Richmond Band Selected As Winners of Global Fender Contest, Releasing New Single

Richmond-based alt-rock band Wine & Warpaint were selected as one of 26 worldwide winners and one of two from the New York region in the Player Plus Studio Sessions: Powered by Fender®. This global program sought to fulfill the creative aspirations of independent artists around the world by getting them back in the studio and providing them with the tools they need to create their musical art.

Their first single since receiving this recognition, the anthemic pop-punk offering “Static”, is streaming everywhere on February 4, 2022.

Wine & Warpaint, one of thousands of submissions from around the world, submitted their 2021, self-produced single “Half to Life”, a live performance video of their song “Spitefully Alive” (filmed at The Canal Club in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom), and a questionnaire that led to their selection as winners. They won a day of recording time at the world-renowned Flux Studios in New York City, New York, a brand-new Fender Player Plus Precision Bass in Cosmic Jade, a $500 mixing credit, and a one-hour consultation with Ari Herstand, CEO of Ari’s Take and author of the bestselling book How to Make It in the New Music Business.

“I’m still in shock,” said frontman Brandon O’Neill. “Especially with how subjective music is as an art form, it’s incredibly validating to be recognized by a brand as ubiquitous in the music world as Fender, and by such an accomplished panel of judges. We’re so honored and humbled, and we hope this can fuel us to reach a wider audience of people who connect with what we’re all about as a band.”

Submissions were judged on set criteria including: songwriting, performance quality, creativity, technical guitar playing ability, originality and more. Each submission was reviewed by a panel of judges made up of noteworthy producers, artists, journalists and Fender Executives including: Fender CEO, Andy Mooney; Fender VP of Marketing and Head of Artist Relations, Matt Watts; legendary singer-songwriter and producer, Nile Rodgers (U.S.); Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde (U.S.); Emily Kokal, singer and guitarist for the band Warpaint (U.S.); singer-songwriter and lead vocalist/guitarist for Mercury Prize-winning and Grammy-nominated Wolf Alice, Ellie Rowsell (U.K.), Joaquin Pavia Wakks, artist manager and CEO of Nakama Entretenimiento (Mexico); Director at Heartstop Music and Secretary of the Association of Artist Managers, Alastair Burns (Australia) and more.

Wine & Warpaint used their Fender-funded 10-hour studio day at Flux Studios in NYC to record five live, in-studio performances, captured in audio and video formats, including a live version of “Static.”

“It was so inspiring to be in Manhattan, in such a quality, comfortable space, knowing all the incredible artists that had been there before,” says guitarist Colleen Christman. “We tried to take full advantage of the time, and I’m so excited for everyone to hear what we came up with.”

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For more information about Wine & Warpaint and additional media assets, visit 
wineandwarpaintband.com/presskit

Wine & Warpaint Media Contact:

Brandon O’Neill 
(804) 338-7630
brandon@fangandfeathermgmt.com