Silver Summer formed in the Summer 2019, played three successful shows in their hometown of Mankato, Minnesota, and then, like every other musical act in the world, went on hiatus at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. By summer 2021, Silver Summer had rebooted and were performing again in Mankato. Since then, frontman Colin Scharf has received three Minnesota State Arts Board grants and two Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council grants to fund the production of the band’s debut album, DIE OF LOVE. Silver Summer begins with Scharf’s musical influences, which range from The Clash and New Order to Frank Ocean and Caroline Polachek, and is guided by his lyrics that explore the stories of people at the crossroads of relationships, addictions, and identity. Silver Summer is rounded out by a seasoned group of musicians: keyboardist & vocalist Hanna Cesario’s roots lay in classical and jazz, but her excellent ear for harmony, chord voicings, and arrangement are integral to elevating Silver Summer’s music. Bassist Ed Avila’s first band, the late-80s LA-based New Wave group New Tribe, broke Van Halen’s record for sold-out shows at the Whiskey A-Go-Go. Since then, Avila has sustained membership in a number of original acts—as well as becoming a published author and tenured English professor at MSU, Mankato—and has found a musical home in Silver Summer. Drummer Tyler Vaughan is a chameleon behind the kit: equally adept at back beats and big beats, Vaughan—who also daylights as an MSU, Mankato professor—provides powerful percussion prowess that allows Silver Summer to explore the depths of their dynamic range. Silver Summer released ORACLE, a three-song EP, in April 2025. Their debut full-length DIE OF LOVE is forthcoming June 2026.