Winston Giles

Biography

Winston Giles was born in Melbourne, Australia. His musical aspirations began as a young teenager when he took up guitar and piano, and his first bands included his brother on drums. Inspired by bands such as The Cult, The Velvet Underground and The Cure he spent most of his teens writing recording and performing.

He eventually formed FLOOR 13, an art punk rock band and released an EP titled "the world", that received much airplay on Australia's radio stations. Floor 13 would tour extensively throughout Australia before Giles at the age of 18 took the band to the United States, residing there for 8 years touring and recording. Floor 13, with a new American line-up, was based primarily in Dallas Texas where the band recorded several EP's and by the late 1990s had gained notoriety amongst the scene in "Deep Ellum".

Winston eventually returned and immersed himself in Australia's emerging dance music scene in 2000, working with many local D.J’s and producers and culminating in a project called – Atari Baby – releasing an album and many singles, remixes and videos under the moniker. This faster and harder sound featured elements of trance, big-beat, house and electro, whilst maintaining a dark and dirty feel to the music.

In early 2004 Winston met local producer C.j. Dolan, who was behind techno outfit – Quench. Winston had been writing new material in search of a new sound and at the beginning of winter 2004, the pair began recording and mixing the Winston Giles Orchestra debut album – Soundtracks for Sunrise Giles followed this release with the second album – A Magnificent Beautiful Day in 2006. The project grew from shows in Melbourne and Sydney's underground venue's such as 161 and Revolver to bigger stages at esteemed music festivals, such as Kiss My Grass festival. The albums received much critical acclaim. College radio embraced the albums in the United States as did the UK's BBC radio one. The band has toured extensively across Australia, the United Kingdom and The USA.

The Winston Giles Orchestra live show comprises Winston Giles (Vocals / Guitars / Piano /beats / samples), Dorian West (Trumpet/ Flugal Horn / Keyboards ). They also have musicians, who work with the band on a recurring basis. Although The Winston Giles Orchestra take an indie rock/post-punk approach to the music, the band is known for their lush, multi-layered, psychedelic arrangements, spacey lyrics and bizarre song and album titles. They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows featuring theatrics, video projections, complex stage light configurations, acrobatic hula-hoop dancers and stage performers. Music Videos for The Winston Giles Orchestra include the clip to "Welcome to the Hotel" filmed at the famous Chelsea Hotel in New York.

In October 2008 Giles released "LOVERS" a new album released under his name, not the Orchestra. The album is another departure, more of an upbeat underground New York Sounding album. “LOVERS” has a brooding sexy feel, laced with an indie disco edge. Giles wears his musical influences on his sleeve, taking many of his cues from classic and contemporary artists like: LCD Soundsystem, Pink Floyd, Duran Duran, David Bowie and Hot Chip. The album was produced by Giles and Don Nadi, and was nearly two years in the making, completed in September 2008.

Music videos

Equipment

As the lead guitarist of Winston Giles Orchestra, Giles plays Gibson guitars, primarily a SG 60's reissue standard with a Bigsby tremolo. Other times he uses a Gibson Dot Studio ES-335, a white Gibson Flying V and an alpine white Gibson EDS-1275 with golden hardware. For the recording of the Video "Welcome to the Hotel" shot at Hotel Chelsea in New York City he used a borrowed Gibson ES-355 through a 60's Marshall. When playing live, he uses Orange amplifiers and cabinets, lately seen in an Orange advertisement with an Orange AD30 and Thunderverb 200 and PCC412 cabinets. Gilse also states to use a Fender Stratocaster, though he prefers the Gibson guitars.