diff --git a/crates/tek_core/src/color.rs b/crates/tek_core/src/color.rs
index d08d8fcc..edf8a176 100644
--- a/crates/tek_core/src/color.rs
+++ b/crates/tek_core/src/color.rs
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ impl ItemColor {
         let hi = Okhsl::new( 180.0, 0.5,  0.2);
         UniformOkhsl::new(lo, hi).sample(&mut rng).into()
     }
-    pub fn random_near (base: Self, distance: f32) -> Self {
-        base.mix(Self::random(), distance)
+    pub fn random_near (color: Self, distance: f32) -> Self {
+        color.mix(Self::random(), distance)
     }
     pub fn mix (&self, other: Self, distance: f32) -> Self {
         if distance > 1.0 { panic!("color mixing takes distance between 0.0 and 1.0"); }
@@ -55,6 +55,14 @@ impl From<ItemColor> for ItemColorTriplet {
         Self { base, light: light.into(), dark: dark.into() }
     }
 }
+impl ItemColorTriplet {
+    pub fn random () -> Self {
+        ItemColor::random().into()
+    }
+    pub fn random_near (color: Self, distance: f32) -> Self {
+        color.base.mix(ItemColor::random(), distance).into()
+    }
+}
 pub fn okhsl_to_rgb (color: Okhsl<f32>) -> Color {
     let Srgb { red, green, blue, .. }: Srgb<f32> = Srgb::from_color_unclamped(color);
     Color::Rgb((red   * 255.0) as u8, (green * 255.0) as u8, (blue  * 255.0) as u8,)
diff --git a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger.rs b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger.rs
index 51f947cf..b02e2265 100644
--- a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger.rs
+++ b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger.rs
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> Arrangement<E> {
             ArrangementFocus::Track(t)   => { self.tracks[t].color = ItemColor::random() },
             ArrangementFocus::Scene(s)   => { self.scenes[s].color = ItemColor::random() },
             ArrangementFocus::Clip(t, s) => if let Some(phrase) = &self.scenes[s].clips[t] {
-                phrase.write().unwrap().color = ItemColor::random();
+                phrase.write().unwrap().color = ItemColorTriplet::random();
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger_tui.rs b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger_tui.rs
index 11ccef69..a7cbdba4 100644
--- a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger_tui.rs
+++ b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/arranger_tui.rs
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ impl<'a> Content for VerticalArranger<'a, Tui> {
                         let name = format!("{}", name);
                         let max_w = name.len().min((w as usize).saturating_sub(2));
                         add(&name.as_str()[0..max_w].push_x(1).fixed_x(w))?;
-                        color = (phrase as &Arc<RwLock<Phrase>>).read().unwrap().color.rgb;
+                        color = (phrase as &Arc<RwLock<Phrase>>).read().unwrap().color.base.rgb;
                     },
                     _ => {}
                 };
diff --git a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer.rs b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer.rs
index 08387609..02a64839 100644
--- a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer.rs
+++ b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub enum PhrasePoolMode {
     /// All notes are displayed with minimum length
     pub percussive:  bool,
     /// Identifying color of phrase
-    pub color:       ItemColor,
+    pub color:       ItemColorTriplet,
 }
 /// Contains state for viewing and editing a phrase
 pub struct PhraseEditor<E: Engine> {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ impl<E: Engine> PhrasePool<E> {
         }
         return None
     }
-    fn new_phrase (name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColor>) -> Arc<RwLock<Phrase>> {
+    fn new_phrase (name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColorTriplet>) -> Arc<RwLock<Phrase>> {
         Arc::new(RwLock::new(Phrase::new(
             String::from(name.unwrap_or("(new)")), true, 4 * PPQ, None, color
         )))
@@ -216,23 +216,23 @@ impl<E: Engine> PhrasePool<E> {
             self.phrase = self.phrase.min(self.phrases.len().saturating_sub(1));
         }
     }
-    pub fn append_new (&mut self, name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColor>) {
+    pub fn append_new (&mut self, name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColorTriplet>) {
         self.phrases.push(Self::new_phrase(name, color));
         self.phrase = self.phrases.len() - 1;
     }
-    pub fn insert_new (&mut self, name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColor>) {
+    pub fn insert_new (&mut self, name: Option<&str>, color: Option<ItemColorTriplet>) {
         self.phrases.insert(self.phrase + 1, Self::new_phrase(name, color));
         self.phrase += 1;
     }
     pub fn insert_dup (&mut self) {
         let mut phrase = self.phrases[self.phrase].read().unwrap().duplicate();
-        phrase.color = ItemColor::random_near(phrase.color, 0.25);
+        phrase.color = ItemColorTriplet::random_near(phrase.color, 0.25);
         self.phrases.insert(self.phrase + 1, Arc::new(RwLock::new(phrase)));
         self.phrase += 1;
     }
     pub fn randomize_color (&mut self) {
         let mut phrase = self.phrases[self.phrase].write().unwrap();
-        phrase.color = ItemColor::random();
+        phrase.color = ItemColorTriplet::random();
     }
     pub fn begin_rename (&mut self) {
         self.mode = Some(PhrasePoolMode::Rename(
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ impl Phrase {
         loop_on: bool,
         length:  usize,
         notes:   Option<PhraseData>,
-        color:   Option<ItemColor>,
+        color:   Option<ItemColorTriplet>,
     ) -> Self {
         Self {
             uuid:        uuid::Uuid::new_v4(),
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ impl Phrase {
             loop_start:  0,
             loop_length: length,
             percussive:  true,
-            color:       color.unwrap_or_else(ItemColor::random)
+            color:       color.unwrap_or_else(ItemColorTriplet::random)
         }
     }
     pub fn duplicate (&self) -> Self {
@@ -384,7 +384,9 @@ impl Phrase {
     }
 }
 impl Default for Phrase {
-    fn default () -> Self { Self::new("(empty)", false, 0, None, Some(Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0).into())) }
+    fn default () -> Self {
+        Self::new("(empty)", false, 0, None, Some(ItemColor::from(Color::Rgb(0, 0, 0)).into()))
+    }
 }
 impl PartialEq for Phrase { fn eq (&self, other: &Self) -> bool { self.uuid == other.uuid } }
 impl Eq for Phrase {}
diff --git a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer_tui.rs b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer_tui.rs
index f606f73d..9edbc9ce 100644
--- a/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer_tui.rs
+++ b/crates/tek_sequencer/src/sequencer_tui.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl Content for PhrasePool<Tui> {
                     if *focused && i == *phrase { row2 = format!("{row2}▄"); }
                 };
                 let row2 = TuiStyle::bold(row2, true);
-                let bg   = if i == self.phrase { color } else { color };
+                let bg   = if i == self.phrase { color.base } else { color.light };
                 add(&col!(row1, row2).fill_x().bg(bg.rgb))?;
                 Ok(if *focused && i == self.phrase { add(&CORNERS)?; })
             })
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl Content for PhraseEditor<Tui> {
             start: time_start, point: time_point, clamp: time_clamp, scale: time_scale
         } = *self.time_axis.read().unwrap();
         let color = Color::Rgb(0,255,0);
-        let color = phrase.as_ref().map(|p|p.read().unwrap().color.rgb).unwrap_or(color);
+        let color = phrase.as_ref().map(|p|p.read().unwrap().color.base.rgb).unwrap_or(color);
         let keys = CustomWidget::new(|to:[u16;2]|Ok(Some(to.clip_w(5))), move|to: &mut TuiOutput|{
             Ok(if to.area().h() >= 2 {
                 to.buffer_update(to.area().set_w(5), &|cell, x, y|{