Photo courtesy of Dana Gorab

I know some people say that you should hold your feelings inside and some don’t want grown men to cry, but as a music lover and a musician myself, I tend to love the shows where I connect with the artist. Where I feel that the song is written for me or about me. I can truly say that I have been very emotional on many occasions at shows but there are a couple of very special moments that I tend to go back to when I want to remember a really strong, sad but also empowering moment.

In this case there was a very small show for a school for pop/rock/funk artists called Kulturama. Young adults were performing and there was a lot of talent in that room. The thing is that I know that one of the singers, a very young female singer, had cancer, and it was terminal. She did not have much time left but with the support of her friends and with heavy medication she had pushed herself to be a part of this final show. 

Photo courtesy of Dana Gorab

It has to be said upfront: I cried at all David Bowie concerts I was lucky enough to witness, and I was fortunate enough to attend quite a few of them. The first was in 1987 on the rather ill-fated Glass Spider Tour. By that time I had been an avid fan for four years, ever since my sister bought the album Let’s Dance, which got me hooked from the scratchy guitar intro of the opening song, “Modern Love”. I was still a child back then, but immediately knew that Bowie was the gate to something bigger. So I started digging into his back catalogue and also the oeuvre of his friends and collaborators he would always be keen to mention in interviews to boost their exposure: Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. Through them, I got into the disciples of this Sacred Triangle such as Psychedelic Furs, Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen and ABC. It’s fair to say that without Bowie I would possibly be listening to Top 40 radio and wasting away in some dull office job.

When the man announced he would be touring the better part of 1987 after four years off the road, the excitement was enormous. We got tickets for the show on July 1 at Vienna’s Prater Stadion, and in the weeks before the show, anticipation would build to an almost unbearable extent. Come the day of the concert, and you’d find me by the gates as early as 10:30 in the morning. It was probably the hottest day of the year, and my skinny 14-year-old self struggled not to faint until the doors finally opened at 17:00. From then on, another two hours to go until the forgettable local support band and another four until Bowie’s grand entrance.

And suddenly there he was, abseiling from the stage top - remember, the tour was called Glass Spider for a reason, with the stage resembling a giant spider - and I couldn’t hold back the tears. There he finally was, the man I had been idolizing since I was 10, live on stage right in front of me. He looked a bit ludicrous in the red suit and this awful mullet-cum-quiff haircut, but who cares! It was Bowie for Christ’s sake! I remember I managed to recompose myself after the first thrust of emotions, but tears would roll again during “All The Madmen”, “Heroes” and “Absolute Beginners”. I vividly remember so many details from this show it’s ridiculous. Though it’s fair to say the album Never Let Me Down and the Glass Spider Tour were not Bowie’s most glorious moments, I’ll forever cherish the memories of that night.

I would see Bowie many more times and in much better artistic shape. The Sound+Vision greatest hits tour, Tin Machine - yes, I really love this band - Outside and Earthling tours in the 90s, Heathen and Reality tours in the 00s… Bowie always put his heart into the performance, whether it was in a small club or in a huge stadium. Of course, the most Bowie-related tears I shed was on January 10, 2016, when he unexpectedly shuffled off this mortal coil. The memories of our first in-person encounter on July 1, 1987 remain.

For the lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre, The Oddities & Curiosities Expo showcases taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror-inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, funeral collectibles and much more.

Husband and wife Michelle and Tony Cozzaglio have been organizing “different” events in their hometown of Tulsa, Okla. since 2014, as well as collecting art and unusual items for personal use. That is what sparked the idea of starting the Expo and giving fellow lovers of the macabre a place to indulge.

“As small business owners ourselves, we love supporting other small businesses and independent artists,” Michelle said. “I remember thinking ‘It would be so cool to have an event focusing just on dark art and strange items!’ I could have never dreamed it would transform into what it has today.”

While they had experience organizing events that offered a more offbeat style, this was entirely new territory. They found it challenging to get their name out there as a hard-working, trusted expo that could draw both vendors and attendees, but thankfully found several venues and vendors that took a chance on them.

These days, thousands of applications are received for the Expo, which travels around the country every year. Michelle personally reviews each application in order to curate the best possible show for each location.

“Since 2017, I think we have really grown something special,” she said. “It’s a place where vendors who don’t fit in anywhere else can thrive.”

Not only is it a place for vendors to thrive, it is also a place for attendees to be in a safe space. Each event is a place where anyone can find their new favorite artist or dealer without judgment.

“Tony and I have worked really hard to provide this experience and [after] almost every show we get messages from attendees thanking us for providing a place that they felt ‘with their people’ and at home,” Michelle said. “It makes me emotional! That's the most important thing to me.”

