Although most people typically think of intense Hip Hop when they think of the music from Milwaukee, the music scene in this city goes way beyond that kind of music. Milwaukee is full of great artists making music in every genre; it is as diverse as anywhere when it comes to what is being made here. One of my favorite music scenes in Milwaukee right now that is absolutely thriving in my opinion is R&B. One of the artists that is at the forefront of this burgeoning Milwaukee R&B music scene is Wynter Bates. They have made massive waves in the Milwaukee music scene over the last year or so, and they are poised to make a big jump in 2024. If you have been following Eastside Vibes at least somewhat closely this year, you probably know how much I dig Wynter Bates’ music, considering I have written about them multiple times in the last few months. If you are into artists like Syd, Solange, or even SZA, they are an artist you will enjoy. There is also something timeless about Wynter Bates’ sound that fans of classic R&B music can enjoy as well. After studying at the music school at Columbia College Chicago and working as a music instructor, Wynter Bates started putting covers online and releasing original music a couple of years ago, showcasing their own talent. 2023 was Wynter Bates’ biggest year yet, as they garnered a lot of hype in Milwaukee and online with some of their awesome covers on Soundcloud, as well as a few very good singles they put on streaming services. One of these singles, ‘spinnin,’ was one of my favorite Milwaukee tracks of 2023(go read my write-up on this track if you have not yet and trust my music taste). Wynter Bates started 2024 strong with their single ‘sounds of rain,’ which came out at the beginning of February. Wynter Bates recently dropped their second single of the year, ‘fawk u.’ Below, I wanted to briefly highlight why I think this song is so good, as it is another example of why Wynter Bates is an artist that everyone should be paying attention to. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of Wynter Bates and ‘fawk u,’ and also comment the names of any other up-and-coming artists you think I should check out!

‘fawk u’ is a song with a sound that is so simple and sweet. I really enjoy the tone of the instrumental on this track. The melody for this track is so ethereal; it has a mix that makes me feel I am tumbling through outer space when I hear it. This melody is driven by warm and welcoming synths that vary in saturation. The synths that drive this melody are layered nicely, making the track feel so full. The bright sound and vocal effects that surround this melody give ‘fawk u’ a cool texture that makes it dynamic. The beat on ‘fawk u’ is pretty light and understated; it has a pattern and mix that fits the whimsical feeling of the melody perfectly. As great as this instrumental is, unsurprisingly, the thing that stands out the most is Wynter Bates’ vocal performance. Their tone on this track is so luscious and vibrant, and the range they sing with is excellent. The way they sing on ‘fawk u’ makes its emotion palpable and helps the track hit that much harder. On ‘fawk u,’ Wynter Bates is singing about the betrayal of a former partner. This person fooled them into thinking they were there for them, and this deceit hurt Wynter Bates a ton. ‘fawk u’ is yet another example of why Wynter Bates is one of the most talented and exciting artists coming up in Milwaukee, and like always, I can not wait to see what they do next.

** side note… I really love the cover art for this single, as its style is so dope and Leon’s is an iconic ice cream spot in Milwaukee that I have some great memories of.