Dark Oak sets the weight of the palette in warmth and creativity, and Smoky Black is the swatch that breaks rank: a single red that stops the set reading as one note. Smoky Black to Candlelight spans 78 points of lightness, so the palette can carry its own hierarchy without reaching for a second one. Dark Oak is the loudest thing in the set and every swatch beside it is warm too, which gives the palette no way to cool a page down and no colour to rest an eye on.
Smoky Black a deep oxblood or garnet, red aged into authority rather than warning.
Dark Oak a deep rust or umber, orange's heat banked into something earthy and lived-in.
Bourbon a citrus-bright orange: enthusiasm, playfulness, an unmistakable call to attention.
Warm Amber signals warmth, approachability, and creative energy, friendlier than red, louder than yellow.
Candlelight a peach or apricot tint, all the friendliness of orange with none of the volume.
Visual design that captures the energy and identity of music
Explore the full Music style guideIts decade on the timeline · 1950s