‘A Very Cozy Christmas’ The Newest All-Women Created and Curated Holiday Album
A Very Cozy Christmas via Elektra Records | Artwork by @virtualflesh
Through a beautiful re-imagination of classic Christmas covers comes Elektra Records’ brand new holiday album, A Very Cozy Christmas - a special song collection performed by the next generation of rising female singer-songwriters including RIAA Gold-Certified musician Sara Kays, Season 14 winner of The Voice Brynn Cartelli, newcomers Sydney Rose, Hailey Haus and Emmy Meli who have all amassed millions of views across socials. From its conception to its album artwork, the record also brings together the talents of women music professionals behind-the-scenes from the fields of A&R, producing, mixing & mastering, and marketing.
In addition to showcasing the talents of emerging female singer-songwriters, A Very Cozy Christmas also features the work of Award-Winning Music Producer and Gender Amplified Founder Ebonie Smith, Mastering Engineer Bobbie Giel, and Music Mixer Jennifer Ortiz. Together, they help to make 2022’s newest all-women-created and curated holiday record. Former Amplify Her Voice career panelist and Senior Manager of A&R at 300 Elektra Entertainment, Caterina Nasr, talked about the excitement behind bringing together all her favorite women creatives - from young songwriters to expert producers - to make the all-women record she’s been aspiring to make.
“I really wanted to work with an all-women, producing, mixing, and mastering team and to try to focus on female artists and when I thought about what was a good place to start, I just went to holiday music,” Caterina tells Amplify Her Voice. “Who doesn’t love a great December with a cup of hot cocoa? I felt like this was a good place to start, and there’s just such little representation, even though people think we’ve made progress in terms of the music-making and on the artist side for women, but there are still such disproportionate numbers. When I got into A&R and started reaching out to producers and writers for the artists I work with, it was just no surprise that everything was so male-heavy, even the most talented producers and writers are just an overwhelming majority of men, and that’s disappointing because I think there’s a lot of talent in all avenues of this business and a lot of the time, it just has to do with attention and having a voice and a goal. I think it’s important just because we need to start doing things like this to change the narrative for the future and have those stats change in a direction that’s more equal and fair and represents the talent pool that there is in music.“
Caterina even found the all women environment during the making of the record a comforting one. “It is a lot more comforting when you’re sharing notes and ideas with other women - you don’t feel judged, you feel like you can just be a little more honest and open with your feelings. It’s just naturally better, and I think that really showed through in how the songs got made.”
Working closely with many up-and-coming female artists, Caterina helps bring to light artists like power vocalist and singer-songwriter, Brynn Cartelli, whose rendition of “O, Holy Night” is as classically stunning as it is moving to listen to. The songwriter’s talent for immersive storytelling shines through in her vocals and serves as a great companion to getting ready for the holidays.
“I have the best memories decorating the Christmas tree with my family while listening to the classic holiday songs. I also love making holiday cookies and eating them before they’re ready,” Brynn says. “I’m honored to be included on a list of incredible artists who happen to be women. Women creatives are wildly outnumbered in this industry, so it is important to highlight, protect, and make room for all of us. I’m very grateful to be a small part of this.”
Emerging artist, Sydney Rose, who just released her brand new EP, This Kind of Thing Doesn’t Last, gives her own stirring version of “Silent Night” on the record. Through acoustic trills and delicate vocals, Rose embodies the sense of comfort the holidays can bring. “My favorite part of the holiday season is the sense of nostalgia. My family is really big movie people, so we tend to watch the same Christmas movies and specials every single year. Getting to revisit those movies allows me to revisit a younger, more cheerful version of myself.”
Known for her unfiltered artistry and relatable music, Hailey Haus, twists her enthusiasm into a gentle and comforting rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?” reinventing the song for herself as part of a project that is meaningful to her. “There is nothing like waking up on Christmas morning that takes you back to your childhood. It’s just such a magical feeling! This is my favorite season. There is something special about the cold weather & the joy in the atmosphere!” she shares. “I am so honored to be a part of an all-women curated album! There are so many talented women in the industry who deserve recognition! It’s amazing to be connected to people who facilitate opportunities like this for women to shine! Our future is bright and I know through projects like this so many young girls will be inspired to pursue production, mixing, writing, singing, and A&R like never before.”
A Very Cozy Christmas also features music from Isabel Pless, Cece Coakley, Ella Jane, Laura Elliott, Hannah Cole, Leanna Firestone, Jenna Doe, and Carol Ades.
“I think [where making space for women in music] starts is earlier in the process of a creative person’s life,” shares Caterina about what music professionals can do to help foster a more diverse industry. “I think it starts in schools and in encouraging programs. I always wonder, ‘Why don’t schools have studios?’ Or ‘Why don’t we teach kids how to engineer?’ and have that opportunity in all-women schools or colleges? There are initiatives in the long term that I think needs to happen, but I also think programs like Gender Amplified gives women and non-binary creatives the chance to learn and get studio or co-writing experience and producing experience. It’s really important because a lot of it is access to resources and a lot of it is just encouragement from an earlier stage. Even events through Amplify Her Voice that connect women at a younger age so that they believe that they can do these things, and then have the resources to then learn production, learn Logic, learn how to mix or do any of that – It’s better to start sooner rather than just hoping that it changes. That’s why I think doing things like this record is really important because it starts somewhere. I think you often feel like you can achieve what you see, and if there aren’t that many female producers, then how can anyone think that they can do that too? It’s just about being loud and proud about what you have done, and being intentional and thoughtful in creating projects like this that give women the hope and aspiration that they can do it too.”
While a lot of the coziness and comfort during the holiday season for many comes from a warm fireplace, a cup of hot chocolate, family, friends, and their favorite winter music, the idea of comfort can also come from solidarity, creative reinvention, female representation, and the art of seeing yourself in the music that brings you joy.
To help more women music professionals get the experience, resources, and collaboration they need, 300 Elektra Entertainment will be making a donation to Gender Amplified, a nonprofit that helps and supports women and non-binary creators gain production and studio experience.
A Very Cozy Christmas is available for streaming now.