Following their influential album Night Drive, "Kill for Love" began to attract a broader audience over the subsequent five years. The song was featured in television series such as Bates Motel and Gossip Girl. On February 11, 2012, they leaked "Into the Black," a cover of a Neil Young song that appeared in shows including Mr. Robot, Revenge, and Riverdale. Additional releases included "Lady," "Candy," and "Back from the Grave."

Jewel disclosed that the album's production yielded 36 tracks, which were eventually condensed to 17 for the final release. Officially launched on March 26, 2012, Kill for Love was characterized as a warm fusion of sounds bridging past influences with contemporary and future elements. On May 7, 2012, an alternative drum-free version containing eleven tracks was made available as a complimentary download. Songs from the album have been widely licensed for use in television series such as Bates Motel, Gossip Girl, Mr. Robot, Parenthood (2010 TV series), Revenge, Riverdale, and 13 Reasons Why. The album secured the eighth spot on Pitchfork’s list of best albums in 2012.

In early October 2012, Chromatics performed live at Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel Spring/Summer 2013 fashion presentation in Paris. Positioned above the catwalk, they provided an evocative musical backdrop combining both new compositions and older material.

2014–2021: Dear Tommy, Closer to Grey and break-up

On December 4, 2014, Chromatics announced their fifth studio project titled Dear Tommy. This release was preceded by singles including "Just Like You", "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around", and "In Films". On February 3, 2015, they issued a three-track single titled "Yes (Love Theme from Lost River)", which featured in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut film Lost River and the television series Riverdale. The soundtrack was released on March 30 through Italians Do It Better, followed by the film’s premiere on April 10. The track "Shadow" was released on September 9. Subsequently, on November 5, Chromatics put out seven cover versions of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"; one rendition appeared in a Mango commercial starring Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, while another was featured in the trailer for Netflix’s 2019 series Baby. A music video for "Dear Tommy" debuted on August 25, 2016.

In May 2017, it was revealed by their former manager that Johnny Jewel destroyed all existing copies of the completed Dear Tommy following a near-fatal incident in late 2015 but subsequently re-recorded the album. As of January 2023, this album remains unreleased. The band performed "Shadow" during the season opener of Showtime’s revival of Twin Peaks on May 21, 2017. A deluxe edition of their EP Cherry was released on July 31, 2017.

In 2019, Chromatics contributed a cover of Hole's "Petals" from their album Celebrity Skin, which appeared on the soundtrack of the horror film The Perfection. On October 1, 2019, Italians Do It Better hinted at an upcoming Chromatics album; upon release in New Zealand, its title and tracklist were revealed as Closer to Grey. The album saw a global release on October 2, 2019. Via Instagram, the band confirmed that none of the material from the unreleased Dear Tommy appears on this record. On January 24, 2020, they dropped the single "TOY", followed by "Famous Monsters" on March 6 and "Teacher" on April 16; alongside this last release they shared an updated tracklist for Dear Tommy.

On August 10, 2021, Chromatics announced their dissolution without Johnny Jewel. A spokesperson representing Jewel and Italians Do It Better confirmed the split while affirming Jewel’s pride in his past work and his ongoing commitment to producing music and supporting artists through his label.

Tours

Chromatics showcased their music at prominent global festivals such as the Paris Pitchfork Music Festival and Barcelona Primavera in 2012. In September 2013, they served as the opening act for the English group the xx at the Hollywood Bowl.

Members

Last roster

  • Adam Miller – guitar, vocoder, vocals (2001–2021)
  • Ruth Radelet – vocals, guitar, synthesizer (2005–2021)
  • Nat Walker – drums, synthesizer (2005–2021)
  • Johnny Jewel – programming, production, synthesizer, guitar, drums, mixing, engineering (2005–2021)

Past members

  • Devin Welch – guitar (2002–2003)
  • Michelle Nolan – bass guitar (2002–2003)
  • Hannah Blilie – drums (2002–2003)
  • Nat Sahlstrom – bass guitar (2003–2004)
  • Ron Avila – drums, percussion (2003–2004)
  • Lena Okazaki – bass guitar (2004)

Studio albums

Mixtapes

  • Running from the Sun (Italians Do It Better, 2012)

Extended plays

  • Cavecare (Hand Held Heart, 2002)
  • Nite (Troubleman Unlimited, 2006)
  • In the City (Italians Do It Better, 2010)
  • Lady (Italians Do It Better, 2012)
  • Cherry (Italians Do It Better, 2014)
  • Just Like You (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • Camera (Italians Do It Better, 2018)

Singles

  • "Beach of Infants"/"Steps" (Hand Held Heart, 2001)
  • "Arms Slither Away"/"Skill Fall" (K, 2002)
  • "Ice Hatchets"/"Curtains" (Gold Standard Laboratories, 2003)
  • "Healer"/"Witness" (Troubleman Unlimited, 2005)
  • "Tick of the Clock" (Italians Do It Better, 2013)
  • "Cherry" (Italians Do It Better, 2013)
  • "These Streets Will Never Look the Same" (Italians Do It Better, 2013)
  • "Yes (Love Theme from Lost River)" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "Just Like You" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "In Films" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "Shadow" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (Italians Do It Better, 2015)
  • "Black Walls" (Italians Do It Better, 2018)
  • "Blue Girl" (Italians Do It Better, 2018)
  • "I'm On Fire" (Italians Do It Better, 2018)
  • "Time Rider" (Italians Do It Better, 2019)
  • "I Want to Be Alone" (Italians Do It Better, 2019)
  • "You're No Good" (Italians Do It Better, 2019)
  • "TOY" (Italians Do It Better, 2020)
  • "Famous Monsters" (Italians Do It Better, 2020)
  • "Teacher" (Italians Do It Better, 2020)

Guest appearances

Track Name Release Year Featured On
"Hands in the Dark" 2007 After Dark
"Killing Spree" (Suite 304 Demo)
"In the City"
"Tick of the Clock" 2011 Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2012 Taken 2 (Original Soundtrack)
"Looking for Love" 2013 After Dark 2
"Camera"
"Cherry"
"Yes (Love Theme from Lost River)" 2015 Lost River (Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Blue Moon"
"Yes" (Symmetry Remix)
"Yes (Lullaby from Lost River)"
"Shadow" 2017 Twin Peaks: Music from the Limited Event Series
"Saturday" (instrumental)
"Let's Make This a Moment to Remember" 2018 The Perfection: Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Petals"
"Blinding Lights" (Chromatics Remix) 2020 After Hours (Remixes)
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