Colourmusic
Encyclopedia
Colourmusic was started in Stillwater, OK in 2005. Created by Ryan Hendrix and Nick Turner as a music collaboration and quickly evolved into a band when Cory Suter joined. The band became a quintet when Nick Ley and Colin Fleishacker from the band The Bells Are... joined. Colourmusic have been praised for their whimsy and vaguely psych-folk stylings.
The band has played around the Midwest and was seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno during Wayne Coyne
's Man on the Street segment at South by Southwest
when Wayne and the band shot an impromptu musical video. The band most recently opened for The Flaming Lips at Dfest 2007. They can next been seen opening for British Sea Power
on the first leg of their US tour.
, The Beatles
, and Serge Gainsbourg
, just to name a few. The band has been described as a cross of The Polyphonic Spree
and The Flaming Lips
but the band states that what really influences them is color. They became interested in Isaac Newton
's Theory of Color and Sound and focus their musical styles on a color. That color represents each song. They have produced two EPs called Red and Yellow, each song on the EPs reminding the band of that representative color.
When questioned as to what will come of their album-naming scheme once the traditional red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet color spectrum has been exhausted, Ryan was quoted as saying, "It is entirely possible that we will have to expand to non-visible areas of the electromagnetic spectrum. 'Infrared' and 'Ultraviolet' are obvious choices, but we will also examine the marketability of albums named after the other regions. Preliminary focus group results indicate that 'X-Ray' may be a well-received title, and we have begun the search for appropriate cover art. We're excited to report that renowned filmmaker Kevin Smith has already submitted a mammogram for consideration."
The band is also known for the live shows. They usually have a theme such as "The Family Show" where each band member represents a member of the family, and multiple members wearing dresses. They have had Exercise shows, where they work out, as well as being painted on stage by audience members and having their hair and clothes cut off during the show. Currently, the band is dressed in all-white track suits with members from the audience doing artwork on overhead projectors and the band being their canvas.
The band describes the first album as a collection of songs inspired by Isaac Newton’s theory on the relationship of colour and sound.
History
Ryan Hendrix and Nick Turner met in 1998 when both were attending Oklahoma State University. Turner, a British exchange student, and Hendrix struck up a quick friendship, even though neither one liked the other's musical interests or creative sound. They continued their friendship after Turner returned to the UK and began discussing their musical ideas. Eventually, after many trips to the States, Hendrix and Turner started recording in Hendrix's apartment. Both quickly realized that neither was a very good drummer, and Hendrix's roommate Cory "Cry" Suter was recruited for the job. After making a three-song EP, they started playing some local bars, usually using friends to play live, such as band members from Kunek. Nick Ley and Colin Fleishacker started joining the band for the live performances and they became full-time band members.The band has played around the Midwest and was seen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno during Wayne Coyne
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne is the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter for the band The Flaming Lips.-Early life:...
's Man on the Street segment at South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
when Wayne and the band shot an impromptu musical video. The band most recently opened for The Flaming Lips at Dfest 2007. They can next been seen opening for British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
on the first leg of their US tour.
Style
The band describes themselves as hardcore and a little Oklahoma Sex Rock. They are influenced by Brian EnoBrian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
, just to name a few. The band has been described as a cross of The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
and The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
but the band states that what really influences them is color. They became interested in Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
's Theory of Color and Sound and focus their musical styles on a color. That color represents each song. They have produced two EPs called Red and Yellow, each song on the EPs reminding the band of that representative color.
When questioned as to what will come of their album-naming scheme once the traditional red-orange-yellow-green-blue-indigo-violet color spectrum has been exhausted, Ryan was quoted as saying, "It is entirely possible that we will have to expand to non-visible areas of the electromagnetic spectrum. 'Infrared' and 'Ultraviolet' are obvious choices, but we will also examine the marketability of albums named after the other regions. Preliminary focus group results indicate that 'X-Ray' may be a well-received title, and we have begun the search for appropriate cover art. We're excited to report that renowned filmmaker Kevin Smith has already submitted a mammogram for consideration."
The band is also known for the live shows. They usually have a theme such as "The Family Show" where each band member represents a member of the family, and multiple members wearing dresses. They have had Exercise shows, where they work out, as well as being painted on stage by audience members and having their hair and clothes cut off during the show. Currently, the band is dressed in all-white track suits with members from the audience doing artwork on overhead projectors and the band being their canvas.
The band describes the first album as a collection of songs inspired by Isaac Newton’s theory on the relationship of colour and sound.