My Nominations for the 4th Annual Holiday Music and Film Awards

This morning, I woke up to a surprise gift under the tree.

Well, metaphorically.

I’m so excited to share that I received two nominations for the 4th Annual Holiday Music and Film Awards. “Candy Cane” is up for Best Christmas Jazz Song, and “Tinsel Heart” is up for Best Christmas Pop Song.

I couldn’t feel more excited to have two nominations for the second year in a row.

My Nominations for the 4th Annual Holiday Music and Film Awards

First, I’m delighted that “Candy Cane” has a nomination for Best Christmas Jazz Song. Last year, “Winter Cold” won in this category, which I wrote about here, so I’m honored to be nominated for Best Christmas Jazz Song again.

I wrote “Candy Cane” to embrace my quirky side during the holidays. Christmas is my favorite time of year, but I would rather sleep in instead of waking up early to open presents, chill by the fireplace with hot cocoa instead of playing in the snow, and stay home to watch movies instead of going to parties. Still, I have fun during the holidays. In the chorus, I say, “I’m the festive kind, dressed in red and white, like a candy cane.”

Recording “Candy Cane” in the studio was a total blast. My producer, Bob McCutcheon, and I had a lot of fun with this song, and my saxophonist, Brett McCutcheon, did an absolutely perfect job playing the saxophone.

Out of all my original Christmas songs, “Candy Cane” captures my personality the most, from the honest and sassy lyrics to the joyful production.

Second, “Tinsel Heart” is sparkling with a nomination for Best Christmas Pop Song. This song was inspired by my love for the holidays and how I hold on to the magic of Christmas even when the snow melts away and the decorations are back in their boxes. I feel that the world is a brighter place during Christmas time, since people are reminded to spread love, kindness, and joy. When January comes, I always feel a shift as the holiday magic dims. Still, I try to keep the spirit of Christmas alive by being kind and giving back all year round. On the fun side, I totally drink hot chocolate during spring, summer, and autumn, and I keep some of my stuffed snowflakes, elves, and gingerbread men in my room. So, in short, it’s always Christmas in my world.

I loved writing and recording this song. The lyrics are full of festive imagery, and I enjoyed composing and recording the piano accompaniment. Bringing this song to life in the studio with Bob was a lot of fun. Also, my drummer, Sophia Elliott, truly did a perfect job as she always does.

I love that both “Candy Cane” and “Tinsel Heart” are nominated this year because they’re totally different. One of my favorite things about writing original Christmas music is making each of my songs have its own message and vibe. The holiday season means different things to different people, but this time of year also means different things to the same person. It’s fun exploring Christmas from new angles when I sit down to write my music. I think of it as bringing fresh colors to the lyrics and music to create a kaleidoscope of what Christmas means to me.

Thank you so much to the Holiday Music and Film Awards for my nominations. I couldn’t feel more grateful.

The awards show will take place on November 15 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dear Santa, taking home another HMFAs trophy would be the greatest gift!