The Colourist

Orange County, California’s The Colourist throw a British ‘U’ into their name for international flavor. Anyone who’s heard the Lido EP and/or the singles “Little Games” and “Fix This” has an excellent idea of what to expect from the quartet’s self-titled debut album. Produced by Carlos de la Garza, whose production work includes Paramore and Tegan and Sara, The Colourist crackles with hyper-driven beats from singer-drummer Maya Tuttle and vibrant, flashy keyboards from Justin Wagner. Co-lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Castilla works with Tuttle to keep the melodies moving and with bassist Kollin Johannsen locking down the bottom end, songs like “We Won’t Go Home,” “Never Want the Night to End” and “Say You Need Me” capture the feel of eternal youth with a sound that challenges their touring contemporaries — Panic! At the Disco, Fitz & the Tantrums, The Naked and the Famous — to work that much harder to deliver songs with the Colourists’ level of intensity. Even a gentler tune like “Stray Away,” with angelic backing choirs and heavily-reverbed male-female harmonies, purrs with confidence and youthful determination.