Windborne is an all-vocal band that the BBC says is "Subverting expectations and redefining the genre… Just absolutely phenomenal!" Windborne’s captivating show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony, while the absolute uniqueness of their artistic approach brings old songs into the present. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable. 

 

Unlike most people in the US, the singers of Windborne grew up surrounded by harmony singing. At any party or dance, it was likely that someone would launch into a song, and everyone else would respond with harmonies made up on the spot. Raised in this culture and as bearers of these traditions, it was only later they realized that this was an unusual upbringing. As young adults they encountered other singers from around the world whose songs were different but whose story was the same. 

 

This began a decades-long passion for learning directly from singing masters from places with traditions of harmony singing, leading to deep cultural exchange and a broadening of harmonic possibilities. Windborne is the project where the four singers blend all of these influences with the music they carry in their bodies, leading to a unique experience. Audiences will hear songs they have never experienced before, or old songs, but with a new twist, as Windborne brings the unique arrangements to life.

 

We believe that singing is powerful—in community, as performance, with friends, or with strangers. The point of our harmony isn’t to simply dazzle the audience with vocal fireworks; it’s to evoke a deep emotional response that connects the listener with people, places, and ideas.  Singing songs from movements of the past is less about historical curiosity than an acknowledgment that what we fight for today is connected to struggles of the past. When we sing music from other cultures, it isn’t as distant curiosities, but as footholds to build empathy, community, and cross-cultural understanding.
Music and art are not neutral; songs can give a voice to those who have none, and can sometimes change hearts, even when minds are made up.

 

"The best musical discovery of the year…Stunningly powerful vocal harmony…Windborne sets a new bar for folk harmony singing today" –National Public Radio

Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Youtube