DREW ANGUS SAVES CHRISTMAS WITH NEW EP “A SNOW GLOBE CHRISTMAS”
By: Mel Taevin
Tags: Music Video, Spotify, Christmas, Discovery, New Music Releases

PC: Shari Goldenberg

It’s that time of year again, Thanksgiving sandwiches have become a staple to your impending after - holiday diet. Arguments about how to make the meat moist again after a few days begin to serenade your kitchen. You begin to nudge your Christmas spirit awake as you spike your nog and turn on your digital fireplace for a few early Christmas memories — but don’t forget the most important part, the music. Sure, we’ve heard it all before, Justin Beiber’s “Under The Mistletoe”, the iconic Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas”, to Michael Bublé’s simply named “Christmas”. But the musician I’m about to introduce to you is a true contender. He may be new to you, but Santa has known about him all along, and he’s putting him in the game. His name, Drew Angus. His mission: to save your Christmas.

Since the pandemic, most of the world has joined a chorus of “bah humbug” as they enter the forthcoming holiday doom. Some fully equipped with a candlestick and nightgown, others without. There’s a small bell jingling all through the Angus household, and no, it’s not just from their quirky cat, Tom. The warm radiance of the fireplace mixes with the smell of freshly baked cookies with the movie classic “Christmas Vacation” playing in the background. There’s the joyous sound of Drew’s dad, Peter, laughing boisterously through the whole movie, an annual event that’s become a favorite family tradition. His cozy Westport, Connecticut home is snuggled in tightly under a blanket of snow, and, due to the pandemic, his home like many others takes on the appearance of a snow globe. Nothing in, and nothing out. One’s Christmas Spirit almost feels contained in a ziplock bag, just like your leftover turkey, but that’s not how singer-songwriter Drew Angus wants you to see it.

“The holidays are going to look a little different this year”, says Angus. “Thanksgiving was quiet and small, our big family Christmas Eve party won’t be filled with the usual gathering of families, but the cheer will never be lost.” A part of that cheer is rooted in tradition. “One of my earliest Christmas memories is listening to Harry Connick Jr’s “When My Heart Finds Christmas” through the holidays. That CD lived in our family stereo pretty much year-round until six cables and streaming became a thing.” Every year the Angus’ host a Christmas Eve jamboree at their home, a time to get together with friends and family near and far. Normally you’d always see a red Christmas M&M™ standing up, hip out in a sassy position, and dressed up for Christmas propped in his living room. The candied character was from the Dyker Heights neighborhood Christmas light display, a notable CT tourist spot that Angus says is “out of this world”. But the Dyker Heights Christmas display is just one of the many things not happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked what he’ll be doing instead, Angus responds with a plan we’ve all grown accustomed to, “Too early to tell, but I imagine we’ll do our annual caroling over Zoom.”

“Thanksgiving was quiet and small, our big family Christmas Eve party won’t be filled with the usual gathering of families, but the cheer will never be lost.”

But, fear not! As you stew in your pre-holiday sorrows, sipping your overly spiked nog (it’s okay, no one is counting), and looking out the window from your snow globe, Drew Angus has created a cure to restore your Christmas spirit. It’s called “A Snow Globe Christmas”, and it’s five full songs that are ready to pep you up in a way no spiked nog can do. “With Christmas music, you’re not reinventing the wheel,” says Angus. “Instead, you’re taking songs that everybody knows and loves and making them your own.” The record is jam-packed with some familiar songs you know, love, and can sing along to. This year, Angus chose some of his favorites, “In this 5 track EP, you’ll recognize “The Christmas Song,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and a slightly lesser-known, “Step Into Christmas” originally by Elton John”, he says.” I joked about making this record back in April or May with my producer Mikhail Pivovarov, but we didn’t hit the gas until late July or early August”, says Angus.

Alongside these familiar Christmas classics lie a few hidden gems. Two originals that were written by Angus with the help of his friends. Both original tracks “Snow Globe” and “Santa’s Early Gift” shine through in a way, that’s a bit brighter than the other classics. They’re shiny and new, like unpacking a new box of Christmas bulbs or rainbow-colored lights. They offer you endless possibilities and are ready to fill your head with new memories. Both songs give you a chance to start your Christmas season fresh. Drew and his team whipped this record up in a ginger snap, just in time for Christmas. “Nicholas Wells and I wrote “Snow Globe” and “Santa’s Early Gift” in August and we were in the studio about a week or two later”, says Angus. As far as the recording process goes, this record was a scoop of Christmas Pudding, a glittering accomplishment considering the pandemic. “This record was pretty much laid down in a day,” Angus says. “We brought the rhythm section into the studio and cut the basics for all five tunes in an afternoon. From there we added some additional keys, percussion, and additional guitars before hitting the final vocals. I really tried to capture the essence of my favorite classic Christmas songs and arrangements like Nat King Cole, HCJ, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry. I tried to get these familiar sounds in a new voice with strings, horns, and all the instruments that we’re familiar with already.” How was Angus able to pull off writing two Christmas originals in the Saint Nick of time? Angus admits, he too is surprised by his reindeer- fast speed. “It was a little uncanny how quickly we were able to get them out. I guess when you need the holiday spirit bad enough, it finds you!” This kind of Christmas miracle couldn’t be done alone. Drew had some of Santa’s elves to help him out. “We had almost 20 people who helped work on this record. From art to arranging and playing.” Angus has worked and collaborated with a CT based group called “Love Raptor” on previous works, and his Christmas record is no exception. Known for their keen craft of putting a funky twist on your pop favorites, this Black Rock, CT based group puts the twist and the funk into Drew’s holiday record.

