Dublin quintet The Winter Passing are ready to make waves with their new album New Ways Of Living, released later this week via Big Scary Monsters. Heavily influenced by 90’s/early 00’s music including 90’s punk, emo, indie rock, garage and Brit pop, expect to feel a rush of nostalgia with a fresh twist when you get hold of the band’s latest record. We caught up with bassist/vocalist Rob Flynn to discuss the band’s formation, what their aim to achieve, growing up in a musical household and more.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your band.
I’m Rob Flynn, 29 years old living in Dublin, Ireland. I play bass and do half the singing in The Winter Passing.
How did the band form and how long have you been together?
TWP was formed by original members Rob and Kate Flynn and Jamie Collison in 2012 before recruiting Kevin O’Shea and Marty Ryan in 2016/2017! We released our first demo/7″ in 2013, a debut album in 2015, an EP in 2017, a double A-side single in 2019 and now a second album, New Ways of Living.
Can you remember the first time you realised you wanted to make music?
I grew up in a very musical household with my father and uncles always playing songs on acoustic guitars from a young age, so I had that musical exposure from a very early age too. When I was maybe seven years old, I became obsessed with a band called Hanson and asked my mother for weeks on end to buy me a drum kit. Drums were my first instrument, I think I’ve known since then I wanted to make music and perform! Music has never not been at the forefront of my interests.
Who and what are the band’s main influences?
We’re heavily influenced by 90’s/early 00’s music for the most part, the 90’s punk, emo, indie rock, garage and Brit pop waves. Bands like Pixies, The Promise Ring, Jimmy Eat World, Jawbreaker, The Cranberries, The Breeders, Sleater-Kinney, Superchunk, Sonic Youth, The Stone Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Quicksand, The Distillers, Slint, American Football, The Get Up Kids and Saves The Day to name a few…
What do you aim to achieve as a band?
After being a band for as long as we have I feel like everyone’s ideals have changed drastically, but for the better! Sometimes with music you see or appreciate the experience/achievement when you look back at it, opposed to when it’s happening, if that makes sense?? It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions so to speak!
It’s just the adventure in it all for us really, the outlet to create! A travel and memory ticket. Being able to connect with people through the medium of music is one of the most powerful energies on earth!
For those who are yet to see you live, what can they expect from a The Winter Passing show?
You can expect energy and fun.
What’s next for The Winter Passing?
Like every other band we had our entire year of touring postponed due to COVID-19! We were meant to perform all across Europe, Japan and America this year so hopefully we can run it all back in 2021. We’re also really pumped about playing the new material from New Ways of Living. The album is available 3rd July via Big Scary Monsters.
The Winter Passing‘s new album, New Ways Of Living, is due for release on 3rd July 2020 via Big Scary Monsters, available to pre-order HERE.
