Why you really should be listening to... Winston Surfshirt

Laid back soul beats direct from an Australian surfer paradise. Pure bliss.

Last updated: 13th Jan 2020

Originally published: 24th Jul 2019

First things first, the name alone is enough to draw you in - but confusingly the leader of this band is not at all called Winston Surfshirt, in fact none of his band use their real names. There's Mi-K, Bustlip, The Bone, Bik Julio, Dool and of course Winston, and believe us when we tell you that they're some collective.

Winston's name assumedly derives from the musician's love for the Beatles, and specifically John Lennon - whose middle name he has taken as his own, as for the rest; who knows?

Without getting hung up on names, this outfit are a beautiful amalgamation of classic hip hop, soul and slacker indie - thus creating exquisite, honey sweet earworms built upon squelching synths and keyboard loops that drift wonderfully around your brain.

Winston was born in Manly, Australia then spent formative years in the UK in the West Sussex village of Bolney, before moving back to Oz in 2000.

Here he hooked back up with old friends - the aforementioned Mi-K and Bustlip, forming a covers band that would play tunes by the likes of OutKast, Taylor McFerrin and Pharoahe Monch, while also working on what would become his first album, Sponge Cake at home.

With his debut full length release dropping in 2017, and its follow up Apple Crumble (certainly a man with a sweet tooth) coming in 2019, Winston Surfshirt has tapped into a rich vein of form on both to deliver records as delicious as their titles.

To whet your appetite, we've combined the two on our Why you really should be listening to... Winston Surfshirt Spotify playlist (above), and if you fancy catching them live you can find Winston Surfshirt UK tour tickets below.

Winston Surfshirt Manchester tickets - Band On The Wall, Sunday 1st March

Winston Surfshirt Bristol tickets - Thekla, Monday 2nd March

Winston Surfshirt Brighton tickets - Patterns, Tuesday 3rd March

Winston Surfshirt London tickets - Electric Brixton, Thursday 5th March

Image: Jordan Munns