While The Oddities & Curiosities Expo isn’t for everyone, Michelle encourages anybody to come check it out and give it a chance. There is something unusual for everyone to enjoy, whether they think they enjoy it or not.

View upcoming shows for The Oddities & Curiosities Expo here.

Photo courtesy of Dana Gorab

Dreams really do come true.

This story begins in 1985, when 9-year-old me was blasting the newest album (on cassette) called Synchronicity by the biggest band in the world and my all-time fave, The Police. Being the youngest of five kids in my family, I relied heavily on my big brothers for new music I could steal – I mean, borrow from them. Little did I know that months later while sitting at #1 on the charts for a goddamn year (no exaggeration), this massive group would do the unexpected and… break up?!

Along with millions of other fans, I was absolutely devastated. It was the first time I ever felt so empty, almost like what it would feel like if my parents got divorced. I wasn't born when The Beatles broke up but now I could understand the massive impact that must have had on the world and my father, Efren Pereira Sr., who was a super fan. It was he who sparked my love for music with a vinyl collection that included The Fab Four, Motown, Sly and the Family Stone, the Bee Gees, Elton John and basically nothing but the greats. I would spend the rest of my adolescent years dreaming of the day when my band would reunite, because all bands do that eventually right? Wrong.

Fast forward to 1995.

I was inspired to start my own power trio we called Wide Mouth Mason, which featured yours truly on bass and vocals like my idol, Sting. We played our first sold-out show at our legendary campus bar Louis' Pub on the University of Saskatchewan campus (go Huskies!), where every huge Canadian act at the time had also played on their come up. It was no surprise the biggest hit of the night was none other than our cover of The Police's lesser-known 1978 soft single, “So Lonely”. It felt so satisfying to live vicariously through my heroes, but nothing was ever going to fill my nostalgic appetite more than them getting back together.

A few years later, I got click-baited into purchasing a copy of Rolling Stone magazine with the lads on the cover and titled, 'The Police Reunion'. Could it be true? Well unfortunately, that was a hard NOPE. They merely reunited for an interview which ended up feeling like a couples therapy session. Sting apologized to Stewart, who apologized to Andy, all due to a big miscommunication and years of living on the road in close quarters with your brothers. I believe, however, that this played a key factor in what was to happen in 10 more years.

Super fast forward to 2007.

At the prestigious Grammy Awards, a mystery band was to be kicking off the show, and low and behold when the lights came on it was like they had never left. The crowd and millions of people watching around the world went berserk, including myself obviously. And just like that, with no warning the unthinkable happened - they were BACK!

I had all but given up hope of a reunion until this historically shocking moment. I mean, it had been 22 years after all. And to the pure happiness of every fan, they announced a worldwide reunion tour that would be starting in wait what... CANADA?!

I wasted no time in joining the online fan clubs to give me the best shot at buying tickets to a concert. I snagged a pair to the Montreal show for two reasons:

1. It was taking place towards the end of their Canadian tour so they will have shaken off any rust by then.

2. Montreal had been a place where they had spent a lot of time making records and forming close friendships, so I knew they would be treating it like a hometown show.

I was right!

So here we go.

In the scorching heat of July in 2007 at a packed Molson Centre (now known as the Bell Centre), home of the famous Les Habitants hockey team, my partner at the time and I were sitting 15 rows up on the bass player’s side of the stage with nothing but their iconic gear laid out in a perfect triangle. There was a buzz unlike anything I had ever felt before, and I realized my dream was about to become a reality.

Through the darkness, you could see three figures appearing from backstage. As the crowd roared into a frenzy, there came the blistering intro guitar riff of their classic smash hit, “Message In A Bottle”. And there they were – Stewart Copeland's lanky frame smashing his drums with surgical precision, Andy Summers hammering those add nine chords, and of course, their fearless frontman Gordon Sumner aka Sting, smacking his gorgeous 1959 Fender Jazz with most of the paint having worn down to the wood from the thousands of shows he had performed with it. And there was me, a grown man bawling his eyes out, completely overwhelmed with an emotion and joy I didn't think was possible to experience. Suffice to say, it was the best concert I have ever seen and probably will ever see in my lifetime. At one point I snuck my way within a few rows, and as they did the real version of “So Lonely” as their encore, I swear to god Sting looked over as I belted out the harmonies to his verse lyrics.

What.. A... Night!

The next morning, the power in our hotel room serendipitously went down so my fiance and I strolled over to my fave breakfast place called Eggspectations. By the time I sat down to order, I kid you not, in walks drummer Stewart Copeland with a stylish lady. I waited until they ordered and then we approached them. I got to tell him how much of an influence he has been on my music career. He then offered to sign the concert swag we didn't realize we were still wearing. A legendary moment with a legendary performer.

