THANXMASEVE by air'n

The three original tracks on this EP began a couple years ago as an effort to write “holiday” songs that explored a few of the many facets of the busy weeks that span from Thanksgiving to New Year’s (hence the title). In content, track one is creatively historical, and the middle two tracks are fairly autobiographical; however, my hope is that the emotions and motifs, if not the experiences themselves, might resonate with you as versions of something familiar and true.

If I had to get at the heart of the original tracks, they would best be explained as follows: “To the World” celebrates a flame of hope, “None Can Keep” wrestles with nostalgia and loss, and “Each Other: Home” recalls romantic love. The fourth song, my cover of Evie’s, “Come On, Ring Those Bells,” (from her 1977 Grammy-nominated album by the same name) rounds out the EP with a sense of jubilation. Thus, the emotional ebb and flow that I often experience during this annual whirlwind of weeks, takes on these essential, and at times contradicting, feelings: wonder, grief, love and joy.

Certainly, “the most wonderful time of the year” isn’t so for many people. Indeed, some of you who will take the time to listen to these tracks over the coming weeks—let alone read these ramblings—will be experiencing a new version of this season: one without the presence of a loving daughter, sister, friend. To you, as to all (myself included), I say: embrace each emotion in turn; allow for internal conversations and contemplation; mourn the losses, celebrate the victories, and make peace with everything in between. And finally, welcome the chance to experience new life in the year ahead.

Thank you for listening.

All proceeds will benefit Eyes Wide Open International (visit eyeswideopenint.com for more information).