| Winter Spring Summer Fall | |
| Type: | Mixtape |
| Artist: | Boots |
| Cover: | Boots WinterSpringSummerFall.jpg |
| Recorded: | 2013–2014 |
| Producer: | Boots |
| Next Title: | Motorcycle Jesus |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
Winter Spring Summer Fall is the debut mixtape by American record producer, singer-songwriter, rapper and musician Boots.
Jordy Asher was a frontman of bands such as Blonds, Young Circles, Blond Fuzz and Stonefox.[1] 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.[2] In the same month, a fashion film (starring Chanel Iman and Viktoriya Sasonkina) featuring music by Boots was released.[3]
With his contributions to Beyoncé released in December 2013, Boots came onto the music scene largely unknown.[4] 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."[5] Boots contributed additional production, background vocals and instruments to the album's first R&B/hip hop single, "Drunk in Love", featuring Jay-Z.[6] [7] 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".[8]
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.[9] The song was of the first to be released which featured Boots singing lead vocals.[10]
On March 11, 2014 Boots released two more songs. One titled "Howl"[11] 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.[12] "Autumn (Lude I)" featured Boots rapping instead of singing.[13]
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.[14] [15] 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.[16] [17]
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)"[18] [19]
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.[20] He later went on to announce that the track list was a mixtape titled "WinterSpringSummerFall" but did not confirm a release date.[21]