Winona Avenue first introduced themselves at the beginning of 2019 as a mix of alternative rock and synth pop. From Indianapolis, Indiana, Winona Avenue is a two-piece band featuring brothers Daniel Deputy and David Deputy. Inspired by 2000s pop punk and 2010s pop rock, frontman Daniel Deputy writes catchy melodies along with uplifting lyrics. “I choose to write music that can encourage the listener,” says Daniel. “If I didn’t write lyrics that could make a positive difference in the listener’s life, then I’d feel as if I was doing a disservice to the listener. I believe in building others up instead of tearing others down, and music is a tool that can serve this purpose.”

The brothers decided upon the band name of Winona Avenue because they grew up living on a road called Winona Drive. The name Winona Drive was already taken by a music production studio, and the band did not want to cause any confusion, so they instead decided to go by the name of Winona Avenue. The band says that Winona Avenue can be thought of as a route that is traveled throughout a lifetime. “The decisions you make, the way in which you deal with circumstances, and who you choose to follow can determine where you will go,” says David Deputy, drummer for the band.

In February 2019, Winona Avenue released their debut single, “Move This Town.” Later throughout the year, they released the singles of “Paradise,” “Day of Our Lives,” and “Dancing in the Pouring Rain,” before touring heavily to finish off the year. Coming off a strong 2019, Winona Avenue made the decision to discontinue performing most live events in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic, the band had a successful year and released some of their most popular singles to date, including “December Night,” “Masterpiece,” “Future Me,” and “Beautiful Beginning.”

On June 25, 2021, Winona Avenue released their self-titled debut album on digital platforms. The twelve-song album included the eight aforementioned singles as well as four additional tracks. All songs on the album were written and produced by lead vocalist Daniel Deputy and mixed by Isaac Moreno. The album’s sound is characterized by electric guitars and synthesizers along with lyrics that revolve around themes of positivity, encouragement, and hope. The band’s Christian faith is established in the message of the album. Daniel says, “No matter the circumstances and no matter how difficult life may become, we want the listener to know that we believe God is with you every step of the way.”