As a listener, you get an immediately smooth and quiet brooding vibe from this single “On Top of the World” by Winterstate. The chord progression, the delicate soundscape mixed in among the additional ambiance, the freely meandering electric guitar – it gives off a really laid back yet reflective mood, and this passes on well as you witness it. WINTERSTATE is led by singer-songwriter Kelvin Killmon (Seattle, WA) and multi-instrumentalist Alex Ortberg (Rochester, MN). The pair met as students at Berklee College of Music’s campus in Valencia, Spain, and have continued to write and record new songs together inspired by feel-good bands like The Killers, Mae, Anberlin, Incubus, and Foo Fighters.
This track has a fairly mellow, rock-style beat, and the hook most definitely fits in with that type of vibe – the overall feeling you get from this, however, suggests much more of a melodic, soulful genre.
Winterstate is two artists who work hard at their craft and put a wonderful touch of personal creativity into their music. Adding to the unique twist of their sound and artistry, the rock-fusion producer and songwriter has been cooperating with music from their childhood, and this gem of a trait comes through beautifully throughout the single – most notably towards the end. This touch of organic instrumentation, the stylish swagger of the rock music sound and the color it brings to a simple rhythm and electronic beat is brilliant. It makes you fall for the sound even more, and these good vibes are ideal for rock, even indie fans, across a range of audiences.
The track doesn’t generally feel like that of a particularly specific genre at first, but it’s very easy to appreciate and get into the vibe and sound of alternative rock– hopefully, this is a strong indication of the quality and creative musicality that can be expected from the upcoming work as well. Winterstate
has a fairly unmistakable sound, and cleverly this is not something that is made apparent simply through an overly attention-grabbing voice or an over-the-top hook section – as is sometimes the case. You can get lost in the energy here, and the feeling lasts from start to finish. The leading voice has character, without question, but it blends in beautifully with the music, making for an ultimately reliable source of escapism and artistry.