Blending alternative rock, shoegaze and power pop, Wynona Bleach is a five-piece from Belfast, NI. In 2021, they signed to legendary independent label Fierce Panda (Coldplay, Placebo, Death Cab For Cutie); In early 2022, the band's debut album “Moonsoake” was released, revealing a thrilling and energetically passionate body of work, screaming battered hearts and fractured emotions.
The band's latest single is bold and dreamily lush. swim in the baywhich will be available on all download and streaming platforms starting January 24, 2024.
Wynona Bleach has come a long way since forming in 2018 as “R51” and has achieved a lot in that time: performing on the BBC, performing sets at Reading & Leeds Festival, a 12-date headlining tour of Russia and supporting the rock legends Feeder. The Slow Readers Club, Lonely the Brave and more… Their achievements only increased when, in late 2022, they were nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Award for both Album and Live Act. A winter tour in 2022 culminated with two shows at the Other Voices Festival. The band had arrived.
How do you define Wynona Bleach? Just one listen to their current album “Moonsoake” immediately tells you that they possess a raucous and defiant rock energy, but also that their genius amplifies a gloriously sweet and pretty 'color palette', the music underlined and embellished by the characteristic 'Bubblegrunge'. ' from Melyssa, scathing. , crossed girlish voice. In that sense, they are wonderfully indefinable. Continuing with this fragrantly anomalous theme, it is perhaps unsurprising that the band signed their record deal in a beach hut located in a closed, landlocked beer garden in the center of Brixton.
“Moonsoake” was recorded immediately after the band was hand-picked to support Alice in Chains on the Irish leg of their sold-out 2019 world tour. It was recorded with Bill Ryder-Jones in an abandoned factory in Portugal, with an entire recording studio that the band determinedly moved there from their hometown. The album also features tracks mixed by Grammy-nominated Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh, who have had extensive careers working alongside artists such as Manic Street Preachers, Tori Amos, Bjork and Rufus Wainwright, to name a few.
The band kicked off 2023 with a live session and BBC Sounds interview and a successful first visit to the US with huge, brilliantly received performances at SXSW in Austin, TX, and New Colossus Festival NYC. A prestigious support slot followed with indie rock legends Ash on the Irish leg of their UK and European tour. In 2024, the band is excited to ascend to the next stage in their musical evolution with their highly anticipated, yet-to-be-named second album later this year.
The new single from the upcoming album, “Swim In the Bay,” isn't exactly 'shy' as far as songs go. The song is boldly and shamelessly inspired by the act of giving oral (and auditory!) pleasure and is in line with the fearless themes of the debut album (“Drag”, “Aubergine”…). The song was recorded in the band's rehearsal room/studio, a former dance hall above a workers' club in Belfast, and was mixed by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh (The XX, Bjork, Manic St Preachers, Rufus Wainwright ). Guitarist Jonny Woods. is excited about the band's achievements to date. He says: “We are very happy that our first record has been reissued on splatter vinyl and we are excited to get started on Album 2, which will feature “Swim in the Bay.”
Think glorious indie alternative rock tunes reminiscent of groups like The Smashing Pumpkins, Curve, The Joy Formidable and Wolf Alice, but with Wynona Bleach's stamp all over it. If “Swim In the Bay” is anything to go by, get ready for loud, grungy energy, unmistakable hooks, lush melodies, the bold, the daring and the beautiful.
Wynona Bleach are: Melyssa Shannon – Vocals, Jonny Woods – Guitar/Vocals, Aaron Black – Guitar, James Foy – Drums, Carl Gilmore – Bass
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