The campaign to fund a physical release of ‘The Last Scattering Surface’ is ready to launch April 26th, 2024, alongside the first single ‘When You Go Away’. Oriol Nieto makes his Look To Windward debut on lead vocals for the…
Read moreLook To Windward began in 2009 in rainy Auckland, New Zealand as a studio project between Andrew McCully and Benjamin Morley (Mice On Stilts) that has grown to include performances from a variety of local and international musicians, including the stunning voice of Emily Rice (Aro). Their first album 'Fortunes Haze' was released in 2010. Andrew and Ben wanted to explore a variety of progressive music ideas and textures back when the 'bedroom producer' was more of a novelty. The 74 minute album was epic and complex, practically bursting at the seams with prog-metal intensity. After Andrew moved cities in 2012, Ben left Look To Windward as a full time member but would remain a frequent collaborator.
Released in 2014 their follow up EP was written and recorded in Wellington, NZ and features a refined sound culminating in the titular epic 'Kepler'. Emily Rice takes center stage on vocals, a collaboration that would continue on future recordings. Oli Smith also contributed his powerful growling voice.
Look To Windward's second full length LP 'In Fantasy', released in 2019, was recorded over 18 months between London and Auckland and featured a large cast of guest musicians. With Andrew, Ben and Emily on lead vocal duties, Oli Smith returned along with Guy Harrison (trumpet), Sam Loveridge (violin), Andy Smith (lead guitar) and Russell Smith (clarinet). 'In Fantasy' was more conceptually focussed than previous releases and leaned more into Look To Windward's prog-rock side. The title track would come to perfectly encapsulate Andrew's musical ambitions.
Since 2020, after the release of the single 'Verlossen', Andrew has been writing and recording material for a third album, announced mid-2022.
Look To Windward collaborates with a variety of musicians and singers and each release features multiple vocalists often deftly trading off or harmonizing on a single track. The music is complex and dynamic, moving from crushingly heavy to subtle and serene and features a tapestry of diverse instrumentation akin to the music of Steven Wilson.
Most songwriting and production duties are handled by Andrew who has continued to work on Look To Windward's music next to his primary job as a VFX artist in the film industry while also living internationally in New Zealand, London and now in the south of the Netherlands with his family.
The third album 'The Last Scattering Surface' combines all of Andrew's artistic interests as not only is the music a refined progression of Look To Windwards sound, it will also release with a 5.1 surround mix and full length animated 'visual album' created by Andrew to accompany and complement the musical and lyrical themes of the album. Returning for this release are vocalists Emily Rice and Benjamin Morley, lead guitarist Andy Smith and for his first Look To Windward appearance; Oriol Nieto who sings lead vocals on 'When You Go Away'.
The first single 'When You Go Away' releases on April 26th, 2024 alongside a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to fund a CD/Blu-ray release. The album then drops digitally on May 31st.
Andrew founded Look To Windward in 2009 alongside Benjamin Morley. Born in Auckland, NZ. Studied Fine Arts and 3D Animation and works in the VFX industry. Look To Windward is a passion project for Andrew that he has maintained while living in three different countries. He now collaborates internationally.