Photo courtesy of Dana Gorab

Growing up in foster care, the closest thing I had to a father was my Children's Aid worker, Ron. He was my rock and although it took me years to trust him, once that trust was solidified, he became my greatest confidant and role model. He helped me through some catastrophic experiences, even at the expense of his job. He was the kind of man who always did his best to do the right thing and do right by those he worked with. If it weren't for him, I genuinely don't know where I would be today.

Ron introduced me to a band called Supertramp and we'd blare it in his car while drinking coffee. He gave me life advice, spoke of his own experiences in the foster care system and told me all the ways I should be getting my life together - and let me tell you, he wasn't wrong.

In my early 20s, just shortly after realizing that he was a safe person, I found out Ron had terminal cancer. I found out early in the week, and he was gone by the weekend. Heartbroken and riddled with grief, I went out and bought all of his favourite albums. I don't think a day went by that I didn't play them on full blast, choking down tears in total disbelief that he was no longer here and that I never got the opportunity to say goodbye. These albums became the soundtrack of our unusual bond and always made me feel a little less alone in the world.

One day, a few years after his death, I was scrolling online. I discovered that Roger Hodgson (one of the founding members of Supertramp) would be in Ottawa in the coming months. I had to go! My partner at the time and I instantly purchased the best tickets we could afford, which included the opportunity to watch him and the band soundcheck. We got our plans together, and I was over the moon!

When we showed up the night of the show, we unfortunately missed the soundcheck. I never received the email regarding soundcheck times, and we missed it by an hour or so. Little did I know that the universe had bigger plans for me that night. Suddenly, someone approached me and asked me if I had missed the soundcheck and explained that some people unfortunately never received the email. They said they were the touring manager and that they'd like to make it up to me by allowing me to meet Roger himself. I was absolutely gobsmacked! As I gathered myself together, they turned to me and said, "Just go over to that table over there and ask for Ron; he'll set you up."

Needless to say, I cried at that moment and cried the entire duration of the show. I was so overwhelmed with joy knowing that my father figure managed to be there with me in spirit. Call it fate, or whatever you wish, but I truly felt his presence and know he was there with me that evening.

This experience just further solidified that Ron will always be with me. His legacy lives on in those he's influenced over the years, the music he loved, his stories and his beautiful family. Ron will be involved in every major life event I have moving forward, and I know he will continue to throw little curve balls at me to lead me down the right path. Though I wish he were here, I can assure you that whenever I'm feeling low, it isn't uncommon for me to hear someone blaring Supertramp with their system up and their windows down. Thanks for always sticking with me, Ron.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

I simply love Christmas! To me, it’s truly the best time of the year. There’s something extra special about singing carols, seeing the bright lights and coming together with friends and family that give me an overall sense of good cheer.

As a performer, it brings me great joy to sing in concert during the Christmas holiday. A few years ago, I was privileged to present a program of Christmas classics at the White House. What an awesome experience! It was a thrill for me to perform some of my most favorite music during my most favorite season in such a historical landmark. It is a cherished memory that will stay with me always.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what singer/songwriter Benjamin Dakota Rogers had to say: 

Since I was a little kid, one of my favorite family traditions has been that on Christmas Eve we exchange fun Christmas pajamas and sit around eating cookies, cheese, cured meats and drinking eggnog.

A pretty common winter activity, and a favorite of mine, is tobogganing! Going out and finding a big hill to race down. Bringing a thermos of hot chocolate and some leftover Christmas cookies is quintessential holiday fun. That and bird watching from the window in my kitchen; we always put out seeds and I love seeing all the different birds flit around the yard.

One of my most memorable gifts has been little vintage lead cowboy figures. I had seen them at an antique market over the summer and wished I made the purchase. I looked online and couldn't find anything similar. Somehow my little brother found a whole set for sale last year on Etsy of all places and gave them to me. I was so surprised and since they have become some of my prized possessions, they sit on the desk in my recording studio constantly squared off with each other.

"Bleak Midwinter" is for me one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written. I love the lonesome haunting melody; it feels like a cold winter night to me in a very nostalgic way. I think my favorite version is by a Canadian band called The O'Pears - the harmonies are just so pretty.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what singer/songwriter Ruby Greenberg had to say: 

Growing up, it was typical for us kids in the family to get lots of opportunities to play music. My brother and I were enrolled in piano lessons, music classes, and performed often in the community and in school alongside our classmates. The holidays, however, were a very special time because my entire family gathered together to sing. My mom would sit at the piano and play chords, and all of us would sing Christmas songs. We'd squeeze three people onto the piano bench, I'd flip the pages of the songbook and we'd fight over which songs to skip and which to tackle. 

