Coming straight out of Nashville – a place not always known for its pop-punk – trio Winona Fighter have just released their debut album My Apologies To The Chef on Rise Records. Produced by bassist Austin Luther in his home studio, it captures the raw energy and vulnerability of their live shows and is a great introduction to the band.
Winona Fighter is completed by frontwoman and multi-instrumentalist Coco Kinnon and lead guitarist Dan Fuson and they released their debut EP Father Figure, in 2022.
Highlights from the 14 song album include catchy opener ‘JUMPERCABLES’, with a nod to the early 2000s pop punk of Avril Lavigne, Paramore and Jimmy Eat World and distorted guitar riffs a plenty.
‘I’M IN THE MARKET TO PLEASE NO ONE’ is another banger– a self-empowerment anthem inspired by dating abuse that came out in a therapy session.
‘TALK’ encapsulates the beautiful sound of rage, backed up by Coco’s screams with lyrics such as ‘Tell me all your lies cos I won’t believe them anyway’.
Super hooky ‘You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers’ (what a title by the way!) gives plenty of attitude with lyrics such as ‘Go ahead I’ll let you take the first punch, cos honey I know you ain’t got much’.
Another stand-out song is ‘R U FAMOUS’ a melodic vitriolic diatribe against essentially starfuckers.
‘DON’T WALLOW’ is the anthemic end to the album, turning their discomfort into a source of positive inspiration.
The band’s fusion of melodic punk with heavy alternative rock permeates throughout their debut album and finds Winona Fighter revelling in their rage, as Coco says:
Why are we so okay with people being sad and anxious, and not okay with people having an outlet to be angry? That just blows my mind. I think if more people were able to be angry, maybe everyone would be a little happier.
Catch them live on their ‘Yes, Chef Tour’ in the US this February/March and their UK live debut at the Slam Dunk Festival.
24th May – Slam Dunk South
25th May- Slam Dunk North
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