Windwaker Drop “dna” Video

U.S TOUR WITH BEARTOOTH + DON BROCO SET FOR FALL

Australia’s genre-bending WINDWAKER — vocalist Liam Guinane, guitarist Justin Keurntjes, bassist Indey Salvestro, drummer Chris Lalic, and synths/samples specialist Connor Robins — will unleash their third album, smile, you’re on camera. on October 23 through Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

Today sees (and hears!) the release of the new single “dna.” Listen here.

Watch the video here.

“dna” explores one’s internal struggle with self-perspective and sincerity in an increasingly social media-driven world, which is an existential battle many of us can relate to. It’s all wrapped up in an alt rock package. It’s laced with synths, hip-hop-inspired verses, and never scrimps on the hard-hitting riffage and bloodcurdling screams. The Aussie band remains committed to erasing genre parameters and flipping off sonic boundaries. The result is music distinct as, well, actual deoxyribonucleic acid.

“‘dna’ explores a deeply internal struggle with identity, self-worth, and the feeling of being trapped by one’s own nature,” the band offers. “The song reflects on emotional instability and the pressure of living up to expectations, while battling impulses, ego, and the fear of never truly changing. There’s a recurring tension between wanting growth and feeling stuck in destructive patterns, as if these flaws are hardwired into their ‘DNA.’ Another key theme here which is explored over the album is authenticity. References to ‘doing it for the likes’ and people ‘switching sides’ highlights disillusionment with superficial validation and fake personas, while the protagonist in this song tries to strip away ego and confront their true self.”

As a whole, smile, you’re on camera. ruminates on the weight of time and growth, struggles and sacrifice for the better life and authenticity in spite of a world full of superficial and sinister characters and bad actors. It’s a collection of catchy, energetic and heartfelt songs. The album is highly introspective and does not follow a linear narrative, instead presenting a series of personal reflections and snapshots that capture the emotional highs and lows of this period. It’s a celebration of how far the band has come and a candid look at the pressure of being seen, leaving listeners with a sense of both resolution and ongoing evolution.

Ultimately, Windwaker’s music effectively results from a chemical reaction between multiple genres. The band serves as the common denominator on an endlessly rotating carousel of styles, splicing stadium-size hooks, swaggering rhythms, gnashing guitars, and jaw-droppingly dynamic vocals into one unpredictable sound. The band has constantly pushed the envelope, taking flight into rarified air as an outlier. They already made a hyperspace-size jump musically from Love Language [2022] to HYPERVIOLENCE [2024]. The latter spawned “SIRENS,” which gathered 9 million Spotify streams and counting. In response to the highlight “Fractured State of Mind,” OnesToWatch raved, “Simultaneously brutal and beautiful, the ferocious new track explores the aftershocks of lost love and is sure to be an instant hit for those in need of a therapeutic rage session.” In a 10/10 review, Distorted Sound predicted, “HYPERVIOLENCE has the energy of a band about to make it big.” Plus, Melodic Magazine hailed “their genre-warping take on modern metalcore.” Along the way, they notably shared stages with everyone from Motionless In White and I Prevail to Beartooth and Caskets, among others.

Windwaker are touring with Beartooth + DON BROCO this fall. All dates are below.

WINDWAKER ON TOUR:
WITH BEARTOOTH + DON BROCO:
11/11 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
11/12 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom
11/13 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
11/15 — National Harbor, MD — The Theater at MGM National Harbor
11/16 — Buffalo, NY — Electric City*
11/18 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
11/20 — Chicago, IL — Aragon Ballroom
11/21 — St. Paul, MN — Myth
11/22 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
11/24 — Grand Rapids, MI — Elevation*
11/25 — Indianapolis, IN — Hi-Fi Indy*
11/27 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall*
11/28 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
11/29 — Atlanta, GA — Coca-Cola Roxy
12/1 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
12/2 — Charleston, SC — The Refinery
12/4 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre
12/5 — Fort Lauderdale, FL — War Memorial Auditorium
12/7 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
12/9 — Austin, TX — ACL Live — Moody Theater
12/10 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
12/12 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
12/13 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Union
12/15 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel Entertainment Center
12/16 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
12/18 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium
12/19 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
*Don Broco + Windwaker Only