Winter Spring Summer Fall
Winter Spring Summer Fall | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mixtape by | ||||
Released | May 6, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2013–2014 | |||
Genre | ||||
Producer | Boots | |||
Boots chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Pitchfork | 5.7/10[1] |
Winter Spring Summer Fall is the debut mixtape by American record producer, singer-songwriter, rapper and musician Boots.
Background
Jordy Asher was a frontman of bands such as Blonds,[2] Young Circles, Blond Fuzz and Stonefox.[3] In June 2013, he was officially signed to Jay-Z's entertainment company and Sony Music Entertainment imprint, Roc Nation, under the pseudonym Boots, for publishing.[4] In the same month, a fashion film (starring Chanel Iman and Viktoriya Sasonkina) featuring music by Boots was released.[5]
With his contributions to Beyoncé released in December 2013, Boots came onto the music scene largely unknown.[6] Upon the release of Beyoncé, he updated his Facebook page, saying he had been "working on [Beyoncé] for most of the past year", and that he had "produced 85% of [the album] and [had] four original songs on the album."[7] Boots contributed additional production, background vocals and instruments to the album's first R&B/hip hop single, "Drunk in Love", featuring Jay-Z.[8][9] Beyoncé later referenced Boots' work on the album, saying he is "a new producer that [she] completely respect[s]", that "he is an innovator", and she is "so proud to work with him".[2]
Promotion
Boots began releasing tracks for his mixtape in mid February. On February 13, 2014 Beyoncé's official Facebook page shared a link to Boots' personal website which contained an original composition titled "Dust" with an accompanying music video.[10] The song was of the first to be released which featured Boots singing lead vocals.[11]
On March 11, 2014 Boots released two more songs. One titled "Howl"[12] as well as another titled "Autumn (Lude I)" which featured R&B artist Kelela. The release of "Autumn (Lude I)" included another music video, directed by Boots.[13] "Autumn (Lude I)" featured Boots rapping instead of singing.[14]
On March 25, 2014 Boots yet again released two songs. The first was a song titled "Ride Ride Ride" which reportedly featured background vocals from Sia.[15][16] The second song titled "Alright", featured Boots prominently rapping. In the song, Boots mentions selling "1 million in one week", alluding to Beyoncé's album surpassing one-million digital sales in its first week.[17][18]
On April 8, 2014 Boots released two more songs on his Facebook page. The first titled "Sheep/Lookin' Muthafucka (Lude II)" is a two part song. The first half hears Boots singing quietly over an electronic and orchestral arrangement. The second half features Boots rapping with a motif that plays heavily off of Nicki Minaj's "Lookin Ass". The second was a song titled "My Heart Is a Stone Today (Unharmed)"[19][20]
Release
On April 11, 2014 Boots uploaded a photo to his Twitter reportedly of a track-list. The track list contained all of the songs he had previously released. Prominent features listed were Shlohmo & Jeremih, Kelela as previously mentioned, Son Lux, Margot and a final feature that is unconfirmed.[21] He later went on to announce that the track list was a mixtape titled "WinterSpringSummerFall" but did not confirm a release date.[22]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Boots
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Day in the Life of Jordan Asher" | 4:19 |
2. | "Dust" | 4:35 |
3. | "Howl / Your Move" | 4:13 |
4. | "Fade Away" | 3:40 |
5. | "Alright" | 4:09 |
6. | "No More (Snowed In)" (featuring Shlohmo & Jeremih) | 4:33 |
7. | "Autumn (Lude I)" (featuring Kelela) | 3:49 |
8. | "EST" | 3:29 |
9. | "Sheep / Lookin' Muthafucka (Lude II)" | 3:57 |
10. | "Troubled World" (featuring Son Lux) | 4:28 |
11. | "Olive Trees and Blue Skies and Hills" | 0:56 |
12. | "My Heart Is a Stone Today (Unharmed)" | 5:42 |
13. | "Atom" | 5:21 |
14. | "Ride By (Lude III)" (featuring Margot) | 1:07 |
15. | "Ride Ride Ride" (featuring Sia) | 4:30 |
16. | "Dreams" (featuring Beyoncé) | 4:54 |
Personnel
- Boots – vocals, production
Additional musicians
- Shlohmo – (track 6)
- Jeremih – (track 6)
- Kelela – (track 7)
- Son Lux – (track 10)
- Margot – (track 14)
- Sia – vocals (track 15)
- Beyoncé – vocals (track 16)
References
- ^ Kramer, Kyle (May 19, 2014). "Boots: WinterSpringSummerFall". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Davis, Justin (December 19, 2013). "Finding Boots: The Mysterious Producer Behind Beyoncé's New Album". Complex. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
- ^ Castillo, Arielle (January 31, 2012). "Q&A: Blonds on Backing Up the Hype; Show Tonight at Bardot". Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ "Photo Posted by Boots". Facebook. June 1, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "Spectral – An eye exam like no other, Starring Chanel Iman". Vimeo. June 26, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ Tanzer, Miles (December 13, 2013). "Meet Boots, the Unknown Guy Behind Beyonce's New Album". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "Boots Shared a Link". facebook.com. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "Beyonce Album Credits". beyonce.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "How 'Beyonce' Stayed a Secret, and Which Songs Will Be the First Singles". Billboard. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ^ "Happy Birthday Boots". Facebook. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ Greene, Jason (February 13, 2014). "BOOTS – Dust". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ Greene, Jason (March 11, 2014). "BOOTS – Howl". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – Autumn (Lude 1) (feat Kelela)". Dazed. March 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – Autumn". Complex. March 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – Ride Ride Ride". Spin. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – Ride Ride Ride (feat Sia)". Time. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – Alright". Dazed. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "Beyonce's Album Sales Cross 1 Million in iTunes". Huffington Post. December 19, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "Beyonce Producer Boots Drops Two New Songs: Listen". Idolator. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS – "My Heart Is A Stone Today (Unharmed)" & "Sheep/Lookin' Muthafucka (Lude II)"". Stereogum. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "BOOTS Tracklist". Twitter. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ^ "WinterSpringSummerFall". Complex. April 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.