Photo by Jen Squires
New Holiday Album, Mini Video for Original Song “Light the Lights”, and Tour Dates Make This Holiday Season Shiny and Bright for Canada’s Steven Taetz.
For award-winning singer-songwriter Steven Taetz, the holidays have been a touchstone of monumental occasions throughout his life—from first Christmases in sunny California to snow-covered Alberta before settling in Ontario. On My Christmas Wish, Steven’s newest holiday album out today, he reminisces fondly of the spirits and memories of Christmas past.
There are six original songs, adding to the canon of Canadian Christmas classics, including the lead single “Magic For Me” and the album title track. But given that his love of Christmas began with vintage holiday hits, Steven couldn’t resist recording two of his favourites and giving them his own flair.
This includes the country-tinged classic “Blue Christmas,” in which he evokes the sounds of Roy Orbison complemented with some Latin guitar, as well as soulful Motown on “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” with the honeyed voices of Jenn Grant, Kim Harris, and Lakita Wiggins doing their best version of The Supremes’ background vocals. “We just wanted to have this song bring a smile to people; we embraced kitsch with the sleigh bells and the strings and kept it warm and inviting with all the harmonies on this classic tune,” Steven shares.
The album’s title track channels Steven’s jazz influences, with lyrics that reflect a wish list of all the things money can’t buy. With lines like ‘a kiss under the mistletoe’ and ‘two loving hands to hold,’ the song brings a swinging seasonal vibe. Co-producer Daniel Ledwell played most of the little big band ensemble and arranged 1950s-style background vocals, bringing to life the energy and colours of Steven’s childhood memories—”driving through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights, singing Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald with my family. This song captures a jazz-pop, 50s Christmas feel,” Steven adds.
Photo by Jen Squires
What’s the Story about the album My Christmas Wish?
My Christmas Wish is Steven Taetz’s love letter to childhood wonder, to the holidays, and the cherished times spent with his family growing up. Now, these special moments extend to his husband and puppy, Tupper, who even makes a cameo in the album artwork and music videos. “Ever since I was a kid, Christmas has been my favourite time of year,” Steven shares.
The album opens with the lead single “Magic For Me,” a bright and catchy original tune co-written by Steven and UK-based Johnny Wright, inspired by the contemporary pop Christmas classics from icons like Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé, followed by a new rendition of “Blue Christmas.”
Up next is the album title track, followed by the previously released single “Snow Angels“ (Dec 2023) – this song also channels Roy Orbison but leans into his vocal influences with a golden-era Nashville feel, capturing the playful childhood game of making snow angels and freezing time. “Light The Lights” is an original track that celebrates the ‘season of lights’ across cultures (Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, etc.) with Daniel and Steven blending vintage Christmas vibes and Beach Boys-inspired harmonies, building to a groovy, 1960s holiday dance party feel, capturing the spirit of ‘just a spark away… to drive the dark away. Oh, let it shine so bright, Let’s Light the Lights.‘”
The album continues with his new rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” “I Miss The Mistletoe” is a torch song that can be seen both as a love song to a lover who has left and a reflection of Steven’s loss of his father, recalling the Christmas his father passed away. This one carries a bittersweet reminder of both family and fun and loss. “The emotionally charged ballad will also be central to the Christmas musical theatre show my husband and I are working on,” Steven adds. The album ends on “Lovers In The Snow” – co-written with Caracol (Carole Facal). The song features esoteric lyrics that paint a picture of a winter scene. Released initially on Steven’s 2017 EP, Daniel has remixed it, adding warm, atmospheric instruments like pedal steel to bring the song in line with Steven’s current roots-rock sound.
Steven reflects, “This new album channels all the bright optimism of Christmas towards what is the most important element in life, and especially in the holiday season: Love.”
What’s The Story about Steven Taetz?
(pronounced Tate’s – rhymes with gates)
Rollicking roots rock, gentle pop ballads, blue-eyed soul, and cool jazz — Steven Taetz delivers songs with a strong and crystal clear voice that demands the listener’s full attention. Previous touring includes National Arts Centre, L’Astral Theatre Montreal, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rockwood Music Hall NYC, Capital Pride Washington D.C., Calgary Folk Festival’s Block Heater, and Ottawa Bluesfest mainstage prior to Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, and Badlands Amphitheatre supporting Blue Rodeo. Having previously collaborated with Jill Barber, Jenn Grant, Caroline Marie Brooks of Good Lovelies, The Once, and Connie Kaldor, Taetz has also co-published music with Sony/BMG, Warner, Universal, and Nettwerk. His self-titled 2013 album is an eclectic mix of unabashedly dramatic and often roots-tinged singer-songwriter fare, and its follow-up, 2018’s Drink You In, saw Taetz shift into full-on crooner mode, with a collection of impeccably performed jazz standards and new compositions. Nominated for Folk Canada’s Album of the Year, his 2023 project Late Bloom included contemporary roots love songs from a queer perspective. His latest offering My Christmas Wish will be a magical addition to the Christmas songbook for years to come.
CATCH STEVE TAETZ LIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
November 30 – Aurora, ON – Aurora Cultural Centre – TICKETS
December 6 – Toronto, ON – The Old Mill Toronto – TICKETS
December 7 – Chelsea, QC – Motel Chelsea – TICKETS
December 14 – Waterloo, ON – The Jazz Room – TICKETS
December 17 – Toronto, ON – Free Concert Series - Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre - noon – INFO
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