Merrick Winter

BIOGRAPHY

Merrick Winter is a London-based songwriter and guitarist whose music bridges contemporary folk-pop with the classic American songbook. Born in Fairfield, Iowa—home to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation University—Winter was raised in an Anglo-American family within an alternative spiritual community. He learned to meditate at the age of 10, and early musical influences like The Beatles and Donovan (with their own ties to Maharishi) were soon joined by more esoteric figures such as David Lynch, Paul Simon, and an unexpected love for Irish traditional music.

While studying English Literature at King’s College London, Winter began writing and performing in bands, first making a name for himself as a producer before releasing his debut solo recordings in 2022. This eclectic upbringing and deep literary background fuel a reverent, narrative-driven style that The Line of Best Fit calls “deft, distinctly 21st Century folk songwriting.”

Though he leans away from the mainstream in his own work—favoring intricate guitar work and story-rich lyrics reminiscent of Randy Newman—Winter has written and produced for major artists including half·alive and Ivor Novello Rising Star winner Victoria Canal, earning recognition from NOTION as “a songwriter and producer to watch.” His solo sound, shaped by influences like James Taylor and Ry Cooder, has earned him a growing fanbase in London, Los Angeles, and Nashville, where his intimate, compelling live shows continue to resonate. He sold out London’s iconic St. Pancras Old Church in November 2024, and recently toured globally with BASTILLE, opening for the Ampersand campaign and playing with them across the UK, EU, and USA. Winter’s sophomore EP, The California Zephyr, is set for release on May 9 via Tone Tree Music.