Well, it’s official. It’s cold outside. If our recent first snowfall of the season didn’t give you a clue, the hordes of students shuffling to class in coats and scarves prove that temperatures have dropped. And, as you update your winter wardrobe and bust out your sweaters, update your iTunes as well. We can’t live in denial by listening to summery music forever; here are some artists to check out whose tastes are decidedly wintery.
Volcano Choir creates ethereal, otherworldly music by combining the talents of Milwaukee group Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon, Bon Iver’s vocal powerhouse and melodic ringleader. The end result is a gorgeously mysterious mix of sound, building in crescendos of instrumentals and dwindling to a glowing ember of Vernon’s falsetto. If Northwestern housing codes permitted dorm room fireplaces, this would be the perfect soundtrack for watching the flames. Listen to songs like “Alaskans” during a light snowfall. It’s almost minimalistic, with a melody picked from guitar strings. The focus of the song is Vernon’s echoing voice, repeating words and building in harmonies. In contrast, “Byegone” is a joyful, climbing burst of driving drums and melancholic lyrics.
When you just want to crawl under your covers and never walk to class again, listen to Mutual Benefit to help you drift off to dreamland. The folksy, gentle tracks are studded with twinkling piano and tugs at violin strings, and the central melody is sung in a smoky whisper of vocals. It’s like being lulled to sleep by a friend quietly speaking to you in a soothing voice. Songs like “Auburn Epitaphs,” with clanging and lightly plucked strings, redefine the word melancholy. Steven A Clark brings haunting R&B songs that are perfect for updating your playlist for going out. “Angel of Death” opens with pure vocals reminiscent of a Christmas choir before the bass kicks in and Clark’s smooth voice pours out his dark lyrics. “Father, forgive me for I have sinned, again,” he croons, and then plunges into a description of a love affair with an angel. The resulting sound is rich and deep, R&B with an alternative twist, icy and cold. Close your eyes and think of icicles dangerously close to plunging off tree branches; Steven A Clark is a quiet ice storm.
British electronic music soul singer Sampha’s music is as much in flux as the changing seasons. Crystalline harmonies open “Can’t Get Close,” only to be layered over by Sampha’s rich, warm vocals. His melodies alternate between little soaring peaks and chopped melodic lines, mixed together with falsetto riffs. The end result? Music that begins as barren as leafless trees culminates with enough color to brighten even the grayest sky.
And when you’ve become disillusioned with the cold, which probably will happen when you’ve reached the maximum limit of #snow Instagram posts, turn to some music to warm yourself up. Born Ruffians are an indie rock band from Canada, which means they probably know a thing or two about cold temperatures, but their cheerful songs provoke nothing but images of sunshine. Their songs are brimming with energy, and while this sometimes veers to the realm of sloppiness, the music is undeniably catchy. Check out tracks like “Little Garcon" and “Needle,” The sounds of exuberant handclaps and shouts channel sunny summer days like nothing else.