I love music. I love music so much that nearly everything I do has at least something to do with it, and I'm proud to say listening to music is my go to method of decompressing. Fortunately, I haven't felt the need to decompress a whole lot in recent weeks, as I'm currently on Winter Break. On the horizon though, a 17 credit semester and (hopefully) a new job looms, as well as many more weeks of the freezing and dark Winter. The music I listen to in the Winter is quite different than what I listen to in other parts of the year, as I like songs that make me feel warm and energized when walking to class or comfort me when I'm feeling down. Here are four fantastic artists and bands that I frequently listen to during the Wintertime.

1. Hum

This alternative rock band from Illinois experienced their prime throughout the 90s. Even though they technically "broke up" as a full time band in 2000, they continue to perform a handful of shows most years, and have even stated they are considering releasing new music. Hum experienced some mainstream success with their 1995 single "Stars," but they are more accurately described as a band with a cult following. Their music boats many common characteristics of 90s alternative, such as alternate tunings, distorted guitar effects, and a lo-fi recording quality. What makes Hum unique though, is frontman Matt Talbott's use of dreamy, soft, and genuine vocals, as opposed to more anger fueled ones like in Nirvana and Rancid. Talbott does do a bit a screaming in Hum's earlier songs, but favors the softer vocals more in the later releases. The band also does a great job at giving the listener a warming sensation through their guitar effects and beautiful melodies. For a first time listener, I recommend their 1995 album You'd Prefer an Astronaut.

2. Bon Iver

I was introduced to Bon Iver back in high school jazz band when we did a big band arrangement of their song "Perth," but it wasn't until just last Winter when I became a serious listener. Bon Iver was initially a solo project of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon that began while he spent a few months in isolation at his father's cabin to clear his head. There, he recorded the critically acclaimed album For Emma, Forever Ago. Soon after, Vernon expanded the project to become a full band with percussion, strings, horns, and A LOT more. The result? Two more fantastic albums and some incredible live performances. The warming sensation Bon Iver's music gives me stems from Vernon's signature falsetto singing style. I've never really heard a voice quite like his, and it's incredible to hear how he incorporates it into Bon Iver's arrangements. For a first time listener, I recommend their 2011 album Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

3. Zedd

In my opinion, every Winter playlist needs at least SOME upbeat electronic music. Listening to electronic helps take my mind off the cold pretty easily. Zedd is a Russian/German DJ and producer who rose to fame with his 2012 single "Clarity," and has experienced similar success in his following releases. What draws me to his music is that his songs like "Clarity," "Beautiful Now," "Spectrum," and "Stay the Night" give off a very melodic and technical vibe, showing that Zedd has a great understanding of music as opposed to a DJ who just pushes buttons on a computer. I really enjoy all of the vocalists he features. Sure enough, they provide a sense of warming during the Wintertime. I don't really have a specific recommendation for a first time Zedd listener. All I can say is if you've never listened to him before, you should.

4. Death Grips

It's hard to explain what the Death Grips' music is like to someone who's never heard of them, because their style is so unique, but I will try. They are an experimental hip-hop trio who blend multiple genres, including hardcore punk, progressive alternative, and avant-garde. Since their formation in 2010, they have become a favorite amongst the indie music scenes in Sacramento, CA where they're from, as well as the world. The music is quite erratic and isn't for the faint of heart, and rapper MC Ride's vocals are delivered in a very unique way. Because of the music's unusual and crazy rhythms and time signatures, it's often hard to hear exactly what Ride is saying, but the lyrics themselves are extremely hard to interpret. One of their more well known songs, "Get Got," literally goes like "Get get get get, got got got got, blood rush to my head lit hot lock." I'm not even going to try to figure out what that means. I'm not even sure Ride knows. So why do I like this music? Simply put, it's unique, upbeat, creative, and is a phenomenal distraction from the cold. When I listen to the Death Grips, my adrenaline gets going and I'm always energized on my walk to class. For a first time listener, you can't go wrong with the 2012 album The Money Store.

I highly recommend that you add at least one of these artists to your Winter playlist if you haven't already. Happy listening!