Under Color: Kohl Almire Launches Artist-First Management Company in Nashville

In a city where speed often outweighs soul, a new voice in artist management is inviting everyone to slow down and lean in. Nashville-based manager Kohl Almire has officially launched Under Color, a boutique management company built on collaboration, care, and creativity without compromise.

Photo by Curtis Wayne Millard.

A veteran of artist development, A&R, and digital strategy, Almire brings more than seven years of experience to this new chapter. But it’s his lived experience as one of the few openly transgender artist managers in the business that makes Under Color’s mission feel not only urgent, but revolutionary.

“At Under Color, we hold space for artists to be fully themselves,” Almire says. “We don’t force a pace. We don’t push an agenda. We co-create, we listen, and we lead with empathy.”

With a roster that already includes rising indie-pop songwriter Maddie Medley and Charlie Holt, the former bassist of acclaimed genre-benders Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Under Color is laying the groundwork for a management model that prioritizes mental wellness, identity safety, and long-term development over short-term wins.

The company’s mission and approach were recently spotlighted when Almire was named to the 2025 Equal Access cohort, an accelerator led by mtheory and supported by CMT, CMA, the Grand Ole Opry, BMI, and the RIAA. The cohort is dedicated to fostering diverse leadership in the music industry, and for Almire, it's been a catalyst for building Under Color as his full, authentic self.

MADDIE MEDLEY: "TRUSTED AND SEEN"

Photo by Curtis Wayne Millard.

After signing with a major label early in her career, Maddie Medley found herself searching for creative space and a team that truly understood her voice. With Under Color, she’s found both.

“Having the space and support to take my time with writing has been a game changer,” she shares. “I think I write best when I’m not hyper-focused. Now I let my subconscious process before deciding to finish a song.”

Medley’s storytelling is lyrical and raw, often likened to the emotional resonance of Fiona Apple or Adrienne Lenker but her process has become more grounded and intentional over time.

“I definitely prioritize lyrics over melody. I treat sonic experimentation as a way to serve the lyrics. I love production that’s sparse and organic. Once I’m done throwing paint at the wall, I strip things back. That’s when the real exploration starts.”

That encouragement is part of what makes Under Color feel less like a business and more like a creative family. “Kohl is someone who really cares. He listens. He doesn’t show up with an agenda. That trust has empowered me to trust myself more than I ever have.”

CHARLIE HOLT: "FROM CRUNCH CULTURE TO CREATIVE FREEDOM"

Photo by Curtis Wayne Millard.

For Charlie Holt, stepping away from the whirlwind of Rainbow Kitten Surprise was a difficult but necessary reset, physically, emotionally, and creatively.

“I’m thankful for what my time in RKS gave me. But now, I have the freedom to center my values,” they explain. “I no longer feel like an asset or liability to capital. The freedom to create without internal pressure has been life-giving.”

Holt, who has quietly been navigating chronic pain over the past five years, says Under Color’s artist-first approach has helped them recalibrate their relationship with music.

“I’ve been made to sit still and that’s changed my perspective on everything. I’ve found value in working on projects with my community that aren’t about money, but about connection and consciousness.”

One of the most pivotal moments came after Holt left the band and Almire laid down a simple, but transformative rule: no crunch culture.

“That liberated me. It gave me permission to explore tape machines, DJing, co-writing, and sound baths without guilt. Kohl sees me as a person, not just a product. That’s rare.”

Through Under Color’s guidance, Holt has been able to reframe what success looks like and reclaim their self-worth in the process.

“Music is a team sport. I’m so grateful Under Color allows me to be part of the game again at my own pace, and in a way that honors who I am.”

KOHL ALMIRE: "MANAGEMENT THAT MOVES AT THE SPEED OF TRUST"

Photo by Curtis Wayne Millard.

For Almire, Under Color is more than a business venture, it’s a calling. It’s a culmination of the lessons he’s learned from his time working in nearly every corner of the music industry.

“A good manager isn’t just a scheduler. They’re a translator, a strategist, a sounding board, and sometimes a therapist,” he laughs. “I’ve seen projects through every stage, from the first note to the marketing rollout. That perspective helps me meet artists wherever they are.”

At Under Color, there’s no one-size-fits-all model. Artists set the tempo and Almire adjusts accordingly.

“We move at their pace. Some move fast. Some need time. But the power dynamic has shifted. This isn’t about top-down control. It’s about shared vision.”

Being part of the 2025 Equal Access cohort has only deepened his resolve to build a company that opens doors, not just for artists, but for future managers, too.

“Before I transitioned, I was perceived as cis and straight. I think more doors were open to me then. That’s something I think about every day and I’m excited to build something where artists and managers who don’t fit that mold can thrive.”

When asked about the ethos that drives him, Almire sums it up with a quiet clarity:

“This isn’t about chasing trends or chasing fame. This is about building a home, one that protects creative freedom, celebrates identity, and creates a better future for music.”

A COMPANY THAT COLORS OUTSIDE THE LINES

Under Color is still in its early stages, but it’s already coloring outside the industry’s rigid lines, replacing pressure with presence, profit with purpose, and isolation with inclusion.

It’s not just a new management company. It’s a new model for how music and the people who make it can be nurtured.

And for artists like Maddie Medley and Charlie Holt, that shift isn’t just welcome. It’s necessary.

“I’m not chasing the next thing anymore,” Medley says. “I’m finally letting the music catch up to who I am.”

Under Color is proving that when you put humanity at the center, the music and the movement follows.

Learn more about Under Color and its artists at undercolormgmt.com.