WINYAH
There’s a raw, restless fire at the heart of Winyah’s music.
It’s in the crackle of their guitars, the growl of Thomas Rowland’s voice, and the way their songs always feel like they’re chasing something – a feeling, a high, a truth you can’t quite name. With southern swagger, indie rock bite, and a live show that hits, the South Carolina five-piece have quickly emerged as one of the most exciting new bands in the country. Their songs are gritty and real – full of friction, soul, and defiance – and their high-energy live shows are like a shot of adrenaline.
Winyah is more than a band name; it’s a hometown, a headspace, a heartbeat. Formed in 2023 and named after Winyah Bay – the coastal South Carolina landmark where four out of five members grew up – the group pulls their sound straight from the source: Humid nights, endless highways, and the push-and-pull of small-town life. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Thomas Rowland, bassist Stephen Russell, keyboardist Robert Buffington Jr., lead guitarist Luke Gordon, and drummer Jacob “Jake” Riley all cut their teeth grinding weekends – independently touring far and wide, all the while juggling jobs, college classes, and long drives – each member committing to the vision long before there was a plan.
“I view the band musically as a reflection of where we came from and where we grew up,” Luke Gordon says, with Stephen Russell adding, “We wanted to take a bit of home with us. We didn’t know what we wanted to say, but we knew we had home in common.” That shared grounding gave them a foundation, but it’s their chemistry, drive, and guts that have turned Winyah into a sought-after live show. From house parties to festival stages, they’ve been climbing fast – fueled by instinct, sweat, and a chip on their shoulder. Every win becomes a stepping stone: “As soon as we sold out our biggest show this year,” Rowland grins, “we set a new goal for next year.”
What started as a last-minute scramble to fill a Bonnaroo slot in 2024 quickly snowballed into something bigger. Winyah had three songs and five weeks to write the rest of their set – so they bunked on a friend’s couch, jammed every night in a borrowed warehouse, and built their debut record from the ground up. The resulting Lot to Learn (Feb 2025 via Cloverdale Records) wasn’t just a first album; it was a proving ground, a sonic coming-of-age born under pressure and pulled off on instinct. “It was a process of understanding where our tastes overlap,” bassist Stephen Russell reflects – a feeling Gordon echoes: “All of these songs are representations of our growing understanding of each other, and really, the early days of the relationship that is five guys in a band.”
From the cathartic chaos of “Feel It All Again” to the driving pulse of “Thread” and the title track’s emotional reckoning, Lot to Learn plays like a snapshot of five lives in motion – messy, ambitious, and full of heart. “That song really outlines a lot of the changes that come with growing up,” Rowland says of the album’s title track. “It makes people think about the challenges that come with changes in your life, or growing up, or finding a new person.” That tension – between nostalgia and release, friction and freedom – defines the band’s early work. Whether it’s Luke Gordon’s Santana-inspired riffs on “Mamacita” or the wide-eyed vulnerability on “Lay Me Down,” Winyah’s songs don’t just tell stories; they build worlds. They’re writing about real life, in real time – and letting the sound lead the way.
Winyah’s music might come from the gut, but their vision comes from something deeper. Since day one, the band has been chasing more than just a career – they’re focused on impact, connection, and a sense of purpose that transcends any single show or song. “We all dropped everything to do this earlier than most bands do,” Russell explains. “I quit a full-time job. We’re all in.” That risk, that hunger, that unrelenting commitment – it’s baked into every track they write and every crowd they play to.
Their goals are sky-high, but they’re not starry-eyed; they’re strategic. “We understand this band as creatives, but we also understand this band down to the dollar and the business,” they say. “We pride ourselves on working as hard as we can – and then harder.” That intensity fuels a live show built to be more than just entertainment. It’s release; it’s community. It’s a space for feeling something – joy, grief, nostalgia, freedom – and leaving it all out there. “Our goal is growth,” they add. “We want to build a real community – a place where people can feel something, escape, or just be.”
Winyah’s rise has been fast and hard-earned. To date, their music has amassed over 25 million global streams and counting. They’ve played major festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza and sold out their first headline tour in 2025 – including iconic venues from NYC’s Mercury Lounge to The Senate in Columbia, South Carolina. Each milestone has built on the last – proof that word is getting out, and the world is starting to catch on.
Now, Winyah are channeling that momentum into what comes next. Deep in the writing and recording process for their second album, they’re pushing themselves harder than ever – refining their sound without losing the edge that got them here. If Lot to Learn was about exploration, this one’s about intention. “We’re looking to have a more defined vision in what we’re doing and what our message is,” they explain. The sound is still real, still rough around the edges – but the vision is sharper, and the stakes are higher.
Winyah aren’t slowing down; they’re doubling down. “The goal is growth,” they say. “To keep writing songs people connect with, to keep giving that release every time we play them live.” Still restless. Still hungry. Still convinced the best is yet to come.
At its heart, Winyah is about finding meaning in motion: Making music that reflects the chaos and clarity of growing up, screwing up, and pushing forward. “We want our songs to inspire,” Rowland says. “To be a place where people can let go, or look inward, or just take a deep breath and enjoy.”
They call themselves a “live band first,” and it shows – not just in the sweat, swagger, and unfiltered honesty of their sets, but in the way every decision they make flows from that fiery spirit.
They’re dreamers, yes – but the kind who turn dreams into deadlines. Headlining 1,000-cap rooms. Playing Glastonbury. Becoming a face of the new rock-and-roll revival. Their hopes are ambitious by design: Bigger rooms, bigger stages, deeper connection.
“Delusional in the best way,” as they put it – and determined to make every step count.
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