With a unique sound of soul mixed with hip-hop, accompanied by buttery-smooth vocals, the solo act-turned-six-piece are making waves.
Ahead of their sold out single launch, for new release, Be About You, this Saturday, Backyardopera hit up singer/rapper/producer, the man himself, Winston Surfshirt, for a quick chat.
Backyardopera: So, who is Winston Surfshirt?
Winston Surfshirt: Me.
BYO: Do you guys surf?
WS: Pscht. Toes on the nose? In the green room? Throwing Shakas? No we don’t… None of us do or have ever surfed actually.
BYO: How did you go from starting off solo and then turning into a six-piece?
WS: It all evolved in that way because of a venue in Manly, where we live, really. I used to play three to four times a week on my own, sometimes with Mi-K on the bass. Our friends opened up a bar called El Beau Room, and were looking for a ‘band’ to play so we hit Bustlip up who played beats on an SP [short play] and ended up playing every Sunday for about two years. Was a wild time. Things just grew really. Trombone player saw us at a house party so he started jumping up until we couldn’t get rid of him. And Julio and Dool, ‘The Doolio cousins’, came in to hit keys and strings.
BYO: Will you be recruiting more members in the future or is this kind of it?
WS: It’s pretty much it at the moment but [we’re] open to it. We have a bunch of people who jump up with us from time to time.
BYO: What does it take to be a part of Winston Surfshirt?
WS: Driving license, RSA and limited equipment.
BYO: What’s your favourite thing about Sydney?
WS: Four seasons in one day. Never know what to wear.
BYO: What would your Tinder tagline be?
WS: Should we really still be using this?
BYO: Which gig has been your favourite so far and why?
WS: We dig the small raucous ones. El Beau was insanely fun! Although we did have an all-time on tour with Rufus recently.
BYO: And where would your dream gig be?
WS: Albert Hall. Ha. Imagine.
BYO: What’s one thing you’d like people to know about Winston Surfshirt?
WS: To know of Winston Surfshirt.
BYO: Apart from your new single release, do you guys have anything else coming up?
WS: We got some things in the pipeline that we’ll be announcing soon, so listen up and fly right.
For those who weren’t lucky enough to score a ticket to their sold out single launch this Saturday at the Newtown Social Club, head on over here - if you close your eyes and imagine hard enough, it’s like you’re pretty much there.
Keep up to date with the boys to ensure you don’t miss out on anything else.