Retro-pop singer-songwriter Micah Edwards has released his sweet and festive holiday single “December 26”. Premiering on pop-culture tastemaker Parade as one of “The 35 Best New-ish Christmas Songs You Need To Add To Your Playlist This Year”, Micah Edwards is ranked among top Christmas classics by artists like Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Liam Payne, Chicago, Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, and several others.
A fitting holiday song for 2020, “December 26” hones in on that day-after-Christmas feeling and finding a way to carry on the festive cheer once the big holiday has passed. Edwards says that he noticed how people tend to get stressed out in December; whether it be from overspending on gifts, office work parties, or just an overload of social events. “December 26” is all about cutting out the superfluous customs that really add on a lot of unneeded stress during the holidays. “I urge my listeners to get back to basics, remember what’s important, and relax this December,” says Edwards. “Needless to say, this has been a stressful year for all of us, and the last thing we need is a stressful Christmas.”
Described by HuffPost as a “retro-flavored R&B track”, “December 26” is a song that, as a songwriter, is lyrically close to his heart. “Not only is it my Christmas mantra embodied in the song, but the creative production also had tons of Christmas spirit,” says Edwards. “It was really an all-hands-on-deck approach with my favorite musicians, creatives, and friends from Houston.” The singer aims to blend modern techniques with classic sounds in the music he creates – often infusing nostalgic elements into modern sounds and melding pop and blues with retro-soul and contemporary R&B. Often described as a “John Mayer meets Leon Bridges” type, Edwards has enjoyed a successful debut as an artist over the last year and hopes to continue the path of connecting with listeners through music that touches hearts and helps people feel good. Having gained nearly 80k monthly listeners on Spotify, and editorial support from Spotify’s Nu-Blue, Summer Party, Fresh Finds, and Fresh Finds: Pop playlists, the Houston native is generating plenty of buzz and rapidly building a loyal fanbase. “December 26” is bound to be a holiday hit for listeners old and young, with catchy lyrics and Edwards’ stunningly smooth vocals in what is becoming his quintessential retro genre blend.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
My new single, December 26, is all about getting the most out of your Christmas season. It is way too easy to pile up the calendar at Christmastime. Especially in 2020, we don’t need more stress during the holidays. What we really need are those December moments spent with friends and family. I urge my listeners to get back to basics, remember what’s important, and relax with the ones you love most this December.
Do you collaborate with others and if so, what is that process?
Most of my recordings so far have been pretty minimal on the production side. I like to keep a lean operation and use my resources wisely. But for this song, it was an all-hands-on-deck production, for sure. Tim Qualls (co-writer, co-producer) was brought in early to help finish the songwriting, and then Ty Robins’ talent (co-producer, mixer) was brought on heavily for production. We worked on this song from August-October, where a majority of our sessions included at least one (if not all) of the following: Christmas lights, whiskey, Mariah Carey, Irish coffee, disposable cameras, milk & cookies, Bootsy Collins, and a ton of Christmas spirit. This track also features a lot of instrumentation. I am blessed to be supported by some of Houston’s best musicians – who I value greatly for their talent, but more importantly, for their friendship. And it was a lot of fun to feature so many of these characters on the track. It really felt like a way premature Christmas party in the studio sometimes.
What advice would you have for yourself 2 years ago?
When I first started recording a couple years ago, I thought I had to spend money to make something special. I thought I needed a fancy studio, an engineer’s help to make demos, a graphic designer for the cover art, etc. But I learned quickly that (at least for me) it’s completely the opposite. Once I pulled my resources and got more creative with the entire process, that’s when I really connected with my work. I refined a lot of those secondary skills just by learning on the Internet. Innovation was at its brightest when I didn’t just turn to money for the solution.
How do you approach song writing?
I get my best songwriting ideas when I’m just out enjoying life – at a bar, restaurant, shopping, in the car, etc. Sometimes for example, I hear a distant bass line above the white noise of a busy restaurant, and my subconscious writes a quick little hook to it. I’ve had to excuse myself several times at a dinner party to “go to the bathroom” – but I’m really just recording the idea on my phone while it’s fresh. After that, I kind of obsess over finishing the song. That usually looks like playing it to myself over and over and over again – either in my head or on a speaker. I have a bad habit of not finishing songs – so when I get a good idea, I force myself to bring it to life. The shower and the car are my two favorite spots to song write. Something about those two sanctuaries really get my creative juices flowing.
Do you have any new projects you’re working on after the release of DEC 26th?
I am very, very, very excited about my next project. It will likely be a short album that leans toward the retro soul sound (Leon Bridges, Durand Jones and the Indications, etc.). Personally, this last year has been very difficult for me and my family, and this is due to be my most personal project yet. Most of my songs have been pretty light-hearted as reflections of joy and love. But this is one of the first times I’ve used music as therapy to process pain and brokenness, and I’m very excited to share it with you all. Keep an ear out!
Micah Edwards
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