The latest EP release from The Winter Sounds brings out a wondrous mix of contemporary surf rock, warm Indie pop, and so much more as they bring color and a unique energy to songs that are already so full and lush giving everything quite a beautiful atmosphere to swim around in.
The Grand Gestures EP is a vibrant and full-bodied mix of soundscapes that really come through like a beautiful sunset in the middle of summer and how's it a way of having little hints of nostalgia along the way.
You get this sort of 90s contemporary feel on the rock side, but you also get a super classic songwriting style as well almost like from the 60s for example.
Organs give backbone to perfectly twangy guitars that come through like sonic waves of posting sound that all have a way of wrapping around you and keeping you right where it wants to.
There's something so cinematic and dreamy about this record that it just keeps you floating alongside with everything, and it feels really good to do just that.
Records like this are engulfing in the best ways humanly possible and this one has so much character and so much of a freeing and almost welcoming feeling that it's completely addicting.
I absolutely love the vocal approach on this record because it does have that 90s feel but it also makes me think of the Beach Boys as well at times because of these gigantic vocal harmonies and the tonality of the singing itself.
You can definitely hear these different influences coming through here and there throughout the course of the record and at times it makes it feel so personal.
The instrumentation across the record is absolutely outstanding and the dynamic balance of everything is nailed as is the aesthetic of each individual song.
This is indeed the type of record that has singles that stand on their own two feet very well but is also much better soaked in as a whole.
Some releases are meant to be listened to all-in-one shot as opposed to separated and this EP is the perfect length to be able to do just that.
You get that great surf and beachy vibe that keeps things sort of breezy and the lyrics really help paint those pictures as well at times and in my mind, they come through vivid and clear.
This was absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end and everything was done with such a graceful approach and the energy between the players was remarkable.
You definitely feel like this is a very one-on-one and personal sort of record if you listen well and it leaves a great mark.
With the release of such a well-woven EP we wanted to have a sit-down with The Winter Sounds to find out where this record came from and what might be next for the band.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay, let's start with the Grand Gestures EP! This record had a youthful indie pop rock feel with vibrant tones and energies! How did this EP come about?
Thanks to you all for taking the time with this. Grand Gestures was put together in the early spring 2023 in New Orleans. We started with a huge tracklist and found these 5 eventually after some selection. We wanted to capture something spontaneous and energetic, songs we could jump right in and play live and not rely on any synths, backing tracks, programming, etc., so those 5 from the EP emerged like that.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band? When did you all get together?
Winter Sounds have been a band in some form since 2006. This version of the band came together in 2017 when Corey joined us (Patrick, Paul, Joe) and we did two tours off a record called 'Maximum Reality' in 2017/2018
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
At the moment, I'm really invested in this movement called solarpunk, which is a technologically sustainable and diverse utopia-oriented future. There is a lot of hope in it, and more and more I want my music to reflect those ideas within the movement I connect with. The hope aspect is more like the Havel quote: "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out" I'm really inspired by the movement and am currently working my thesis into a first philosophy of solarpunk.
Buzz Slayers: This EP has some great styles on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
kind of guessing a bit, but there's some artists we always talk about in the group like Sigur Ros, Caroline Rose, Big Freedia, Caroline Polachek, Childish Gambino, Promise Ring, M83, Kendrick Lamar, Beck, Springsteen, Radiohead, King Krule, the Cure, Real Estate. I'm currently loving everything Anna Meredith and A.G. Cook.
Buzz Slayers: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
stretching, Cooking/baking, electrical engineering, philosophy, philately, paddleboarding,
Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?
Sigur Ros - Átta
Buzz Slayers: Are you guys doing any live performances right now? We just played some shows in New Orleans recently, but our next official tour is spring 2024 when 'Jupiter' comes out. There's a small chance we get on the road this December to promote 'Grand Gestures' but school makes it tough for everyone.
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
A little bit of both: Our guitarist Paul McKenna has his own studio called Fine Cutlery which he's been building up for the past several years. That's where we tracked and mixed 'Grand Gestures'.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
In the near future, expect another EP on Spotify as well as singles/videos for the upcoming 'Jupiter' album which should start appearing in the early fall 2023. 'Jupiter' is our 5th full-length record and will be out next spring.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
We appreciate you and hope that the music moves the needle even just a tiny bit in a positive way in your life. Also, feel free to reach out anytime about anything: thewintersounds@gmail.com
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