Band to Watch: Hear In Color

How did you come up with the name of the band?
We actually tried multiple different names before landing on Hear In Color. We used to go on long drives and listen to music we liked in the car. We often would ask each other what colors we would see or associate with the songs or albums playing. Our singer Faith came up with the name “Hear In Color” because of those memories & because of how people all over experience and interpret music differently.

How would you describe your sound?
Indie, Alternative, Shoe-gaze, Dream-pop, with hints of emo & post-rock.

When did you first become interested in playing music?
Music has been an important part of our lives for as long as we can remember. We’re all in our early 20’s as of now.

What are you listening to these days?
Omar Apollo, Chicano Batman, The Strokes, New Sense, Iraya, Khruangbin, MF Doom, Death Grips, No Vacation, Video Age, Dijon, Crumb, The Backseat Lovers.

What does music mean to you?
Music sort of acts as a source of therapy in each of our lives. One way or another we have all been heavily impacted by music & creativity in general. It helps keep us stable in many ways.

How’d you guys first get together to play music?
We all pretty much met at Diablo Valley College through classes/mutual friends. Initially, the group was a trio that included Isaiah, Gerardo, & Faith. Shortly after once, we had our first gig coming up, we then added Valente & Eli to the lineup. This addition added a whole new energy and brought a new dynamic to the group to help give it a much fuller & more expressive sound. We would jam in the jazz practice room when we could fit time in (since we had some shows lined up before COVID hit) & it just became a good fit.

What inspires you to write?
For most of us writing has always been one of the few ways we could get thoughts or feelings or whatever out of our head and actually in the physical. It feels really good to have an idea in your head and see it form into an actual project and how those around you interpret it as well.

What’s the biggest challenge in becoming a musician today?
One of the biggest challenges for us at least was trying to adapt to the quarantine. We did a majority of this EP remotely & it definitely came with many speed bumps and technical difficulties that halted production time. Although the pandemic has given us more time to write, we do miss gigging so much & the impact that it offers to the community & scene.

What are some of your favorite Bay Area music venues?
The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall, 924 Gilman, Great American Music Hall, Rickshaw Stop, Up The Creek Records, Starline Social Club, Cornerstone.

What are some of your favorites places to hang out in the Bay Area and why?
Port Costa, Berkeley, Bear Creek Road, Reliez Valley Road, Romo’s Caffe (Oakland), Wildcat Canyon Road, Diablo Valley College.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to find out about you?
Valente knows how to breakdance, Eli/Gerardo make tea together & there are currently 10 empty cups of coffee in Faith’s car. Also, Isaiah has two birds that live on top of his fridge.

Is there anything you’d like to plug?

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