Louisville synth pop trio Modiste release new single ‘Blur’
Modiste release the synth pop single “Blur” on June 18, 2026, the Louisville trio’s third single ahead of a debut album scheduled for August 2026.

Modiste, the synth pop trio from Louisville, Kentucky, released the single “Blur” on June 18, 2026, available across major streaming platforms. The track is the band’s third single and serves as a preview of its debut full-length album, which is scheduled for August 2026. Modiste pairs vocalist Sydney Sleadd with Kyle Stallings on guitar and Dennis Stein on synthesizers.
Inside Modiste’s ‘Blur’
“Blur” pairs synth textures with live guitar and analog instrumentation, most of it sourced from 1980s hardware. The band states that it records without MIDI, AI or autotune, building its sound from analog synths, keyboards, guitar and voice. The lyrics center on returning to a relationship that has run its course, a theme captured in the chorus line “All I know is that when I’m with you / all the lines they seem to blur.”
Sydney Sleadd described the intent behind the track: “We wanted ‘Blur’ to have this ebb and flow that tapped into the feeling of not being able to pull away even when something isn’t good for you.” “Blur” follows the singles “Breaking My Own Heart”, released in January 2026, and “Shadows”, released in April 2026. All three are set to appear on the debut album.
The single is available on all major streaming platforms, and additional release material is hosted on the band’s official Modiste site. “Blur” is also available to stream on the band’s Bandcamp.
About Modiste
Modiste formed in Louisville, Kentucky out of the Louisville Rock Lottery, an annual event at Headliners Music Hall that places local musicians into randomly assigned groups and gives each eight hours to write and perform three original songs. Sydney Sleadd and Dennis Stein were paired at the 2025 edition and later added guitarist Kyle Stallings to complete the lineup.
Sleadd also fronts Sydney Sleadd & The Swarm. Stein performs solo as Introvert and has worked as a touring and production technician across a range of acts. Stallings came up through Southern Indiana rock and left-field electronic music, including a long run with the Indianapolis band Hyper Tensions. The trio describes its sound as “Lynchian synth pop”, a reference to filmmaker David Lynch, built on 1980s synthesizers and electronic drums.
The debut single “Breaking My Own Heart” arrived on January 16, 2026, followed by “Shadows” in April. In May 2026 Modiste gave a headlining performance at 91.9 WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday in Louisville. “Blur” is the third single from the band’s debut album, which is scheduled for release in August 2026.
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