Australia's genre-bending WINDWAKER — vocalist Liam Guinane, guitarist Justin Keurntjes, bassist Indey Salvestro, drummer Chris Lalic, and synths/samples specialist Connor Robins — recently announced their third album, smile, you're on camera. It arrives on October 23 through Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.
The band has share the video for "do or die." Watch it below.
You know those songs that you just can't get out of your head? No matter what you do you, you can't purge it or turn it off? Rather, it insists on taking up real estate in your brain because it's so damn catchy and, well, good? Windwaker's "do or die" is one of those earworms — it takes hold and doesn't let go. With grinding, powerhouse guitar grooves, bouncy, hip-hop-inspired vocals, a sprinkling of smooth and sexy falsetto, and teeth-baring screams, "do or die" courses like an electric current from your scalp down to your toes. Lyrically, the song looks at class vs. culture wars, with the band noting that the track "points out the division we're currently facing and urges the people to embrace the tribe mentality but to unify over the common enemy of leaders who don’t serve our best interests."
"Everywhere we look there is conflict, we are surrounded by it and have never been so divided as a humanity," the band says. "Wars between countries, toxic online discourse over ideology, countries divided over political policy from within, what we think is right and wrong has become a tribe identity and we are at war with one another. Leaders will call it a 'culture war' when in reality it's a way of keeping us distracted from class war that has been happening for decades. 'do or die' points out the division we're currently facing and urges the people to embrace the tribe mentality but to unify over the common enemy of leaders who don’t serve our best interests."
As a whole, smile, you're on camera. ruminates on the weight of time and growth, struggles and sacrifice for the better life and authenticity in spite of a world full of superficial and sinister characters and bad actors. It's a collection of catchy, energetic and heartfelt songs. The album is highly introspective and does not follow a linear narrative, instead presenting a series of personal reflections and snapshots that capture the emotional highs and lows of this period. It's a celebration of how far the band has come and a candid look at the pressure of being seen, leaving listeners with a sense of both resolution and ongoing evolution.
Windwaker are touring with Beartooth + DON BROCO this fall. All dates are below.
WINDWAKER ON TOUR:
WITH BEARTOOTH + DON BROCO:
11/11 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
11/12 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom
11/13 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
11/15 — National Harbor, MD — The Theater at MGM National Harbor
11/16 — Buffalo, NY — Electric City*
11/18 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
11/20 — Chicago, IL — Aragon Ballroom
11/21 — St. Paul, MN — Myth
11/22 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
11/24 — Grand Rapids, MI — Elevation*
11/25 — Indianapolis, IN — Hi-Fi Indy*
11/27 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall*
11/28 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
11/29 — Atlanta, GA — Coca-Cola Roxy
12/1 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
12/2 — Charleston, SC — The Refinery
12/4 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre
12/5 — Fort Lauderdale, FL — War Memorial Auditorium
12/7 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
12/9 — Austin, TX — ACL Live — Moody Theater
12/10 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
12/12 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
12/13 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union
12/15 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel Entertainment Center
12/16 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
12/18 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium
12/19 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
*Don Broco + Windwaker Only
