OK. My kids are in bed. I have digested your answer to my Christmas song question twice. I have taken notes and carefully crafted my response, which is:
Keith and Chris, thank you for answering my question with such sincerity. Because the question itself came from the same place.
Yes, I would love for you to do this. But for sound (and selfish, I guess) creative reasons that I will try and outline as briefly (and as non-unhingedly [hingedly?!]) as possible.
The emotional intensity of romantic love and physical desire is universal.
But how about the emotional intensity of other relationships? The connections we have with our friends, siblings, parents...and the relationship we have with 'home' - whether that be a place or simply a feeling? And when do so many of us come into contact with all of these relationships the most? At Christmas.
What prompted my question was a trawl through the Spotify archives as I began to curate a playlist for my own Christmas-related creative project (a trope-twisting festive rom-com) and realised there's a huge WAS-shaped hole in it (the closest track of yours to the book's vibe is the very beautiful Want For Nothing).
My story is about romantic love, sure. But it's also about platonic and familial love. It's about what happens when 'home' is lost and rediscovered again in unexpected ways. And how the emotional intensity of returning home for Christmas can bring all of this together in one big, beautiful, alcohol-drenched and nostalgic mess. So...how's that for reframing the prompt?!
(For anyone interested the book is called Fake Snow and as yet I've not formally announced it. I'm aiming to publish in roughly a year).
Thank you for reading, and thank you again for answering!
I (Chris) don't disagree with this, although I wonder whether all WAS tracks are as definitively "romantic" as we're assuming they are. Are there not songs that could be heard as applying to affiliations more broadly defined? But that's not what defines a Christmas song anyway, right? I feel like 50% of Christmas songs are (for some reason) about a break up. (Do people actually break up with increased frequency on or shortly before Christmas?) To really be a Christmas song, the lyrics surely must refer to the holiday. Or is it just a mood you're after? Like are all Sufjan Stevens songs Christmas songs? I do think WAS could potentially write something that, mood-wise, would sit fine on a Christmas playlist. But I think it's unlikely we'll write something that explicitly refers to Christmas, except maybe haphazardly. Perhaps it's really just cowardice preventing us — like, it's such a transparently mercenary thing to do as a songwriter, so you really need to hit it out of the park. Cuz failing in the pursuit of artistic greatness is noble, but failing to successfully twist your art into a capitalist juice press is maybe less so. Maybe I'm making too much of the commercialization of Christmas; I realize I'm implying that anything it touches turns to goblin meat, and that could be wrong. *Could* be, I say.
So this is exactly how I originally felt about writing a Christmas *book*. It felt so...obvious and generic and icky. But it just pushed itself to the surface in the end and I had to let it happen. And, much like a good song is a good song, hopefully a good story is a good story, regardless of the genre. Ironically, the fact it doesn't neatly fit into the standard festive rom com box because of its ~subversions~ is why so many publishers have said no, despite it getting me an agent pretty swiftly.
I'm definitely vibe not lyric-led when it comes to music. So currently the song that *feels* the most like the book is Be Sensible by JEW. The song doesn't explicitly reference the holidays but there are occasional sleigh bells (🫠) and it has a general sweeping, wintery atmosphere. Maybe something to do with the string arrangement? Or maybe it is just those sleighbells and I really am that damn basic...
So, I started writing what I thought was a Christmas song because 1) the song was literally written before a large family get together I didn’t care to be a part of and 2) the chorus mentions the holidays. But, the more I listened to that chorus with the mere mention of “holidays,” I hated it. It felt...cheap? Gimmicky? I rewrote it because the emotional potency was just what I wanted. Now the song is now a rock-driven angry little thing that still encompasses those feelings that emerged out having to be around my estranged family during Christmas. So, arguably, knowing that? You could say my song is quite like the movie Diehard--undefinable.
This was a very long winded way of saying: I see your apprehension. And no one could do it better than NSYNC, anyway. That’s a timeless Christmas record that can’t be played enough.
Lightspeed Champion/Dev Hynes comes to mind. That show in DC where he came on stage to play guitar for After Hours bc Keith's string broke is definitely a WAS show highlight for me.
On the topic of making deals with the devil, I think I would potentially choose to time travel to see Au Revoir Simone support you guys. What a lineup!
Also, I totally just remembered... it’s so funny that you should mention Fred Durst. Because last night we were watching the film he wrote and directed, starring John Travolta. I know that sounds fake.
