Modiste embodies exactly what Louisville has been waiting for. Composed of lead singer Sydney Sleadd, synth master Dennis Stein and guitarist Kyle Stallings, the group has gained massive attention despite only meeting each other in January 2025. Featuring synths and drum machines from the 80s as an integral part of the sound, as well as immersive lighting, visuals, vintage TVs and Sleadd’s costume changes, Modiste showcases that they are more than just music, they are an experience. The group captures an authentic 80s sound and performance that has even those who were not yet born during that time yearning for it. Modiste perfectly mixes the 80s elements with qualities that are unique to them, creating a truly memorable energy. Modiste debuted their first album, Nothing More Than a Machine, which was produced locally by DeadBird Studios, on Friday, August 7th. The group celebrated by playing a show at Zanzabar. LEO attended the show and chatted with 2 out of 3 of the group, Sydney Sleadd and Kyle Stallings. LEO: How are you feeling tonight upon the release of your first album?SS: I am feeling so grateful and excited. It was a beautiful show with Jay Jayle playing and with so many friends and family and people that I’m meeting for the first time here. The sound was incredible because Dave Chale who mixed our album also did the mixing [for tonight’s show]. I’m just a little bit surreal and stunned. We just played our first show as this band in December, so the fact that we created this album and kind of built the following that we have in what feels like a short amount of time is just a little bit nuts. So, I’m very very happy and very very excited.LEO: What’s your experience as an artist in Louisville?SS: Oh man, I’ve been playing in Louisville for the past about 15 years. I started out under the stage name Alabama Brown when I was like 20 years old. I played country songs because that’s all I could play was three chords on the guitar. It just kinda came out like that, and I really liked the process of song writing. I did some open mic nights. Then I created the band Sydney Sleadd and the Swarm and played with them for several years. And then the Louisville Rock Lottery in January is where I met these guys, but I have been playing in different music iterations and different volumes kind of all over the place in Louisville for several years now. LEO: Since you’re a newly formed band, what’re some of the driving factors for the creation of your art/brand? SS: Well, this is the guy to ask. Kyle is in charge of a lot of the branding and graphics for Modiste. KS: I know it sounds weird. I’m not one of those people that [are] like “Oh I hear colors”, because I don’t do that, but like I just visualize things whenever we play. It just really comes easily. Lots of neons and things like that I think are kind of par for the course for us. SS: A lot of Twin Peaks. A lot of David Lynch.KS: Definitely Lynchian things and some 80s nostalgia. You know, that sort of thing. You can find Modiste’s album Nothing More Than a Machine wherever you stream your music and can purchase it on their website. The post An Interview with Modiste: The Synthpop Group Taking Louisville by Storm appeared first on LEO Weekly | Louisville Eccentric Observer. ...read more read less