The Colourist Explained

Image Upright:1.2
Origin:Orange County, California, U.S.
Genre:Indie pop, indie rock, power pop
Years Active:2009–2016, 2021–present
Current Members:Adam Castilla
Justin Wagner[1]
Past Members:Kollin Johannsen[2]
Maya Aoki Tuttle

The Colourist is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 2009 by Adam Castilla, Maya Aoki Tuttle, Justin Wagner, and Kollin Johannsen.[3] [4] The band has been inactive since Aoki Tuttle's departure in December 2016; a social media post in late 2021 hinted at the band resuming activity, but they have not released any new music since the announcement.

History

2007–2012: Beginnings

Castilla and Aoki Tuttle met while performing in the band Paper Thin Walls, who rose to notoriety after being chosen to play the 2007 Led Zeppelin reunion concert in London.[5] The name "The Colourist" was borne out of a conversation with a friend of the band—a film student working with a film colorist at the time. Because the name was not already used, the ensemble decided to use the British/Canadian spelling for aesthetic and availability reasons.[6]

After years of performing concerts in their hometown, the ensemble captured the eyes of major record labels during their residency at Los Angeles' Bootleg Theater. In July 2012, the band signed a record contract with Universal Republic Records.

In 2013, the band's debut single "Little Games" became the No.1 song on Hype Machine.[7]

2012–2014: Debut EP and studio albums

In late 2012 and early 2013, the ensemble spent five months in Eagle Rock, California recording fourteen songs with producer Carlos De La Garza,[8] twelve of which went on the full-length studio album. Weeks after the recording was complete, the quartet performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.[9] On August 20, 2013, the band released their debut EP Lido.[10] [11]

On March 25, 2014, The Colourist also released their debut studio album, The Colourist.

2014–2015: Inversions and Will You Wait for Me

In October 2014, the ensemble released their first remix EP entitled Inversions.[12]

On March 5, 2015, radio station KSRY FM in Los Angeles published the single "When I'm Away."[13] Laura Neumayer of The Eagle Online describes the song as "complete with a groovy guitar riff reminiscent of The Lighthouse and the Whaler's "Venice."[14]

On May 25, 2015, "When I'm Away" was featured as the theme song on a television commercial for Hulu.[15] At that time, it was announced that the tune will be featured on Will You Wait for Me, the third EP from the ensemble.

On July 23, 2015, "Romancing" was released streaming on several outlets, including indieshuffle.com,[16] as the 2nd single from the EP.

On November 9, 2015, the group announced via their Facebook page that they are working on new music,[17] with a subsequent post early the next year that Johannsen and the ensemble would be parting ways.

2016–2020: Hiatus and side projects

On December 18, 2016, the group announced Aoki Tuttle's departure from the band.[18] Following it, the band went on a hiatus from 2016 through 2021.

2021–present: Reunion and recent developments

On November 2, 2021, the band announced on their Twitter page they've reunited,[19] and in December 2021, they revealed they are in the studio working on new music.[20] On June 3, 2022, Aoki Tuttle confirmed on Twitter that her departure was so that she could pursue voice acting and still maintains a closeness with the band. She further hinted at "surprises" with the group in the future, implying a possible future collaboration.[21] The tweet has since been deleted.

Appearances

Television Appearances

In 2013, The Colourist starred in a national commercial and ad campaign for Nokia, which aired on primetime television for three months. The commercial featured the band playing their single "Little Games" to a packed audience at LA's Opheum Theater.[22]

In March 2014, the band's sold-out performance at The Troubadour in LA was featured on Last Call With Carson Daly[23]

On May 21, 2014, The Colourist appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to perform their 2nd single "We Won't Go Home".[24]

Other Appearances

In October 2015, it was announced that "Little Games" would be featured on Guitar Hero Live, by Activision.[25] It also featured with the St. Lucia remix version in the EA Sports football video game, FIFA 14.[26]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
[28]
US
Alt.
US
Rock
2014The Colourist 821518
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Extended plays

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US Heat.[32]
2013Lido 16
2014Inversions
  • Released: October 28, 2014
  • Label: Republic Records[34]
2015Will You Wait for Me
  • Released: July 31, 2015[35]
  • Label: Independent[36]
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Trivia

