In a short amount of time I’ve become very intrigued by Columbus, Ohio’s Maggz. After being introduced to him first as a producer for another emcee, then hearing him rhyme over another producer’s beats, he released the first in a series of instrumental EPs based on the seasons. After Soundscapes: Autumn Selection came out, well, last autumn, he comes back with his winter collection.

Maybe it’s because for the first time in over twenty years I’m living in a place that has discernible seasons, but this series is resonating with me. What Maggz achieved with the first series and continues here on Winter Selection is not about individual songs, but about overall mood and atmosphere and subtle shifts in tone across the EP. The songs aren’t melody driven, and there’s not one particular thing that will stick in your head, but the feeling will. With song titles like “Cold Mornings,” “Slow Falling Flakes,” and “Moonlight Sleigh Ride,” it becomes apparent that Maggz is giving us a soundtrack for the simple parts of our lives that we often take for granted. It’s clear that Maggz was influenced to some degree by Brian Eno’s ambient music philosophy, but there’s also a soulful warmth to his production that also recalls the work of J Dilla. This isn’t to declare his level of genius amongst these two well established artists (let’s allow some time and space before we think anything like that), but more to give the sense of where this EP and the greater series it belongs to is coming from. Picking the seasons isn’t the most ambitious idea on paper, but communicating these ideas sonically and without words isn’t something that everyone can do effectively. Using keyboards, drum machines, and the like to relate the feeling you get when you come in from the snow and warm up by a crackling fireplace is no easy task, but it’s something that Maggz has done very well.

Now that the series is beginning to take shape, I’m excited to see how the next two seasons unfold and how it will all come together. In the meantime, Maggz has given us an excellent collection of down tempo instrumental hip hop to provide a soundtrack for all your snowbound adventures.