Southwind is a Kansas State-formed band blending indie rock and country influences, originating in early 2024 when lead singer Christian Shaffer posted on Snapchat looking for bandmates. Guitarist Cody Sundquist and bassist Logan Burr joined first. They later expanded in October with guitarist Jonathan Contrell and drummer Stephen Peterson.

 The group played their first gig together on Halloween 2024 and has been steadily building momentum since. 

“That’s how we came to be,” Sundquist said. “It was like today’s version of newspaper ads, putting on social media that you want musicians.” 

Originally called Ad Astra, the brand rebranded to Southwind, a nod to Kansas roots and the idea that its sound “happens everywhere.” Their style merges elements of alternative, Americana and indie rock. Each member’s musical taste, from jazz to dad rock to Radiohead, creates a unique and layered sound that defines the Southwind vibe. 

“With how versatile we all are, it kind of just blends itself together and we find this unique Southwind sound,” Shaffer said. 

Their songwriting process is collaborative and organic — lyrics from Dylan Sample and other members spark ideas that evolve as each musician layers in rhythm, melody and emotion until a cohesive sound naturally clicks. 

“It usually takes us about 30 minutes or so of playing it at which point it all just slides into place,” Sundquist said. 

Songs like “Meredith” and “Alpoca” showcase just how their music captures moments in time and personal emotions. 

“With the more real-life experience that we have, some songs that we made have a completely different feeling when we play them at our first gig to playing it now,” Contrell said. 

Southwind’s goal is simple yet heartfelt: to make people dance, feel present and connect emotionally. They value seeing their audiences get lost in their music — not their phones — creating shared experiences in the moment that can be looked back on in the distant future. Looking ahead, they hope to expand their fanbase, release more music and keep performing. 

“I think the entire point of striving is making this something you can do as a job, and you can keep doing it,” Contrell said. “Because it’s a hell of a lot of fun playing in a band.”