In October 2015, Aoki Tuttle recorded the song "Back 2 U" with Raeko (the alter ego[37] of Jason Suwito from Sir Sly).[38] [39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography by James Christopher Monger . The Colourist | Biography & History . AllMusic . April 25, 2016.
  2. Web site: the Colourist – You guys are our lifeline, our family, and... . Facebook . April 25, 2016.
  3. Web site: Kohn . Daniel . The Colourist Are Stamping Their Passport to Rockstardom at Coachella . Blogs.ocweekly.com . April 11, 2013 . November 29, 2013 . December 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011744/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2013/04/the_colourist_coachella_adam_castilla_maya_tuttle.php . dead .
  4. Web site: Adam Castilla – Orange County . Ocweekly.com . November 27, 2013.
  5. Web site: O.C. band gets gig of lifetime. The Orange County Register. January 15, 2008 . January 11, 2016.
  6. Web site: Follow Friday: The Colourist. Baeblemusic. May 17, 2013. November 13, 2013.
  7. Web site: Introducing… The Colourist | Bearded Magazine: The Home of Independent Music . Bearded Magazine . November 27, 2013.
  8. Web site: Carlos de la Garza Credits AllMusic. AllMusic. January 11, 2016.
  9. Web site: About The Colourist. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113184047/http://www.mtv.com/artists/the-colourist/biography/. dead. November 13, 2013. MTV. November 13, 2013.
  10. Web site: Bowman. Cathy. The Colourist: Creepy is cool. The San Francisco Examiner. September 16, 2013. November 13, 2013. November 13, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113190252/http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/the-colourist-creepy-is-cool/Content?oid=2578576. dead.
  11. Web site: The Colourist to Join The Naked And Famous on Tour. Universal Music Group. August 28, 2013. November 13, 2013.
  12. Web site: Inversions – The Colourist. AllMusic. January 25, 2015.
  13. Web site: The Colourist's Debut New Song, 'When I'm Away' – New Music Discovery. ALT 98.7. March 6, 2015.
  14. Web site: The Eagle. theeagleonline.com. March 6, 2015.
  15. Web site: Hulu TV Commercial, 'We Got It' Song by The Colourist . iSpot.tv . May 22, 2015 . May 29, 2015.
  16. Web site: [LISTEN] The Colourist – Romancing :: Indie Shuffle]. indieshuffle.com. July 23, 2015.
  17. Web site: the Colourist – Timeline Photos – Facebook. facebook.com. November 9, 2015.
  18. Web site: the Colourist – Timeline. facebook.com. December 18, 2016.
  19. thecolourist . 1455670314273230856 . We're back. We've missed you ;).
  20. thecolourist . 1471544297006661634 . thank you for your patience.
  21. mayatuttle. 1532853623343812608. June 3, 2022. I technically left @TheColourist in 2017 to pursue voice acting, but I still very much support the project. All of us founding members are friends. Keep an eye on the Colourist in the coming year. I think there are some surprises in the works. You never know what might happen .
  22. Web site: AT&T Nokia Lumina 1020 TV Spot, 'Concert' Song by The Colourist. iSpot.tv. January 11, 2016.
  23. Web site: "Last Call with Carson Daly" Carrie Brownstein/The Colourist/The Casket Girls (TV Episode 2014). IMDb. January 11, 2016.
  24. Web site: "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" Jeff Foxworthy/The Colourist (TV Episode 2014). IMDb. January 11, 2016.
  25. Web site: Here Are the 200+ Songs Available in 'Guitar Hero Live'. highdefdigest.com. November 9, 2015.
  26. Web site: Arts . Electronic . 2013-09-17 . FIFA 14 Soundtrack Reveal . 2023-06-15 . Electronic Arts Inc. . en.
  27. Web site: Instagram post by The Colourist • Dec 18, 2016 at 9:02pm UTC. Instagram. March 23, 2017. en. December 8, 2016.
  28. Web site: James Christopher Monger. The Colourist | Awards. AllMusic. May 18, 2014.
  29. Web site: Vater Percussion. vater.com. July 29, 2015.
  30. Web site: Timothy Monger. The Colourist. AllMusic. February 25, 2014. April 8, 2014.
  31. Web site: The Colourist – Chart history . Billboard . May 18, 2014.
  32. Web site: The Colourist – Chart history . Billboard . May 18, 2014.
  33. Web site: The Sometimes Surreal, Always Entertaining World Of The Colourist . Baeblemusic.com . January 6, 2014 . January 4, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204042/http://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-22-2013/The-Sometimes-Surreal,-Always-Entertaining-World-Of-The-Colourist.html . dead .
  34. Web site: The Colourist – Say You Need Me (The Colourist Remix) [TMN PREMIERE]].
  35. Web site: the Colourist. Facebook. July 29, 2015.
  36. Web site: THE COLOURIST RELEASE "WHILE I'M AWAY". skopemag.com. March 24, 2015.
  37. Web site: Raeko & Mating Ritual team up on "Everybody Knows" – EARMILK. EARMILK. July 30, 2015 . October 22, 2015.
  38. Web site: Back 2 U (feat. Maya Tuttle). Hype Machine. October 22, 2015.
  39. Web site: Sir Sly – Timeline Photos – Facebook. facebook.com. October 22, 2015.