EQUATE meets Winston Surfshirt

Rising UK act Winston Surfshirt made a serious impact on 2019, developing a cult reputation with fans and critics alike for their blend of swagged out funk, soul and hip hop with a finesse of trumpets and saxophones too. Ever a fan of eclectic alternative R&B vibes, we caught up with their frontman (aptly named Winston, surf-shirt not included) in the wake of their new track ‘Need You’, following the release of their second album ‘Apple Crumble’.

Words by Danielle Temeng

EQ: Let’s jump right in – Surfshirt? How did you come up with the name?

WSS: [laughs], well, Surf-shirt came from John Lennon actually - he used to call himself ‘Winston leg-thigh’, and I just thought that was the funniest thing as a child, so I thought “yes, I will be Winston surf-shirt”. I used to wear these, what I would call, surf-shirts - button up floral shirts, but I still don’t really know why I did this.

EQ: What inspired you to start making music? I know you just mentioned artists such as John Lennon…

WSS: I grew up in England until was about 12 years old, and I thought I was going to be a footballer - then my family and I moved to Australia and it was way too hot for that [laughs]. That’s when I started playing guitar again - and I became obsessed with The Beatles, The Gorillaz, and the rest is history - I’ve been writing music for over 20 years now!

EQ: That’s amazing – did you teach yourself the guitar?

WSS: I had guitar lessons in England when I was a kid - hated it [laughs], when I went to Australia and stopped playing football and cricket, and I just started playing guitar again, and then I had lessons at school for a little bit.

…and that’s when you found your passion!

WSS: Indeed!

EQ: So, you would cite the Beatles as your main inspiration? Or is there someone else that you would attribute that spot to?

WSS: No, no, it would have to be John Lennon and The Beatles.

EQ: Amazing, and what is one Beatles song you wish you had written? Or one song in general?

WSS: [laughs] Well you tell me, what’s song has made the most money of all time? I’d probably have to say ‘Strawberry Fields’.

EQ: In terms of your sound, you’ve been compared to “a fusion between a Tribe Called Quest and Anderson .Paak”, listening to your song “Need You” it’s a pretty eclectic vibe. How would you personally describe your sound?

WSS: See I don’t know; I struggle to describe it. I want to say hip-hop, but it’s not hip-hop, maybe soul and RnB. I don’t know. I met the guy who plays drums in the band about 7 years ago, he was heavily into hip hop, and I was slightly into hip-hop, he ended up just showing me lots of stuff that ultimately shaped my music towards what it is now.

EQ: That’s great – so I guess collaboration is a big part of your sound?

WSS: Yeah, people I hang out with and what they listen to, and family - my sisters - I’ve got two, they used to listen to destiny’s child and TLC, All Saints and artists like that.

EQ: So, I guess all of that has kind of culminated into this gorgeous sound you create that resonates across genres, with a lot of romanticism in the lyrics too?

WSS: Yes, exactly! And that’s where John Lennon comes in, in terms of the song writing, and what I’m writing about.

EQ: Speaking on song-writing and romanticism then – what was the actual inspiration for your song “Need You”. Did you have a muse?

WSS: A lady muse? [laughs]. Yes, I’ve been with the same girl for 14 or 15 years now so it’s always mainly about her – she’s my number one fan!

EQ: So, you’ve talked about how working with people from different genres has influenced your music, have you got any collaborations coming up that you can give us a little EQUATE exclusive into?

WSS: We do, we do! There’s a guy from Birmingham and his name is Kofi Stone - we’re working on a song with him at the moment, and then there’s a couple other people that we’re working on songs with, one in particulate is an electronic duo from America.

EQ:…okay that’s going to be really cool because the sound that you’re quite recognised for will be influenced by electronic this time.

WSS: Exactly!

YouTube/Winston Surfshirt

EQ:…and who would love to collaborate with if you could pick any artist on earth?

WSS: Oh Gosh, there’s so many! Pharrell - everything he touches is gold! [Mark] Ronson, there’s so many people. There’s also a rapper called Farhana Dear who’s on my “to collaborate with before I die” list [laughs]. I’d love to get her on a song!

EQ: Apart from your own music, who is top on your playlists that our equate readers have to go and Shazam or Spotify right now?

WSS: Stories in Pyjamas – Kofi Stone, it’s a banger! There’s also a guy called Genesis Owusu, he’s Australian, and he’s got some brilliant things out at the moment!

EQ: Like you said, you’ve been in the industry about 20 years, what lessons would you say the industry has taught you – good or bad? Any advice for aspiring musicians too?

WSS: You’ve just got to enjoy it I think, as long as you’re enjoying what you’re doing then it’s all good. There’s always going to be ups and downs, I’ve had them too, and it can take a while, but you’ve just got to keep trying.

I spent 4 or 5 years just playing acoustic covers, and some originals, in the little village that I lived in in Australia, and they were 3-hour sets – I’d do 4 – 5 a week, and they just really helped hone-in my craft. So, I’d say the best thing you can do is play as much as you can, get in front of people and just enjoy it.

EQ: Your tour stared 1^st March – what did you do to get prepared and how was your European leg?

WSS: It was great! Our final stops were Paris and Amsterdam before heading back to England, and we stayed in my family home when we drove up - played an insane show in Brixton. We enjoyed lots of celebratory drinking [laughs]! It’s just been a dream to come back here and play!

EQ:…and what does the rest of 2020 have in store?

WSS: After our Australia and New Zealand leg, we’re going to get back to the studio, and do a lot of writing. Get some new projects out as soon as we can!

Stream ‘Apple Crumble’ HERE.

Instagram: @WinstonSurfshirt

Twitter: @WNSTNSRFSHRT