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what Starpainter frontman Joel Stretch had to say: 

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what Zadkiel lead vocalist Dan Heathcote had to say: 

My favourite Christmas film is probably Scrooged starring Bill Murray. It was made in 1988, and I remember growing up with it on television during that time. It's kind of an MTV hell thing that ends up being heaven on Earth.

Scrooged is an adaptation from the original A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and is set in corporate America during the Reagan era of Wall Street-esque’s 'Greed is Good'. Except that capitalist greed isn't good for us all (or the planet), even if it seems that presents are the only meaning of Christmas to most kids and some adults nowadays. Santa's sleigh is weighted down with an overabundance of trash and high-end products. I like Christmas and the spirit of peace to all on Earth is something we should aspire to all the time, not just towards the end of each year. Anyway, enough evangelising; I'm not religious but I'm not a rich capitalist either, nor would I want to be!

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what Two Late To The Party's Adam Corkett had to say: 

Growing up in Canada as a practicing Catholic, Christmas was always fairly routine; going to church, spending the next morning with family opening gifts and a turkey dinner afterwards. Though I moved a lot as a kid, our traditions were always the same and even the people I shared it with were always the same.

In the 2000s I had the opportunity to travel and live in Southeast Asia as a tour guide for a small travel company from Canada, and since I wasn’t going to be able to go home I was kind of lost on what to do for Christmas. It should be no big surprise that the Christmas season in Thailand is very different from Canada. As a predominantly Buddhist country, December is essentially just another month in the year and if it weren’t for the odd Christmas lights or picture of Santa, you would have no idea it was Christmas at all. At the time I was living in Northern Thailand, in the city of Chiang Mai, studying Thai and as the season changed I was starting to miss my family and was looking for something to distract me from thoughts of home. Figuring it wasn’t too far away I decided to head to Laos for Christmas and New Years.

I did very little planning for this trip and didn’t know it at the time but it would be a long boat ride over two days to get me to my destination of Luang Prabang in Laos. After arriving at the border crossing I met up with a random group of German tourists who were headed in the same direction on the same boat. We were setting out Christmas Eve and would be spending the night in a small village halfway to Luang Probang. At this point I was definitely getting homesick; I never spent Christmas away from my family and I had never experienced being alone. Fortunately for me, this wonderful group of Germans were kind enough to include me in their Christmas tradition, which was celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve.

From out of nowhere people were pulling out chocolates, passing around German schnapps and music was being played (both Christmas and traditional Bob Marley tunes). Christmas morning we got back in our boat, a bit worse for wear but still in a festive mood. We kept the good times rolling as we enjoyed a Christmas morning cruising the Mekong river. I don’t remember feeling homesick in the end, just the feeling of being included and cared for even though I couldn’t remember the names of those wonderful people.

In the end, this turned out to be one of my favorite Christmases, and allowed me to step outside of what I had always known and thought of Christmas. It showed me you can find the most special Christmas memories in the most unusual places and it's not where you are but who you are with that really matters.

Two Late To The Party finds it's never too late to find the true meaning of Christmas

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Ever since I was a kid in Connecticut, the holidays were always a special time to decorate the house with my DIY arts and crafts projects and of course decorate the tree. I was always the "unusual" kid and was obsessed with spiders, Disney villains, bugs and pretty much anything creepy. My holiday shopping would always start the day after Halloween and I would always buy creepy accessories to put in the tree and had a stuffed tarantula toy I would bring downstairs on Christmas morning.

Years later, I'm happy to say I'm still the same "unusual" kid who likes creepy holiday decorations and will never outgrow DIY arts and crafts projects to decorate the house. Every Los Angeles Christmas, I like to decorate my Tim Burton-style looking tree with crystals, jewelry and of course, lights! Christmas wouldn't be complete without pictures with Santa so I take my guinea pigs, Gucci and Gizmo, to get their picture taken on Santa's lap every year and love sending the pictures to my family.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what songwriter Catherine MacLellan had to say:

Christmas 2020 was a lonely season. So many of us were unable to gather with their friends and family and felt disconnected. I was missing many people that would normally gather around my kitchen table for feasts and laughter. Longing for the ones we love is such a part of Christmas culture for me - “White Christmas”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” - the list goes on! That was the sentiment I was touching upon when I wrote “Calling You Home (for the Holidays)” - being separated from our loved ones, and hoping they might make it home.

