Bay Area post-punk wonders OCTAVIAN WINTERS unveil video for invogorating single 'Hermine' + Soon performing at A Murder of Crows Festival
FOR FANS OF: Sisters Of Mercy, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Clan Of Xymox, IAMX, Drab Majesty, Bauhaus, Joy Division, The Cure
FCC clean (no profanity)
ISRC code USLQ2514573
'Hermine' single https://youtu.be/5p8GAwAgQtM
Bandcamp https://octavianwinters.bandcamp.com/album/hermine
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4ZFeW4hfFzi6Vczm0K4TGF
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/hermine-single/1832678822
'The Line or Curve' EP https://octavianwinters.bandcamp.com/album/the-line-or-curve
Tour tickets https://octavianwinters.com/shows
PREVIOUS VIDEOS
'Ondine' video https://youtu.be/UNsT5d-hidM
'Surreal' video https://youtu.be/UBGvNvuePLk
'Velveteen' video https://youtu.be/s5Wi93fuA4U
'Undertow' video https://youtu.be/hvpdYUexGz4
'Nebula' video https://youtu.be/exDtbI_asfs
'Velveteen (Mark Pistel Remix)' https://youtu.be/OBwMiPL6_h4
"A dark and lush tapestry of near-classic post-punk, oscillating between shadow and shimmer. Reflecting the troubled times that we live in, sublime dark sonic delight" ~ The Spill Magazine
"Drawing power from subterranean caves and bubbling magma... tectonic thunder... Such power, strong and true, a voice that scales the wall of sound beneath her with ease" ~ Joyzine
"A dark musical weave forged of post-punk and gothic strands. A sonic web of pulsing bass grooves and shaded ethereality, dark and delicious guitar slashes and haunting sound washes" ~ The Big Takeover
"Beautifully marries the somber and the sublime, creating a landscape where edgy riffs dance with ethereal synth waves, and vocals that sound like they were borrowed from an ancient, mystical chorus" ~ Post-Punk.com
"Seriously compelling incitement, which Aursjoen’s tones and the electronically atmospheric mists around her only escalate" ~ Ringmaster Review
San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents their invigorating new single 'Hermine', channeling the band's edgier energy, with accompanying black and white film by David Kruschke. Erupting with a wall of sound from the first notes, this is the first song written for their debut album, anticipated for early 2026 via Stratis Capta Records.
Formed in 2022, Octavian Winters is guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull), drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club), bassist Jay Denton and Ria Aursjoen (AURSJOEN) on vocals and keyboards. With a visceral and ethereal sound, they create haunting textures and channel half-remembered stories from an indifferent metropolis, shadows and lunar energy.
Now critically acclaimed, the band gained a solid reputation with their 2023 debut EP 'The Line or Curve', and 2024's 'Nebula / Velveteen' collaboration with Mark Pistel (Consolidated, Meat Beat Manifesto), their tightly crafted songs running the gamut from the ethereal to the dark and driving. This new offering, 'Hermine', visits those harder edges.
"Hermine was wonderful to write and sing because it has a real no-holds-barred energy about it. I was also able to revisit some of my metal roots, in terms of vocal delivery, which was both fun and cathartic," says vocalist Ria Aursjoen. "The lyrics reference the novel Steppenwolf by Hesse, and explore the nature of the fragmented psyche and passionately urges the freedom of self acceptance."
Randy Gzebb says, "It feels like the song is moving forward with unstoppable momentum. This is one of my favorite songs to play live". Stephan Salit adds, “I started out writing this as an homage to Geordie Walker (R. I. P. ) but it took on a life of its own and well, here we are".
Just as their forthcoming album, 'Hermine' was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith & the Muse, Christian Death) at 13 Studio in Chicago.
Octavian Winters' members have a rich history of collaborating and touring with notable artists, including Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, Savage Republic, Christian Death, The Frozen Autumn, Everything Goes Cold and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.
Octavian Winters will be performing at A Murder of Crows Festival in New York on August 30, joining Pink Turns Blue, Vision Video, Ritual Howls, Hallowed Hearts, Astari Nite, Soft Vein, Altar de Fey, Nox Novacula, The Brickbats, The Long Losts and 45 Grave. West coast fans can also enjoy their October 31 show at Bar Sinister in Los Angeles for their legendary Ghostly Halloween Ball.
'Hermine' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Concert tickets can be obtained at https://octavianwinters.com/shows
CREDITS
Music written by Octavian Winters
Lyrics by Ria Aursjoen
Ria Aursjoen - Vocals / Keyboards
Stephan Salit - Guitars / Vocals
Randy Gzebb - Drums
Jay Denton - Bass
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago, IL
Released by Stratis Capta Records
Published by Flare and Bloom Music BMI
Music film by David Kruschke
Single artwork backdrop by Henry Austin Lannan
Octavian Winters wordmark by Eric Olson
Artist photos by David Kruschke, except
Banner portrait by Katheleen Landino
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
PERFORMANCES
August 30 @ 6pm - A Murder of Crows Festival, New York, NY
October 31 @10pm - Bar Sinister, Los Angeles - Ghostly Halloween Ball
Keep up with Octavian Winters
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
