Modiste announces debut album ‘Nothing More Than a Machine’
Modiste will release its debut album “Nothing More Than a Machine” on August 7, 2026, with an album release show at Zanzabar in Louisville, Kentucky.
Modiste
Louisville, Kentucky synth-pop trio Modiste will release its debut album, “Nothing More Than a Machine”, on August 7, 2026. The record arrives digitally alongside CD, cassette and a 200-copy limited-edition vinyl LP pressed through Onyx Records. Modiste will mark the release with an album release show that night at Zanzabar in Louisville, joined by Jaye Jayle.
Table of contents
Vintage synths, no MIDI or autotune
The album is built around vintage analog synthesizers, drum machines and digital instruments from the 1980s and ’90s, recorded without MIDI, AI or autotune. Vocalist and songwriter Sydney Sleadd describes the approach: “Using these old machines is a small personal rebellion against convenience culture and all the small ways technology is sterilizing the creative process. Also, they’re just more fun. They’re unpredictable and wobbly and alive and have a certain warmth and texture that you just can’t replicate.” Guitarist Kyle Stallings adds: “In creating this record, we really discovered how well we worked together and how much we enjoy working together. We’re each pulling from different influences but there’s an overarching shared vision that is the glue of this project.”
Modiste is a collaboration between Sleadd on vocals, Dennis Stein on synthesizers and visual design, and Kyle Stallings on guitar. Dave Chale mixed the album at Deadbird Studios and Chris Gehringer mastered it at Sterling Sound, the same team behind the band’s prior singles. “Nothing More Than a Machine” mixes synth-pop, post-punk, industrial and new wave, and lyrically covers love, desire, devotion, heartbreak and obsession. Three of its songs have already circulated as standalone singles: “Breaking My Own Heart”, released January 16, 2026; “Shadows”, released April 16, 2026; and “Blur”, released June 18, 2026.
Modiste’s live shows extend the album into a staged visual experience, combining synchronized lighting, CRT televisions, glitch visuals and theatrical staging. Synthesist Dennis Stein says: “We’re really trying to create a full experience at our live show that allows everyone, including us, a reprieve from the day to day grind. While it’s a lot of work to pack out these big TVs, lights, and all of our stage production, it’s worth it to build an immersive world for people to come live in for a night.”
Modiste tour dates with The Black Queen
Modiste has shared stages with Black Marble, headlined 91.9 WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday in Louisville before thousands of attendees, and sold out each of its last three hometown shows. The band will support The Black Queen on a run of dates on that group’s Fever Daydream 10th Anniversary tour in October 2026. A confirmed date on Modiste’s own site lists:
- 1 October 2026 – The Black Queen, Trace Amount, Modiste – Eastside Bowl, Nashville, TN
No further support dates had been confirmed at the time of writing.
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. Vocalist Sydney Sleadd and synthesist Dennis Stein were paired at the 2025 edition and later added guitarist Kyle Stallings to complete the lineup. The trio describes its sound as “Lynchian synth pop,” built on 1980s synthesizers and electronic drums. Sleadd also fronts Sydney Sleadd & The Swarm, Stein performs solo as Introvert, and Stallings came up through Southern Indiana rock and electronic music, including a run with the Indianapolis band Hyper Tensions.
Modiste released its debut single, “Breaking My Own Heart,” on January 16, 2026, followed by “Shadows” on April 16, 2026 and “Blur” on June 18, 2026, all mixed by Dave Chale at Deadbird Studios and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound. In May 2026, Modiste headlined 91.9 WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday in Louisville. The band now completes that run of singles with its debut album, “Nothing More Than a Machine,” set for August 7, 2026, backed by a Zanzabar release show and support dates on The Black Queen’s Fever Daydream 10th Anniversary tour.
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