Chromatics

Chromatics were a Portland, Oregon electronic group whose classic lineup, Ruth Radelet, Adam Miller, Nat Walker, and producer Johnny Jewel, turned from noisy lo-fi beginnings into the moody, Italo-disco-inflected synth-pop that made them a cult favorite. 'Cherry' first surfaced in 2013 on their own label, Italians Do It Better, and became one of the most-loved tracks from that nocturnal, cinematic run, later collected on a deluxe edition. Their 2012 album Kill for Love was ranked the 8th best album of that year by Pitchfork, a genuine critical high point for the group. The band disbanded in August 2021, with Johnny Jewel saying he would keep making music through Italians Do It Better.

From the notes for Episode 05 · fact-checked Sep 23, 2026.