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Winslow recently recorded the first single of its sophomore album with Grammy award-winning producer Edwin “Tony” Nicholas. “Quarter life” was featured on Nicholas’ national compilation, Stimuli New Music, a Sony RED promotional album launched with the distribution of 10,000 copies to record stores countrywide on Record Store Day 2011. This distinguishing opportunity is only one of many the band has encountered since its founding.
In previous years, the band collaborated with renowned Parliament Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrel on Crazy Kind of Love, Winslow’s debut album released in 2008. The group has shared the stage with Lupe Fiasco and Average White Band, opened for Incubus and Earth, Wind and Fire on the side stage at the late Tower City Ampitheater, among performing with an array of other iconic musicians. Yet, the six-piece ensemble seems to be the local success that music fans in Northeast Ohio never seem to have heard. Thus, leading Winslow, a band that has toured from New York to Chicago to Florida, and everywhere in between, to turn its focus to its home turf.
“First and foremost, we’re trying to get out around Ohio,” Martin says. “We haven’t played a ton in Ohio over the last six months because we’ve been writing. So, it’s going to be really cool ... We’re starting off with just Ohio.”
The unique style of music Winslow creates is the leading factor in the band’s success. They’ve developed a heavily soul-based sound melded with jazz, rock and funk. However, Martin says it is also what hinders the group from making an initial connection with some audiences, especially in areas like Cleveland and Akron where rock and indie-folk dominate the music scene.
“We’re a fusion of a lot of different sounds, a lot of different styles. And I think that the fact that we’re different is, in some ways, a negative thing at first because people want you to be in a category that they can nicely put in the shelf. And unfortunately, we’re not that,” Martin said. “But I also think that that’s maybe why there’s an element of our music that’s refreshing.”
The group plans to use “The Winslow Chronicles” as a means of helping local audiences, as well as fans abroad, get to know the band. It’s a web series Winslow began recording in 2009. Episodes follow the musicians behind the scenes at a college campus and city festival to highlight what happens backstage at a Winslow show.
“Well, you know, ‘The Winslow Chronicles’ has been something we have been trying to get going for the last couple of years, and it seems that every time we start it then something happens, and we’re not able to put out all the episodes we want to. So we’re committed this time to really getting down to the nitty gritty,” Martin said. “Really, what it’s about is that we want people to get to know us, get to know what we do backstage, get a chance to see some of the shows they can’t make it to.”
In the next year, Martin said, the band will film studio features to let fans hear new material first and expose them to Winslow’s dream for the future.
“We want to be able to play music for a living. That’s thing number one. I mean, we want to be those people that you see that are able to pay for their car, pay for their house, pay to take care of their family -- and they do it all through music. Whether it’s writing, or playing a show, or any of the various things that go along with music, that’s step number one,” according to Martin.
Listen to the full interview with Winslow’s Martin in the Rhythm Report exclusive podcast below.
The Rhythm Report interview Maurice Martin of Winslow by TheRhythmReportWinslow is opening for The Right Now tonight, May 8, at Beachland Tavern. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The featured guest is Cleveland’s funky hip-hop ensemble Vitium.
Written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report
Written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report
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