“I guess when you need the holiday spirit bad enough, it finds you!”

The EP kicks off with that exact holiday funk with Angus’ original song, “Santa’s Early Gift”. A jazzy tune that takes you back to the classic, happy, simpler times. This upbeat tune has you swaying back and forth, sipping spiced mulled cider, and actively looking for the nearest mistletoe as you find your Christmas love leaning up against the piano. A jubilant horn line provides a tangy texture to the sweet sonic ground as Angus’ voice reminisces of his Christmas music inspirations. “Santa’s Early Gift” follows a lyrical structure that is familiar to the ear. “‘Santa’s Early Gift’ pays homage to the classic A B A form where you start with a chorus”, says Angus. “It’s totally written with traditional Christmas songs like ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ in mind. It’s a nod to some of my favorites.” In the studio, this song had its quirks, and came pretty close to getting nothing but coal in it’s stocking. “The horn arrangement gave us the hardest time”, says Angus. “We went through a few different iterations before we finally landed on the one you hear on the record.” Lyrically, the song takes an adult spin on Christmas morning. “We can wake up Christmas morning/ Stay in bed a little while/ There’s no rush to look downstairs beneath the tree/ There won’t be any packages/ Wrapped up in a pile/ ’Cause Santa’s gift is snuggled up to me”. It’s a song about being with the one you love, “I won’t cozy up to egg nog/ Christmas Eve just feeling blue/ ’cause Santa’s early gift to me was you”. The song ends with that classic Bublé style you know all too well, leaving a grin, and your heart warm with the one you love.

“Snow Globe” is the perfect song to sit up by the window with your knees pulled in, cradling a cup of cocoa and watching the snowfall softly in your globe. The piano narrates your gazed moment as you begin reflecting on the year, looking at your own reflection against the glass. Angus pays homage to the classics with the help of Westchester based songwriter Nicholas Wells. “When working on holiday originals, they still need to sound familiar to the listener,” says Angus. “With that in mind, I wrote the title track “Snow Globe” with my friend Nicholas Wells over Zoom.” Angus and Wells grace us with the lyrics, “The year is like a snow globe/ Turning upside down/ Day by day the whole world/ Keeps spinning ‘round and ‘round,” providing beautiful poetic melodies you can’t help but resonate with. After a while, your throat has a lump of emotion that won’t go away, and it’s mixed with a flurry of memories each as unique as the snowflakes falling on your window. Angus gets it. He too feels the longing to see family, he acknowledges the broken hearts all over the world that aren’t celebrating with loved ones or those who are trying with all of their might to get through this holiday season after losing a loved one from this brutal year. “It’s nuts how we’re doing things these days. This year has been extra chaotic in more ways than one”, says Angus. “‘Snow Globe’ is a hopeful reminder to take a step back and find some calm amongst the mayhem of the holiday season.” As you exhale in your deep-rooted emotion, take a moment to melt a heart in the milky frost of your window. The song ends with Angus’ voice softly ringing, “Let’s spend this Christmas/ Looking in from outside”, giving us comfort knowing that we are all still together, no matter how bad the storm.

PC: Shari Goldenberg

Overall, this holiday season is beginning to look a bit brighter. We’ve quickly realized that we can’t find happiness wrapped in a bow under our tree this year. And as we search endlessly for a glimmer of hope this season, we learn that with the magic of music, hope isn’t far from our reach. Much like the star on top of your tree, you can look up to it, and know that there’s beauty breaking through the darkness. After all, that’s what the holidays are all about. “I hope that this Christmas, people look out for each other”, says Angus. He makes a Christmas list for Santa, in hopes that he’s been a good boy this year. But his wishes aren’t for a new bike or a new guitar. “I hope that folks have a safe and healthy holiday. I hope that the vaccines pass the tests and get distributed as quickly as possible. I hope that musicians and venues can get back to some normalcy soon. I hope that folks take care of themselves and stay mentally healthy.” Angus then lightens the mood with his keen sense of humor, “I would also like an Xbox with Halo 1.” And Drew’s gift to you? A little bit of joy, “I hope “A Snow Globe Christmas” brings you and your family a little joy this crazy holiday season and more importantly, for many years to come.” Mission accomplished Drew.

Listen to Drew Angus’ “A Snow Globe Christmas” wherever music is streamed, and love each other this holiday season. Merry Christmas, and happy holidays.