London-based singer-songwriter and producer Gareth Donkin caps his breakthrough year with a cozy single for the holidays. "This Winter" follows the release of his full-length debut, Welcome Home, a coming-of-age collection that drew acclaim from the likes of Billboard and BBC Radio 6 (who invited Donkin for an on-air session in September) along with support from Spotify's New Music Friday, Fresh Finds R&B and POLLEN playlists. The 23-year-old's music pulls from soul, funk, pop, yacht rock, hip-hop, jazz, and bossa nova, channeling everything from Michael Jackson and Bill Evans to George Benson and Jamiroquai. Across it all runs Donkin's sense of melody and his unique falsetto, sincere and smiling, which lends itself naturally to the genre and spirit of the holiday season. Over a rich and resonant mix of synth, electric guitar, percussion, and sleigh bells, nodding to classics like Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” Donkin conjures a sweet scene by the fire with someone special. He adds:

“Writing ‘This Winter’ was a well-needed break from writing love songs and focusing on the release of my debut album. A song has never come to fruition this quickly for me. I wanted to capture the same feeling my favourite Christmas/winter-themed songs gave me leading up to the holidays; a song with warm and nostalgic sounds tied with rich harmony. After I produced the beat in September (which felt strange), I enlisted the help of my good friend and bandmate Coby Tom who co-wrote the lyrics and played acoustic and electric guitar on the song. I finished it up in October. I've never released anything like this before, but I'm feeling festive and excited to be sharing it in time for the Xmas season!”