MI Local: Post-punk band Double Winter preview new album

It’s gonna be a big summer for Double Winter!

The Detroit-based post-punk quintet joined MI Local this week, previewing two new tracks from their forthcoming album, Hourglass, out Aug. 25.

Double Winter recalled how they were on a certain trajectory in early 2020 — shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic — ready to release a full-length album and preparing themselves to jump through the various hoops required to become “signed rock stars.” However, a lot of music released in 2020 seemed to flow into a veritable ether. Many artists experienced what felt like sudden career inertia. But now with Double Winter’s upcoming album, the hourglass has literally been flipped and they’re starting over, this time with a significantly renewed sense of purpose and perspective.

Double Winter formed eight years ago and have become a staple in metro Detroit’s music scene. Lately, they’ve been leaning harder into their classic post-punk influences, such as Talking Heads, Breeders, Roxy Music and The Cure. The band previewed Hourglass tracks “Our Glass” and “Make It Last” during the show. Double Winter funded the making of Hourglass themselves — recording with Chris Koltay at High Bias Studios in Corktown.

“Yeah, that’s a real lovey-dovey song,” bassist Holly Johnson chimed in. “But the funny thing about that song…is how they can evolve with different relationships. You can write a song when you’re at a different place. Here we are five years after writing it, and you can apply it to different circumstances and experiences you’re currently having — it’s a beautiful thing.”

The song “Make It Last,” as Double Winter’s “punker-jam,” according to Johnson. When it was proposed that the band has “worn a lot of different hats” over the years when it comes to sound and style, guitarist Steve joked, “We have a hat collection that could rival most bands’ hat collections.”

I also preview a new track from musician and filmmaker Ronny Tibbs, Detroit rockers The Hourlies, electro-pop artist Pesky Kid and more!

Remember to vote for your favorite Detroit artist during WDET’s Sounds Like Detroit Contest! Voting is live until July 2 at wdet.org/tinydesk.

Listen to this week’s episode of MI Local for two weeks after it airs using the player at the top. Check out the playlist below.

MI Local Playlist for June 25, 2024

• “I Quit” – The Hourlies
• “Don’t Be Sad” – Service
• “Love Is (Just) A Cruel Game” – Ronny Tibbs
• “Real Love” – Pesky Kid ft. Quells
• “Games” – C3
• “Blessing” – Caleb Shumake
• “Leafar Village” – Holy Spirit Write Me A Song
• “Naked” – Marqu3tte
• “AI” – Ke Thu
• “Digital Gardens” – beachowl
• “Our Glass” – Double Winter
• “Make It Last” – Double Winter
• “Hot Stones” – Double Winter