Victoria Monét joins Nadeska on R&B Now to talk about her rendition of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” for Apple Music’s exclusive holiday album, ‘Carols Covered,’ what is was like recreating such a famous Christmas song, and how she gets in the holiday spirit.
Victoria Monet on what songs get her in the Christmas spirit
“You know what, Let It Snow really does it for me. I love Let It Snow. But Mariah is quintessential Christmas music. It takes the spin on the classics. And then she makes it still feel current. I know that her Christmas album is not a new thing. But every year it feels like a new refreshing moment to listen. And it feels correct. But I love to start playing stuff right after Thanksgiving. I’m like, okay, I’m full, it’s almost December, let’s flip the switch.”
Victoria Monet on why she covered “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
“You know what, I think that I just wanted to really … because I wish so badly that everyone has a really good, easy transition into next year. Finally some solace, finally some happiness and still able to make some memories. So I genuinely just wanted to say that to everyone. And the song says it so many times. I was like, oh, that’s perfect. I can wish everyone a Merry Christmas via song, and quite literally. I did a little spin on the end of the song where the lyrics are a bit different and very reflective of how I feel about 2020. And it’s just a quick Victoria Monét rendition of it to add something else. But I really just wanted to say, I really genuinely hope that everyone has a good holiday because we’ve really gone through it.”
Victoria Monet on if it is intimidating to cover classic Christmas carols
“Well, I do feel like it’s kind of intimidating because it’s so classic. And so many people have heard this song. That when you put your voice on it, you’re like … People get kind of like ritzy about it, like who is trying to … And I think it’s best for singers who are classically trained and vocally acrobatic. So I think sometimes Christmas songs in particular can be more intimidating than writing your own music. But We Wish You A merry Christmas was a very safe bet. I added a bunch of harmonies. I had string players come in and we made it feel like more of a lullaby than a full song. So yeah, I think I did what I could with this … the Christmas vibes.”
About ‘Carols Covered’ on Apple Music:
Apple Music has developed an exclusive holiday album, “Carols Covered,” featuring today’s hottest artists spanning musical genres. Produced by Apple Music’s team of world-class experts and tastemakers, these artists offer their own personal twist on classic holiday songs. The complete “Carols Covered” lineup includes: beabadoobee’s “Winter Wonderland,” James Blake’s “In the Bleak Midwinter,” Fivio Foreign’s “Baddie on My Wishlist,” FLETCHER’s “Silent Night,” GIVĒON’s “O Christmas Tree,” Mickey Guyton’s “O Holy Night,” Jax Jones’s “Ave Maria,” Victoria Monét’s “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” Ozuna’s “Feliz Navidad,” and Arlo Parks’s “Last Christmas.”
