"Find Peace" - Hannah Peel One of the nicest developments of last year's Christmas music season was the introduction of Snowflakes Christmas Singles. Snowflakes Christmas Singles exist to celebrate the grand tradition of the Christmas single through the release of all new limited edition vinyl Christmas singles from today's best and hottest indie artists. The label is based in the Netherlands (as much as America loves Christmas music and Christmas songs, the Christmas single has long been a bigger mainstream deal overseas--in the U.S., its been more an Indie and underground thing) and was established by Robert Voogt as a labor of love. He's a fan, yo! The singles are each pressed with love on snow white vinyl and come in a hard cover sleeve featuring original artwork. Each artist or band records an original holiday song for the A-side and a Christmas cover for the flip. The singles are limited to 500 copies each.
Last year saw the release of four Snowflakes Singles and they were so good that Stubby's emerged from our self-imposed hiatus to tell you about them. My personal favorite from last year was from The Garlands. But we also got singles from The Silhouettes, The Miserable Rich and The Smoke Fairies. The Smoke Fairies, being as huge as they are, saw their Snowflakes Single sell through, but there are still limited numbers of the other three available (and, unlike a lot of commercial vinyl, you aren't going to find these at the usual on-line retailers).
We have two new Snowflakes Singles for 2014 (a third was scheduled but the band had commitments that kept them from recording in time, so they move to the head of the 2015 class).
First up is Hannah Peel, an Indie Alt Pop artist from Northern Ireland. Hannah has received numerous awards and accolades for her songwriting and her sound which includes elements of electronica, folk, synth pop and rock. Her most recent release is the EP "Fabricstate". Hannah's Christmas original, "Find Peace" (recorded with musician/producer Benge), speaks directly to these troubled times we're living in. I haven't heard the songs, yet, but my guess is that any holiday mixtape done this year is going to be incomplete if it doesn't include "Find Peace". For the B-side, Hannah has recorded one of her unique "REBOX" mixes of Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas". I get chills just thinking about Hannah's take on that one. It promises to be truly awesome.
Last year saw the release of four Snowflakes Singles and they were so good that Stubby's emerged from our self-imposed hiatus to tell you about them. My personal favorite from last year was from The Garlands. But we also got singles from The Silhouettes, The Miserable Rich and The Smoke Fairies. The Smoke Fairies, being as huge as they are, saw their Snowflakes Single sell through, but there are still limited numbers of the other three available (and, unlike a lot of commercial vinyl, you aren't going to find these at the usual on-line retailers).
We have two new Snowflakes Singles for 2014 (a third was scheduled but the band had commitments that kept them from recording in time, so they move to the head of the 2015 class).
First up is Hannah Peel, an Indie Alt Pop artist from Northern Ireland. Hannah has received numerous awards and accolades for her songwriting and her sound which includes elements of electronica, folk, synth pop and rock. Her most recent release is the EP "Fabricstate". Hannah's Christmas original, "Find Peace" (recorded with musician/producer Benge), speaks directly to these troubled times we're living in. I haven't heard the songs, yet, but my guess is that any holiday mixtape done this year is going to be incomplete if it doesn't include "Find Peace". For the B-side, Hannah has recorded one of her unique "REBOX" mixes of Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas". I get chills just thinking about Hannah's take on that one. It promises to be truly awesome.
"January" - Nancy Wallace Our other Snowflakes Christmas single this year comes from Nancy Wallace. Widely recognized as "one of the purest voices on the folk circuit", Nancy got her start with The Memory Band. These days, she splits her time between the Folk Rock band The Owl Service and solo work. Her original music is in high demand for compilation projects and, earlier this year, Nancy brought a bunch of those together for "Stumbling Over Chairs", available via Bandcamp. She also released a 7" through Stone Tape Recordings in February, "You Restless Skylines" / "Pockets".
Helping to close out the year in style, Nancy wrote and recorded "January" for Snowflakes Singles. Reminiscent of sixties era British folk, this beautiful tune speaks of the longing to be re-united with family and friends at Christmas time. As I understand it, the protagonist of the track can't be with her loved ones in December, but will reunite with them in January. So January will be Christmas this year. Sounds wonderful and I think my eyes are watering already.
For her cover song, Nancy chose an appropriate compliment to "January", The Pretenders' "2000 Miles". Stripped down to bare acoustic bones and featuring Nancy's pure voice, it promises to be yet another brilliant and essential Snowflakes release.
As we get closer to Christmas, you'll find more information on the Snowflakes Facebook page. And, as a particularly nice Christmas bonus, there was some wonderful stuff posted on the Snowflakes Christmas blog last year and I imagine that'll start up again as well.
Available for shipping anywhere in the world, the 2014 Snowflakes Christmas Singles will be officially released December 1, but you can pre-order your copies today. You save money if you buy both and you save even more money if you buy both of this year's singles and the three that remain from last year's issue (while supplies last). This is not a profit making venture for Snowflakes. I don't know their finances but commissioning these songs, pressing them on high quality vinyl and printing high quality picture sleeves is not cheap. I suspect the number of future Snowflakes releases is directly related to sales of current Snowflakes releases. Such passion should be supported and celebrated. Especially since, judging from last year's set, this is some of the best Christmas music being written and recorded today. Let's help make Snowflakes Christmas Singles as much a Christmas tradition as the Thanksgiving Day parade, Bing Crosby, and Santa Claus, himself. Order your Snowflakes Christmas Singles today.
Helping to close out the year in style, Nancy wrote and recorded "January" for Snowflakes Singles. Reminiscent of sixties era British folk, this beautiful tune speaks of the longing to be re-united with family and friends at Christmas time. As I understand it, the protagonist of the track can't be with her loved ones in December, but will reunite with them in January. So January will be Christmas this year. Sounds wonderful and I think my eyes are watering already.
For her cover song, Nancy chose an appropriate compliment to "January", The Pretenders' "2000 Miles". Stripped down to bare acoustic bones and featuring Nancy's pure voice, it promises to be yet another brilliant and essential Snowflakes release.
As we get closer to Christmas, you'll find more information on the Snowflakes Facebook page. And, as a particularly nice Christmas bonus, there was some wonderful stuff posted on the Snowflakes Christmas blog last year and I imagine that'll start up again as well.
Available for shipping anywhere in the world, the 2014 Snowflakes Christmas Singles will be officially released December 1, but you can pre-order your copies today. You save money if you buy both and you save even more money if you buy both of this year's singles and the three that remain from last year's issue (while supplies last). This is not a profit making venture for Snowflakes. I don't know their finances but commissioning these songs, pressing them on high quality vinyl and printing high quality picture sleeves is not cheap. I suspect the number of future Snowflakes releases is directly related to sales of current Snowflakes releases. Such passion should be supported and celebrated. Especially since, judging from last year's set, this is some of the best Christmas music being written and recorded today. Let's help make Snowflakes Christmas Singles as much a Christmas tradition as the Thanksgiving Day parade, Bing Crosby, and Santa Claus, himself. Order your Snowflakes Christmas Singles today.
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