My Christmas wish last year was that friends and family who live far away would move back to my home province of Prince Edward Island. My wish has come true and this Christmas I’ll be sitting around the table toasting in person with my favourite people, singing songs and recounting the strangeness of the last couple of years.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what author Holly P. Rice had to say:

12 Days of Princess combines two of my favorite things: Christmas and Disney Princesses. As a kid, I loved getting in the holiday spirit by belting out “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in the back of the car as my parents drove us to see Christmas lights downtown. When thinking about how the Disney Princesses could help readers celebrate the holidays, I knew I wanted to use “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as inspiration to put a Disney twist on my favorite holiday memory.

I wrote the book in Summer 2020 and getting to spend my days listening to Christmas songs for inspiration and brainstorming how each of the princesses would celebrate the holiday season was a much-needed reprieve from everything happening in the world. The most fun part of the process was coming up with the days and objects that would represent each of the princesses. For some of the characters, it was easy, like Snow White who has the Seven Dwarfs in her film, or Cinderella who wears two glass slippers. Other characters required a bit more creativity. I had to go back and watch their films to come up with ideas (not the worst way to spend a workday!). After spending so many days singing the tune with various princess-fied lyrics in my head, I don’t think I will ever be able to listen to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” the same way again!

I am very thankful for this experience and the ability to spread a little Disney holiday magic through the pages of this book. John John Bajet, the incredibly talented artist of this book, captured all of the fun of Christmas in every piece of artwork. I’m looking forward to flipping through the pages and belting out the 12 Days of Princess for years to come.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what songwriter Andrew Thomases had to say:

I grew up in a secular Jewish household, and my wife grew up in a secular Christian household. Now that we have three kids, each holiday season our family both lights the menorah for Hanukkah and decorates the Christmas tree. Our kids receive their own new ornament each year, so they like putting up the new ones and finding the old ones - each with a memory of a prior holiday season. Each kid also gets a very large and very full stocking stuffed with goodies each year. They love digging down to find all of the fun gifts inside.

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Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what King Park lead singer Timon Moolman had to say:

Lead singer Timon here! I am South African and one of the classic Christmas dishes made in any respectable South African home is the Tipsy Tart. Named after the generous quantity of brandy in the recipe, it is a key ingredient to warm up your toes by the fire on Christmas Eve.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what Reaven lead vocalist Romeo Bassi had to say:

I had many beautiful and special Christmases throughout the years, but the last one in 2020 was really unique in its own way.

The world was going through a very rough period; I wasn’t able to see my loved ones easily. COVID was here. But, in this troubled time I was spending almost all my time working in my recording studio with my drummer six days out of seven. We tried to exist as artists without being able to perform on stage. I could have said that it was a hard time for us, and indeed it was, since we cancelled our tours, but it was also a time of happiness. I spent last Christmas telling myself that I’ve been lucky to have some extraordinary people around me and that this last Christmas was a very good way to think of what is truly important.

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what Simple Radicals lead vocalist John Malkin had to say:

Since we’re a rock and roll family, it is only suitable that we make sure our Christmas tree is filled with rock or music-oriented decorations. So we make it a tradition each year to find a unique ornament that expresses our love for music. It’s a great tradition and there are so many unique ornaments and items as you can imagine. And of course we fill the room with Christmas-themed music and a heavy dose of pure, visceral rock.

One of our favorite ornaments

Graphic created by Lucas Seidel Design

Gather 'round the open fire for Chimneyside Chats - a monthly feature with holiday stories from our favorite artists. See what's in their stockings this year as they reminisce on Christmas memories, share their favorite recipe and more! Here's what songwriter Cade Hoppe had to say:

I always loved the holidays and Christmastime when I was growing up back in my hometown of the Sacramento, CA suburbs. When I moved to New York a few years ago, the holiday season became something entirely different that I’ve developed a new love for, as well. For me, my holiday tradition has become fitting in whatever New York holiday festivities I can before I fly back to California and celebrate Christmas with my family. That means walking around Central Park in the snow, going to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza, Christmas shopping on 5th Ave., etc. and I’ve really fallen in love with all of that.

There’s never enough time to do everything in the city I’d like to in December and it’s hard to leave the city and the people in it that I’ve grown so close to behind. Last year, I actually wrote a Christmas song for my girlfriend about that exact feeling of having to go home for the holidays and leave behind so many things that also mean home now.

This year, I decided to go in with my producer Harper James and actually record it, so I could put it out. It’s called “Home for the Holidays” - I’m super excited to finally have one of my own songs on people’s holiday playlists this year. If I can be a part of anyone’s holiday traditions in any way through this song, that would mean the world to me.