As we approach winter break, there is a shared commotion regarding what gifts to get friends and family, if any winter holidays are to be celebrated. But enough of that; it’s time to focus on what you’re getting. Consider this list of winter albums a gift from K-Ute Radio to you. You’re going to need something to listen to when you step outside to take a break from the familiar noise of familial chaos. Or, if you’re not visiting family this year, here’s a list of albums to listen to while watching the Utah snow.
“Girl with Fish” by feeble little horse
Feeble little horse’s second album and third record is by far their most fully-developed creation to date. However, the Pittsburgh natives had no intention of recording a second album after “Hayday.” It seemed physically impossible, given the band’s geographical split. But after their first album gained the attention of Saddle Creek, a record label that helped produce big names like Adrienne Lenker (“Hours Were the Birds”) and Indigo De Souza (“I Love My Mom”), the band found a way to make the distance work.
“When we made ‘Hayday‘, we wrote really quickly to get it done before he moved away, and we couldn’t make songs anymore. But we realized making music with each other was too fun to walk away from” said Sebastian Kinsler.
The recording process for “Girl with Fish” was a mix of sharing voice memos, quick recording sessions and impromptu ideas coming to light. However, the flow of the album remains connected, despite the spatial separation between band members. The album opens with captivating punk guitar, complemented by singer-bassist Lydia Slocum’s casual and relaxed vocals on the primary track “Freak.” “Girl with Fish” is for any fans of My Bloody Valentine, Hotline TNT and those who wonder, “Do I make you cringe online?”
“amy allen” by Amy Allen
If you’re listening to any mainstream pop artists right now, chances are you have already heard Amy Allen’s work without knowing it. In 2025, Allen made history by being the first woman to win a GRAMMY for non-classical songwriter of the year for her work with Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo and more. But if you’re on the other side of the music listening spectrum, and pop music is not your thing, don’t be turned away by her extensive songwriting credits.
Allen’s self-titled album leans more toward folk than pop, with acoustic guitar being her weapon of choice to deliver intimidatingly somber lines like, “Or maybe one day when I am old/I’ll regret the life I missed/‘Cause I was searching for a reason to forgive”. Allen’s witty lyrics are extremely personal and self-referential. Her second album shares narratives from her own experiences of dating, bad habits and liberating realizations. What’s truly impressive, however, is her ability to stay personable, owing to her preference for analog recordings over intense production, humor over indignation and vulnerability over polished presentation.
“If Not Winter” by Wisp
Wisp’s debut album sounds like the background music of the dream you had last night. She tows the line between shoegaze and dream-pop, often blending the two genres in a single song. Moody and serene, this album is perfect for introspection on a cold winter night. Wisp played the new album live last year at Kilby Block Party. Her performance came off as shy, yet earnest, which arguably added to the set.
The album follows a sonic theme of dynamic chaos, with Wisp’s lilting voice sounding more like a subconscious reminder than an overriding alarm. The majority of the lyrics for the record were taken from Wisp’s personal journal, which explains why every song leaves you wondering what part of herself she had to sacrifice and leave behind for the sake of creation. “Know I took my fill/Your eyes, they felt too real/If I cried, would you kill for me”.
“Is It Light Where You Are” by Art School Girlfriend
A personal top 10, Polly Mackey’s first album hits you like a brick. Everyone is searching for this album without knowing it. Meanwhile, it’s been four years since the record’s release on streaming services. For the first listen, this album needs to be played while driving on an expansive highway. Anywhere in Utah will do.
The starting track lays the thematic groundwork for the rest of the album, experimenting with harsh noise and soft lullabies, dancing between darkness and light. “The ending of this track is supposed to mimic those feelings of a panic attack, so all the distortion builds up and up and up, and gets to the point where it’s a little bit overwhelming,” Mackey said in a 2021 interview with Apple Music. The album took over three years to complete, with Mackey doing most of the production, instrumentals and recording herself. Art School Girlfriend’s newest album has just been announced for March 2026.
“Now Would Be a Good Time” by Folk Bitch Trio
Grace Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington and Heide Peverelle all met in high school and have been releasing music under the slightly abrasive name since 2020. The Australian band recently signed to the record label Jagjaguwar and put their first album out at the end of their last tour. The album was recorded and produced by Tom Healy, and together the group adopted a more analog approach, choosing to record everything on tape. The warm fuzz provides the perfect backdrop for the band’s three-part harmonies, which are reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash in their technical skills and connection. The lyrics that are born out of the minds of the three musicians are something to behold in and of themselves: “A thousand paper-bag-coloured anti-gravity/Pieces of confetti fill my sky/I see twin birds when I think of you most times/And opals fill my eyes”
Whether you are braving a Utah winter, visiting home or a little bit of both, these albums can accompany you wherever you may end up. Either way, K-Ute is wishing you a happy winter and a tumultuous new year.