Jules – It’s Coming On Christmas
Music has always been a thread of connection for many during the holiday season – from the traditional standards, to hymnal classics and the contemporary songs that have created new memories for many fans across the globe, when it comes to Christmas…the songbook has never been stronger.
Sydney songwriter and performer Jules knows this all too well, and has brought her affinity to such a unique collection of music together with a natural talent for storytelling, in the curation of a brand new Christmas EP: It’s Coming On Christmas.
In making this EP, Jules has been able to embark on a special creative project that has not only brought her more knowledge surrounding Christmas standards and musical traditions from different countries, but it has also captivated her own curiosity about the impact of this music on generations of music fans.
The EP, recorded at Church Street Studios in Camperdown with Emmy Award winning producer Sean Carey (Julia Stone, Daniel Johns), captures the essence of the season – one that Jules describes as being beautifully complex in its nature.
“Christmas is filled with complexities. Images of homes, greenery, merriment, and the warmth of fireplaces and hot summers, sit against a backdrop of war, longing, death, and grief. This all occurs as centuries of carols, hymns, and songs provide the soundtrack. It is with this in mind, that I embarked upon curating a Christmas EP.
The music traditions we have drawn from in It’s Coming on Christmas are a tried-and-true mix. German hymns are placed next to the yearning melancholic ballads of wartime Hollywood, and the first iterations of Laurel Canyon truth-telling.” JULES
Featuring songs like ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Silent Night/Night of Silence’ and a cover of Joni Mitchell’s 1971 classic ‘River (It’s Coming On Christmas)’ – the latter of which stands as a special highlight of the record, a song that has been a favourite of artists all over the world when it comes to the Christmas canon.
“What makes ‘River’ resonate with people is how immensely sad it is. Against the Californian sunshine, Joni Mitchell wants a frozen river on which to skate away. In sunlight, she wants a cold winter. Is there anything that could define an artist more? It’s a confessional and very personal song; an oddity at the time. My whole Christmas EP is blue, but this song is the bluest.” JULES
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