“The name GREENWING was decided a week before the announcement of our very first show as part of a short list we made from all numerous suggestions we had come up with,” confesses bassist Travis Williams. He and drummer Kolton Kimbely make up half of Canadian band GREENWING, named because “our original drummer suggested it because it was his favourite type of parrot! It had a special ring to it, so we ran with it.”
“The band got together in our original three piece core during the COVID lockdowns of 2021 where we we jamming to stay sane. This just felt right and the next thing we knew, GREENWING had formed,” he explains. For those not in the know, GREENWING are a band that would class themselves as ‘heavy indie’.
“We’re a more upbeat sweater song meets PUP with a bit of THE DIRTY NIL‘s chaos!” Travis explains, whereas Kolton describes their sound “to be very pop influenced, with catchy choruses and catchy riffs. But with a heavy rock feel on top that rounds it out.”
The band have developed between their 2022 debut album Late Bloomer and their 2024 sophomore album Eatin’ It. “Our rhythm is tighter, we have more melodic content and our overall energy just feels like a natural step up!” Travis says. He explains that the name Eatin’ It is “after a song on the record of the same name. It’s about feeling a certain way and reacting poorly when being held accountable and then coming to terms with realizing they were correct.”
However, the recording process for this album was very different. “I myself spent most of it five hours north tuning in on skype for production feedback and coming down to do all my bass in a single day. The process still felt very good and proved to us that we can accomplish something like this when obstacles are thrown at us,” he explains. “I would say my hardest song to record this record was Fences. That song has a crazy amount of feel that I really had to lock into!”
Kolton says, “the hardest song to record for me would probably be Better Than Yesterday. It’s one of our more upbeat songs on the album. It has this killer groove to it, and a super heavy breakdown. It definitely took me a few takes to finish the drums!”
But making the album wasn’t all doom and gloom; it was also a lot of fun. Kolton explains that his favourite song to record is called Enough because “it’s one of my favourites off the album, and tracking drums for it was so fun!” Travis also says he enjoyed recording it because “it felt so natural and had zero doubts on any parts.”
It’s both their favourite song for good reason. It is the second single to be released from the band’s sophomore album, and the lyrics tackle the uncertainty that comes with releasing a musician’s second album. It also explores the feelings of fear that come from deviating away from a previously established path that had proven successful in the past. Whilst it is predominantly about music, the themes of the song are universal to everyone, no matter what stage in life they are in.
After supporting the likes of MOM JEANS, THREE DAYS GRACE, REINWOLF and ONE BAD SON, GREENWING have made a name for themselves by gaining a cult following in the touring circuit, and it has influenced their music. “Shortly after our new lineup change, we hit the road and played a good chunk of shows throughout 2023,” Kolton explains. “The chemistry we grew on stage throughout the year transitioned greatly into the studio when we started writing for the new album. The whole writing and recording process flew by quickly as each of us were locked in and knew exactly what was needed. And it was definitely from all the shows we had under our belt together.”
Travis agrees, “I would say touring has influenced our music in a big way. When we write, it’s often not complete till we feel like it has that ‘live energy’ and that’s something I feel touring has really made possible for us. But the Canadian music scene has influenced us in our sound but especially our live show as we pull from the energy that bands like PUP and NOBRO bring to the table.”
Kolton also acknowledges this, explaining that “the Canadian music scene has definitely influenced each of us! One band that comes to mind is THE DIRTY NIL from Ontario. We were fortunate enough to have opened for them last summer. They’re definitely a band we all look up to!”
After releasing the standalone 2023 single, Dark, the band found themselves nominated for various awards in the music industry. They were named Rock Artist of the Year in the same year by Sask Music. When it comes to live shows, GREENWING are one of the best in the music business. “I would describe a GREENWING show to be very hectic, but in the best way possible! We all let loose and have fun, which is our main focus on all our live shows,” Kolton explains. Travis agrees, “our live show is fast paced high energy with a welcoming feeling meant to bring everyone to the party!”
With their powerful songs, infectious live energy, unique sound, and passion for their music, it is clear that GREENWING are something special. With 2024 being the year that the band are going to spend touring, it looks increasingly likely that they will become one of the most beloved new bands of the music scene, and there will be a lot more people attending their parties.
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