Christmas Music in October

Palm trees outside, Christmas songs inside — why the holidays mean so much more than where you are, and the story behind A Light in the Window.

Well, here we are. It’s not even November yet, I’m living on an island surrounded by palm trees, and somehow I’ve spent a good portion of my time working on Christmas music.

If you’d told me a year ago that this is where life would have me right now, I probably would’ve laughed. But here we are.

I’ve always loved Christmas music. You can hear a song you haven’t listened to in twenty years, and within a few seconds you’re right back in a moment you’d almost forgotten — the house you grew up in, the smell of Christmas dinner, the decorations your family put up every year, that one person who always made Christmas feel like Christmas.

That’s part of what makes writing Christmas songs so interesting to me. You’re not just writing about a holiday. You’re writing about everything people carry with it: family, home, being in love, missing somebody, traditions, memories — and sometimes wishing you could have just one more Christmas the way things used to be.

There are a thousand different emotions wrapped up in this one season. And somehow, they all belong.

A Different Kind of Christmas

Living in Hawaiʻi has definitely given me a different perspective on the holidays. There’s something a little funny about picturing snow-covered rooftops and fireplaces while you’re looking out at palm trees and sunshine. Not exactly the Christmas card I grew up imagining.

But being somewhere different has made me appreciate something I hadn’t really thought about before: so much of what makes the season special has nothing to do with where you are. It’s the people you share it with, the memories you carry, the little traditions that stay with you no matter how old you get or where life takes you.

And sometimes it’s the people who aren’t there anymore.

When you’re a kid, Christmas is mostly excitement — the presents, the decorations, waking up Christmas morning. Then life happens. Families change. People move away. Some of the people who made your Christmases special aren’t around anymore. Suddenly the same songs you’ve heard your whole life hit completely differently. A song that used to make you smile brings a tear to your eye. Or maybe it does both.

That’s one of the things I love most about Christmas music. It gives us permission to feel all of it.

A Light in the Window

That brings me to the Christmas project I’ve been working on, A Light in the Window.

I wanted to make something that actually felt like Christmas — not just songs with bells thrown in the background, but music that captures the things I love about the season. The warmth. The nostalgia. The romance. The excitement. And yes, even some of the sadness. I don’t think a Christmas song has to be happy from beginning to end to be beautiful.

I love those old Christmas records people still pull out every December — songs that have been around longer than I’ve been alive and never lose their magic. And while I love modern production and experimenting with sound, there’s something about sitting down with a piano, a melody, and a story that never gets old.

That’s what I’ve been chasing: something new that still feels familiar. Something you could listen to this Christmas, and pull out again five or ten years from now. Whether I’ve pulled that off is up to you guys. 😂 But I’ve genuinely loved making it.

The Funny Thing About Making Music

You never really know what people are going to connect with. I’ll work on something and think, “Man, I really love this one.” Then another song I wasn’t nearly as sure about ends up being the one everybody talks about. I’ve pretty much given up trying to predict it — and maybe that’s a good thing.

The moment you start writing around what you think people want to hear, you risk losing the joy that made you love music in the first place. So I want to keep making things that excite me. Sometimes that’s a big country-rock song. Sometimes it’s stripped down and acoustic. Sometimes it has electronic elements that make a few traditional country fans scratch their heads.

And apparently, sometimes it’s Christmas music in October while I’m sitting in Hawaiʻi. Life is funny that way.

Something to Carry Into This Christmas

I know the holidays can be complicated. For some of you, this might be the first Christmas in a long time you’re genuinely excited about — maybe you’ve fallen in love, welcomed somebody new into the family, or finally found a little peace after a hard year.

For others, this season might be harder than usual. Maybe there’s an empty chair at the table. Maybe you’re spending Christmas somewhere you never expected to be. Maybe you’re somewhere in between. That’s okay, too.

I hope you find something this Christmas that makes you smile, even if it’s something small. A familiar song. A phone call from an old friend. A good meal. A quiet evening. Sometimes those little things are the moments we remember the longest.

If this new music becomes part of somebody’s holiday memories, even in a small way, that would mean a whole lot to me. A Light in the Window is scheduled for release November 1, and the official music video is already on my YouTube channel — you can watch it right here.

Your Turn

What’s that one Christmas song that immediately takes you back to a particular time or person in your life? I’d love to hear your answers in the comments.

And if you’re looking for a place to share stories, encourage people, and be part of a good community, come join us in We Are Living Proof on Facebook. We’re building something over there that means a lot to me.

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Thank you for continuing to listen, share the music, and be part of all of this. It really does mean more than you know. And yes, I realize I’m talking about Christmas before Halloween. I promise I’ll try to behave. 😂