By – Jackie Lo

RIYL: TAGABOW, The Radio Dept, Tanukichan, My Bloody Valentine

The best relationships start with that feeling that you’ve known someone forever even if you’ve just met and this is exactly what’s happened with Brazilian/American indie artist Winter (Samira Winter) & Philly duo Hooky (Scott Turner & Sam Silbert). What resulted was their EP Water Season that was released today via Julia’s War Recording. It’s the perfect crush-inducing combination of Winter’s dreamy vocals over Hooky’s sampling that is the perfect blend, and I love that it was released today on Valentine’s Day.

Water Season consists of 4 songs and is a mix of dreamy lo fi, indie, and electronica. It opens with the single “horseshoe” that is everything I love about a Winter song with fun guitar parts layered with sweet vocal melodies with an addition of tape loop effects and drum machine. It’s upbeat and fresh and has an open heart and has an accompanying video the three directed and filmed in Philadelphia at John Heinz Park and the Museum of Modern Art.

The next track “in your pocket” is my favorite on the EP and is reminiscent of a My Bloody Valentine backing track on repeat, looping and building under the dreamy opening lines “Wish I was a speckle in your pocket. Wish I was a flower in your hair. Wish I could see when you wake. Wish I could hold you in your sleep…” It’s the soundtrack to every crush you’ve ever had and every first love you couldn’t get enough of. “lost tears” is more experimental and ethereal with autotune on layers of vocals and drones out on pieces of the line “for now until the summer is over…” that feels like the ending that needs to happen until the rebirth with the final track “i like you”. “i like you” comes full circle and opens with the lines “I like you. Acting real hard. You’re so much better than the rest.” which are the opening lines of the first song on the EP “horseshoe” and ties the perfect little bow on this 4 song EP.

Life is cyclical. Love is cyclical. Sometimes breaking out of your shell and meeting a person (or persons) that makes you feel like you’ve known them forever is just what the doctor ordered whether it be in love, friendship, business, or in Winter and Hooky’s case, in music. It’s a day for celebrating love and Water Season is the perfect soundtrack.