Windsor Airlift
Encyclopedia
Windsor Airlift is an American ambient
rock
musical project by Andy Johnson, Anthony Johnson, and Adam Young, who is the founder of Owl City
.
band. In April 2003, they released "The Basement EP". Between the release of "The Basement EP" and summer of 2003, they played at several shows including Sunshine Festival, Bethel Church, and Ironwood Springs.
After playing at Steele County's
Battle of the Bands in summer of 2003, Windsor Airlift made a major change in the band's genre direction. Abandoning nearly every aspect of the pop/punk
genre, they began writing music influenced by Unwed Sailor
, and quickly released "Selections for a Fallen Soldier." During the winter of 2003, the band began work on "Selections for a Fallen Soldier, Vol. II", while performing at events on the weekends. Selections for a Fallen Soldier, Vol. II, was released in spring of 2004, one year after the bands change in genre direction.
In fall of 2004, Windsor Airlift entered into the Club 3 Degrees band tournament, playing music deemed math rock
. After making the third round, the band decided that it was in their best interest to remove themselves from the tournament. During this time period, the band also began creating short films to be played with their songs on old televisions at their concerts.
In the spring of 2005, the band released a 4-song EP called "Hotels". Along with the release of the EP, they released two albums, "Qiu!" and "Moonfish Parachutist". Both albums were recorded entirely in Adam's basement. Throughout 2005 and 2006, Windsor Airlift continued to play at shows and write music with an additional member, and long time friend to the group, Michael DeMars. In the fall of 2006, the band released "Ocean City Park".
In 2007, Adam and Andy played several Windsor Airlift shows with each one consisting of new music. During this time, Windsor Airlift played two times with Unwed Sailor
, at The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa
.
Over the next several months, the band went over a lull while Adam's musical project Owl City
was beginning to gain popularity. During this time, Adam and Andy collaborated on a project via the internet, and released the album "Beneath The Crystal Waves".
In 2009, the group reunited to record the album "We Rule", two nights before Andy's wedding. In 2010, Windsor Airlift released "Flight".
page.
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musical project by Andy Johnson, Anthony Johnson, and Adam Young, who is the founder of Owl City
Owl City
Owl City is an American electronica musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement...
.
History
Windsor Airlift was formed in the fall of 2002, as a pop/punkPop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band. In April 2003, they released "The Basement EP". Between the release of "The Basement EP" and summer of 2003, they played at several shows including Sunshine Festival, Bethel Church, and Ironwood Springs.
After playing at Steele County's
Steele County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
Battle of the Bands in summer of 2003, Windsor Airlift made a major change in the band's genre direction. Abandoning nearly every aspect of the pop/punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
genre, they began writing music influenced by Unwed Sailor
Unwed Sailor
Unwed Sailor is a mostly instrumental band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years, with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford...
, and quickly released "Selections for a Fallen Soldier." During the winter of 2003, the band began work on "Selections for a Fallen Soldier, Vol. II", while performing at events on the weekends. Selections for a Fallen Soldier, Vol. II, was released in spring of 2004, one year after the bands change in genre direction.
In fall of 2004, Windsor Airlift entered into the Club 3 Degrees band tournament, playing music deemed math rock
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
. After making the third round, the band decided that it was in their best interest to remove themselves from the tournament. During this time period, the band also began creating short films to be played with their songs on old televisions at their concerts.
In the spring of 2005, the band released a 4-song EP called "Hotels". Along with the release of the EP, they released two albums, "Qiu!" and "Moonfish Parachutist". Both albums were recorded entirely in Adam's basement. Throughout 2005 and 2006, Windsor Airlift continued to play at shows and write music with an additional member, and long time friend to the group, Michael DeMars. In the fall of 2006, the band released "Ocean City Park".
In 2007, Adam and Andy played several Windsor Airlift shows with each one consisting of new music. During this time, Windsor Airlift played two times with Unwed Sailor
Unwed Sailor
Unwed Sailor is a mostly instrumental band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years, with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford...
, at The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.
Over the next several months, the band went over a lull while Adam's musical project Owl City
Owl City
Owl City is an American electronica musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement...
was beginning to gain popularity. During this time, Adam and Andy collaborated on a project via the internet, and released the album "Beneath The Crystal Waves".
In 2009, the group reunited to record the album "We Rule", two nights before Andy's wedding. In 2010, Windsor Airlift released "Flight".
Present
Windsor Airlift is currently writing content for a new album entitled "The Meadow". On March 9, 2011, the group released a demo from the album on their MyspaceMyspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page.