Naarm/Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Winter McQuinn’s new album feels like the kind of gem you stumble on while deep diving through records. He didn’t do it alone…

In fact, the whole goal of the release was to tap into as many artists within his realm and collaboratively craft a succinct body of work. “I wanted to make a record that involved a lot of the talented musicians and songwriters in my local community,” McQuinn says. “It allowed me to follow any song direction or idea I had in mind and bounce ideas off of great musicians I’ve always wanted to work with.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgC4Zm-H0oc

The lineup of people he linked up with for Where Are We Now? is a bit of a who’s who of the rich sonic underbelly of Aus. Over the course of the nine tracks, the likes of Dylan Young (Way Dynamic), Feign Jima, Hot Apple Band, Shelby De Fazio (Bad Bangs), Chet Sounds, Acacia Coates, GFS and Rudy Polacheck all apply their wares.

Written and recorded predominantly at his home studio in Northcote, the album sees McQuinn take the vocal lead only twice, platforming his pals while locking down the underlying tapestry. You can hear the vintage instruments throughout: soft keys, lightly overdriven guitars, and warm analogue-feeling drum grooves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q41FGaO_TjU

The album title sums up the lyrical direction, and it’s something that everyone with a beating heart is pondering at the moment: what the fuck is going on in the world.

“On this record, the lyrics zoom in on a kind of introspective nature and ask questions or offer potential answers on what we actually need to be content in our lives and what that means to different people,” McQuinn says. “There’s also a lyrical focus on shared anxiety that I and a lot of other people feel at the moment…”

To celebrate the release, Winter McQuinn is hitting the road for a massive tour around the country. Check out the dates below, and pick up a limited edition vinyl of Where Are We Now? here. Out now via Third Eye Stimuli & Born Losers Records (North America).