Mar in Color’s new drops turn bright visuals into electronic worlds you can hear
On a cold night in Grand Rapids, emerging electronic and alt-pop artist Marissa Postler leans into her keyboard while colored lights pulse overhead. The room hums with anticipation. Performing as Mar in Color, she is not just sharing new songs. She is inviting listeners into a world she has been quietly building, layer by layer
A dual performance weekend marks a defining moment
That world stretches across two stages this Valentine's Day. At Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, during "They're All Love Songs," the setting feels close and personal. Her alt-pop melodies land softly but carry weight. Hours later, she steps into a completely different atmosphere at The Intersection, joining her husband and producer Aaron Schwallier, known as TechTonic, for "Heart Beat," a multi-stage electronic event alive with movement and sound.
Watching her move between those spaces reveals something deeper than her versatility. In one room, the audience listens closely to every lyric. In another, they respond to pulsing beats and immersive production. That contrast has fueled conversations around a Medicine emerging artist spotlig
ht and turned this run of performances into more than shows. It feels like a new music debut moment shaped in real time.
Collaboration, experimentation, and what comes next
Her confidence was built slowly. Postler began at Grand Rapids' open mics, learning how to steady her voice and command attention. She later formed a full band, adding drums, bass, electric guitar, and Schwallier on saxophone and keys. Together, they released the EP Darkness In Me and performed at festivals including Electric Forest.
Now she is making her own electronic album called Way Through the Dark while planning her next indie rock album, Violets Bloom. By sampling everyday sounds and reshaping them into layered arrangements, she continues to expand her sound. Each release feels intentional, personal, and vividly alive.
I have such huge visions of the visual world I want to create, but also I have the budget of an indie artist, so that’s just where I’m at. But then it forces additional creativity. The outfit that I wore to the ‘Technicolor’ (release) show, it was this crazy sequin, vintage jacket from, I don’t even know, the ’80s or whatever. But it was my grandma’s. So it was really special that I got to wear that. And I altered it. I cut it up and made a little top that goes under it.
Emerging artist Marissa Postler, known as Mar in Color, showcases her versatility and builds a unique musical world through a series of performances and experimental album projects.
- Mar in Color performs at two distinct venues, highlighting her ability to adapt from intimate alt-pop to energetic electronic performances.
- She is collaborating with her husband, TechTonic, to produce an experimental electronic album titled 'Way Through the Dark' while planning her indie-rock follow-up, 'Violets Bloom'.
- Postler's journey from local open mics to larger festivals and her recent performances marks a significant milestone in her career.