Ahead of its release on Thursday, we are absolutely pumped to be premiering the new single “Winterlude” from Perth-based New Zealand songwriter Damien Binder. We also have its official video, directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jonathan King (the cult horror-comedy Black Sheep). The track arrives as the first in a series of new singles Binder plans to release throughout 2026.
A trip to an incredible part of Western Australia inspired the song. “Last year I spent some time away down in the forests of Southern WA near Pemberton. The memory of the break and the emotions of that period came through in the theme of ‘Winterlude’,” Binder explains.
There’s a gentle spaciousness and calm optimism to the song, where acoustic and electronic elements intertwine over trip-hop-tinged rhythms, giving way to the yearning, melodic sweep of Binder’s voice as he reflects on memory, longing, and loss, continuing the warmth, intimacy, and quiet virtuosity that have long defined his work. I cycled through those forests many years ago, and I still carry the memory of their vast majesty and the profound calm that descended over me.
“It was just one of those rare moments you get sometimes,” Binder says of the writing process. “It has hardly ever happened to me before, but I was rehearsing and hit a chord and sung something, then another and more words came so too the melody and before I knew it, I had the verse then the chorus. My hands on the guitar just seem to go to the right places according to what I was hearing and singing. All of it came in one piece and I had the whole thing in 30 minutes!”
“I had sense of eagerness and excitement to record it and quickly sent a demo to Matt Gio (producer – Rudimental, San Cisco, Birds of Tokyo) and we worked up the arrangement together. I think we were able to capture the intimacy and mood of the song well.”
Produced and mixed by Gio at Studio Delle Nonna in Fremantle, “Winterlude” features Binder on vocals and guitar, with Gio contributing bass, drums and keyboards. The track was mastered by William Bowden at King Willy Studios in Launceston, with artwork by Mark Roach and artist photography by Bridget Julie-Anne.
Binder’s solo career stretches back to the early 2000s with his self-titled debut, and has since included five acclaimed albums. Before launching his solo career, Binder fronted New Zealand rock band Second Child, whose 1990s albums Magnet and Slinky helped them rise through the NZ scene, including an appearance at the 1996 Auckland Big Day Out and support slots with acts such as Nirvana, Fugazi, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Hunters & Collectors.
Regular readers may also remember we previously premiered the video for Binder’s track “Bright Side” back in 2023, and have been buzzing to feature this new work. Now based in Perth, Binder continues to carve out a distinctive space in the singer-songwriter world, with “Winterlude” offering a quietly atmospheric and reflective start to what promises to be a busy 2026.
Watch the video for “Winterlude” below, exclusively on the AU review ahead of its March 19 release.
You can follow Damien Binder on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Spotify
Header image supplied
