Ellen Winter’s great new single “Close To You” isn’t a cover of The Carpenters’ big ’70s hit. But it’s one of the best songs in recent memory, with its gorgeous melody and vocal (and perhaps the best bridge of the year).
Brooklyn-based Winter is a music producer and self-described “song-singing queerdo.” Their artistic bona fides are impeccable, including director and co-composer of 36 Questions, the world’s first Broadway-caliber musical podcast.
The artist says, “There’s an edge of sensuality to heartbreak, when you’re craving someone who you’ve cut yourself off from. It feels like withdrawal. I had to find a way to self-soothe and it actually brought me so much closer to myself and my body, to my wants and my needs.”
“Close To You” is the second single from Winter’s upcoming album, scheduled for 2024 release. It’s the only song released in late August this year that feels like a Winter wonderland. Plus the song has an elegant fade-out – very soothing on the ears after all these years of listening to pop songs that abruptly screech to a halt.
Listen to “Close To You” below, or find it on the streaming platforms.
