Winter Spring Summer Fall

Winter Spring Summer Fall is the debut mixtape by American record producer, singer-songwriter, rapper and musician Boots.

Winter Spring Summer Fall
Mixtape by
ReleasedMay 6, 2014 (2014-05-06)
Recorded2013–2014
Genre
ProducerBoots
Boots chronology
Winter Spring Summer Fall
(2014)
Motorcycle Jesus
(2015)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork5.7/10[1]

Background

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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

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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

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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

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All tracks are written by Boots

No.TitleLength
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

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  • Boots – vocals, production

Additional musicians

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Kramer, Kyle (May 19, 2014). "Boots: WinterSpringSummerFall". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Davis, Justin (December 19, 2013). "Finding Boots: The Mysterious Producer Behind Beyoncé's New Album". Complex. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  3. ^ Castillo, Arielle (January 31, 2012). "Q&A: Blonds on Backing Up the Hype; Show Tonight at Bardot". Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  4. ^ "Photo Posted by Boots". Facebook. June 1, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "Spectral – An eye exam like no other, Starring Chanel Iman". Vimeo. June 26, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  6. ^ Tanzer, Miles (December 13, 2013). "Meet Boots, the Unknown Guy Behind Beyonce's New Album". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  7. ^ "Boots Shared a Link". facebook.com. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  8. ^ "Beyonce Album Credits". beyonce.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  9. ^ "How 'Beyonce' Stayed a Secret, and Which Songs Will Be the First Singles". Billboard. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  10. ^ "Happy Birthday Boots". Facebook. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  11. ^ Greene, Jason (February 13, 2014). "BOOTS – Dust". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  12. ^ Greene, Jason (March 11, 2014). "BOOTS – Howl". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  13. ^ "BOOTS – Autumn (Lude 1) (feat Kelela)". Dazed. March 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  14. ^ "BOOTS – Autumn". Complex. March 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "BOOTS – Ride Ride Ride". Spin. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "BOOTS – Ride Ride Ride (feat Sia)". Time. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "BOOTS – Alright". Dazed. March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  18. ^ "Beyonce's Album Sales Cross 1 Million in iTunes". Huffington Post. December 19, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  19. ^ "Beyonce Producer Boots Drops Two New Songs: Listen". Idolator. April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  20. ^ "BOOTS – "My Heart Is A Stone Today (Unharmed)" & "Sheep/Lookin' Muthafucka (Lude II)"". Stereogum. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  21. ^ "BOOTS Tracklist". Twitter. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  22. ^ "WinterSpringSummerFall". Complex. April 12, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.