Cole Preston is an American drummer, composer and musician, born October 9, 1996. He is best known as a founding member of the alternative rock band Wallows.
Cole has helped drive the band’s rise from a bedroom project to arena headliners.
Who is Cole Preston?
Cole Preston plays drums, percussion, keyboards and occasional guitar for Wallows, the Los Angeles-based alternative rock band he formed alongside Dylan Minnette and Braeden Lemasters. The trio has stayed together since they first met as pre-teens.
Wallows released their debut single, “Pleaser,” in April 2017. That song reached number two on the Spotify Global Viral 50 chart and drew early comparisons to The Strokes.
Since then, Cole and his bandmates have released three studio albums together. Unlike Minnette and Lemasters, Cole has largely stayed out of acting, focusing his public work on music.
Early Life of Cole Preston
Cole Preston was born on October 9, 1996, and grew up in Venice, California. His mother’s name is Sherri Preston, and he has an older sister named Rylie Preston.
He has said he does not come from a musical family. Even so, Cole developed a passion for music early, learning to play drums with the help of the video game Rock Band.
His first song was “Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer, which he learned because it was included in that game. From there, he enrolled in the GigMasterz program at the Keyboard Galleria Music Center in Southern California.
Before pursuing music full time, Cole competed as a swimmer. He also worked as a barista at a Coffee Bean location.
He met future bandmates Dylan Minnette and Braeden Lemasters at a music program called Join the Band in Van Nuys, California. That meeting in 2011 led directly to the group’s formation.
Cole Preston Age
Cole Preston is 29 years old as of 2026, born on October 9, 1996. His zodiac sign is Libra.
He turned 29 shortly before Wallows continued touring behind their 2024 album Model. That release marked the band’s third full-length studio project together.
Cole Preston Ethnicity and Nationality
Cole Preston is American, born in California and raised in Venice. His family background centers on his mother, Sherri Preston, and his older sister, Rylie.
He has spent his entire life and career based in Los Angeles. That local upbringing shaped the band’s earliest connections, since all three members grew up in the same Southern California music scene.
Cole Preston Height and Weight
Cole Preston stands around 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall, or roughly 1.80 meters. His weight has been listed at around 160 pounds, or about 73 kilograms.
He has an athletic build with dark brown hair and brown eyes. That build reflects his background as a competitive swimmer before he shifted his focus to music.
Cole Preston Education
Cole Preston attended the University of Southern California, enrolling in 2014 and graduating in 2018. He has described his college years as overlapping directly with Wallows’ early rise.
During his time at USC, Cole also appeared as a DJ on the campus radio station KXSC. He has since credited several USC connections, including longtime tour manager Cole Karaba, as part of the band’s ongoing crew.
He balanced his coursework with touring and recording as Wallows built momentum. That period included the band’s independent single releases before they signed with a major label.
Cole Preston Career
Formation and Early Years
Cole Preston, Dylan Minnette and Braeden Lemasters started playing music together in 2011 after meeting through the Join the Band program. The trio first performed under the name The Feaver, then changed it to The Narwhals.
They played the 2011 Warped Tour under one of those early names. By 2017, the group settled on the name Wallows and released their debut single, “Pleaser,” that April.
The song’s success led to a sold-out show at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles that May. From there, Wallows built a fast-growing fan base through additional independent singles.
Major-Label Deal and Breakthrough Albums
Wallows signed with Atlantic Records in 2018 and released their major-label debut EP, Spring, that year. The band’s single “Pictures of Girls” gained attention partly because Cole shaved his head during the music video shoot.
The group made its television debut performing “Pictures of Girls” on The Late Late Show with James Corden on May 9, 2018. In 2019, Wallows released their debut studio album, Nothing Happens, produced by Grammy winner John Congleton.
That album included the triple-platinum single “Are You Bored Yet?” featuring Clairo, and it went on to earn Gold certification in the United States. Wallows followed with the Remote EP in 2020 and their second album, Tell Me That It’s Over, in March 2022, produced by three-time Grammy winner Ariel Rechtshaid.
Recent Work
Wallows released their third studio album, Model, on May 24, 2024, again working with producer John Congleton. The record earned praise from outlets including Rolling Stone and Clash, and it included the singles “Your Apartment,” “Calling After Me,” “Bad Dream,” “A Warning” and “You (Show Me Where My Days Went).”
“Calling After Me” became the band’s first song to reach the Top 40 chart. Following the album, Wallows launched their biggest tour to date, a 38-city run that included their first headlining arena shows at Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum.
The band kicked off 2025 with the single “Your New Favorite Song” in January. Wallows continued touring internationally through 2025, including a stop at Custom House Square in Belfast that August.
Cole Preston Awards and Recognition
Wallows has earned five singles certified Gold by the RIAA, with “Are You Bored Yet?” reaching triple Platinum status. The band has performed at major festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Reading and Leeds.
Cole and his bandmates have also headlined sold-out shows at venues around the world. Those achievements came alongside the band’s growing streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify.
Cole Preston Girlfriend
Cole Preston has kept most of his relationship history private. He previously dated content creator Nina Ljeti, with the relationship becoming public around 2019.
Breakup rumors involving Cole and Nina circulated among fans in 2024. Neither Cole nor Nina has publicly confirmed the current status of their relationship.
Before that relationship, Cole was reportedly linked to a woman named Payton Morse between 2019 and 2020. As of 2026, Cole’s current relationship status is not publicly confirmed.
Cole Preston Net Worth
Cole Preston’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. His income comes mainly from Wallows’ album sales, streaming royalties, touring revenue and merchandise sales.
The band’s deal with Atlantic Records has also contributed to that income. Wallows continues to generate revenue through their ongoing world tours and back catalog streams.
Cole Preston Social Media
Cole Preston is active on Instagram under the handle @colepressston, where he posts updates tied to his life and the band. He has kept that account running since December 2014.
He also posts on X under the same handle, @colepressston. Cole additionally appears frequently on the band’s joint accounts, including @wallowsmusic on Instagram.
Fans often note his dry sense of humor across both platforms. Cole tends to post less frequently than his bandmates but stays active around major band announcements.
The Bottom Line
Cole Preston helped drive Wallows from a bedroom project into a Grammy-adjacent touring act, culminating in their 2024 album Model and a 38-city arena tour.
That album followed the band’s Gold-certified debut, Nothing Happens, and its 2022 follow-up, Tell Me That It’s Over.
He grew up in Venice, California, and learned drums through the video game Rock Band before formal training at the Keyboard Galleria Music Center. Cole later balanced a degree from USC with the band’s early rise to fame.
He continues touring and recording with Wallows following the release of their 2025 single “Your New Favorite Song.” Cole remains the band’s steady presence behind the drum kit as Wallows keeps expanding its global audience.
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