A compelling new voice to emerge on the Canadian music scene, Winston is the latest in a string of popular West Coast bands now capturing the imagination of mainstream audiences. Last year their single "Love it up and Fell" hit # 1 at rock radio station The Q in Victoria. They spent 15 weeks in the Top 10 at CKKQ and went on to receive substantial airplay on stations across the country.
Vancouver's rock station 99.3 The Fox showcased Winston on its 2003 Seeds album, a compilation CD of the station's favorite unsigned bands that previously foreshadowed the success of Matthew Good, Nickelback and others. Music critics for The Province newspaper also dubbed Winston one of the 10 best local bands of 2003, alongside established recording artists Hot Hot Heat and The New Pornographers.
Named for the protagonist from George Orwell's classic novel 1984, Winston is singer/songwriter Ryan Hauschild, guitarist Lanny Hussey, drummer Robbie Watkins, and bass guitarist Tony Kerr. This powerful combination is an exceptional blend of musicians and songwriters who explore new levels of sound and avant-garde song construction.
The group's singles "Bottom of the World" and "Lonely" create worlds unto themselves with a rich and delicate blend of melody and harmony. Their hook-filled songs are eccentric-yet-accessible, luring listeners in with solid rhythms and innovative guitar lines that do more than just showcase "the radiant/inspiring presence of singer/songwriter Ryan Hauschild," according to Robert Thompson, music critic, The Kings of A&R, New York, New York. Whether belting out a rock anthem or singing in falsetto, Ryan's remarkable voice channels genuine emotion that touches fans and critics alike.
Born to folk-singing parents who performed throughout Western Canada, Ryan lived a good part of his childhood on the road with his family, listening to everything from the Beatles to Bluegrass in his mom's Pontiac Phoenix. "Music was the only constant thing in my life," says Ryan, who attended 13 different schools around BC before moving to Vancouver.
Ryan writes on guitar and piano, but he's been tapped by friend's bands to stand-in on bass guitar and drums for last minute gigs. "I like to dabble with lots of different instruments, but I'd rather record with a band," he says. "Making music with friends is really satisfying."
Winston released their debut full-length CD, Passengers, in the summer of 2003. Recorded over the course of two weeks with Juno award-winning producer John Webster, and the financial support of a major FACTOR loan, the album won high praise from a number of industry insiders, and went on to become one of the top-selling CDs on MapleMusic.com shortly after the online retailer of Canadian music began selling it in January 2004.