BTW, as chance would have it, Fred Durst features on the new single from Wargasm, "Bang Ya Head," released today. It's … actually kind of good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQjZ3fQF75Q
It’s called The Fanatic. And you bet there’s a cringe moment where one of the characters puts on a Limp Bizkit song and asks “You like a lil Limp Bizkit?? You like a lil Bizkit??”
So enjoyed listening to this! Very pleased to hear you extolling the virtues of REM. They were easily my favourite band when I was 15 and have been up there ever since.
Is the barge pole expression not a thing in the US? Didn’t realise it was UK specific.
In breaking free from the old country, certain customs were lost, some deliberately left behind. I'm not sure which is the case here, but no, we do not speak of barge poles in the US.
Also, forgot to mention it earlier but completely agree that Dan Monick is amazing. I have so much love for the work he’s done with you guys, especially the covers for Operator Error and TVeF Under The Sea.
Kinda bummed you didn’t mention Art Brut as one of your favorite support acts- that tour with them and with the Spinto Band is easily one of my favorite WAS tours (and the ones with Rewards, obviously).
ah, yeah, those are both great gangs. I think we missed quite a few top-tier talents in our support assessment. The fact is that we may LOOK like we're in the prime of our lives, but inside our skulls it's nothing but well-aged Swiss cheese.
OK. My kids are in bed. I have digested your answer to my Christmas song question twice. I have taken notes and carefully crafted my response, which is:
Keith and Chris, thank you for answering my question with such sincerity. Because the question itself came from the same place.
Yes, I would love for you to do this. But for sound (and selfish, I guess) creative reasons that I will try and outline as briefly (and as non-unhingedly [hingedly?!]) as possible.
The emotional intensity of romantic love and physical desire is universal.
But how about the emotional intensity of other relationships? The connections we have with our friends, siblings, parents...and the relationship we have with 'home' - whether that be a place or simply a feeling? And when do so many of us come into contact with all of these relationships the most? At Christmas.
What prompted my question was a trawl through the Spotify archives as I began to curate a playlist for my own Christmas-related creative project (a trope-twisting festive rom-com) and realised there's a huge WAS-shaped hole in it (the closest track of yours to the book's vibe is the very beautiful Want For Nothing).
My story is about romantic love, sure. But it's also about platonic and familial love. It's about what happens when 'home' is lost and rediscovered again in unexpected ways. And how the emotional intensity of returning home for Christmas can bring all of this together in one big, beautiful, alcohol-drenched and nostalgic mess. So...how's that for reframing the prompt?!
(For anyone interested the book is called Fake Snow and as yet I've not formally announced it. I'm aiming to publish in roughly a year).
Thank you for reading, and thank you again for answering!
I (Chris) don't disagree with this, although I wonder whether all WAS tracks are as definitively "romantic" as we're assuming they are. Are there not songs that could be heard as applying to affiliations more broadly defined? But that's not what defines a Christmas song anyway, right? I feel like 50% of Christmas songs are (for some reason) about a break up. (Do people actually break up with increased frequency on or shortly before Christmas?) To really be a Christmas song, the lyrics surely must refer to the holiday. Or is it just a mood you're after? Like are all Sufjan Stevens songs Christmas songs? I do think WAS could potentially write something that, mood-wise, would sit fine on a Christmas playlist. But I think it's unlikely we'll write something that explicitly refers to Christmas, except maybe haphazardly. Perhaps it's really just cowardice preventing us — like, it's such a transparently mercenary thing to do as a songwriter, so you really need to hit it out of the park. Cuz failing in the pursuit of artistic greatness is noble, but failing to successfully twist your art into a capitalist juice press is maybe less so. Maybe I'm making too much of the commercialization of Christmas; I realize I'm implying that anything it touches turns to goblin meat, and that could be wrong. *Could* be, I say.
IMO, LCD Soundsystem hit it out the park with Christmas Will Break Your Heart, but that is the only example I can think of!
Emma! Thank you for bringing this into my life 🌲💔
Glad you like it 😻
'Angel'. Nailed it. The fact that I can't add it to my playlist is indeed glorious sadness.
Listening to the new SS album (I don't have the words for how stunning it is) and my five-year-old asked whether it was Christmas music...🤯
The children get it.
They absolutely do. Have you listened?
So this is exactly how I originally felt about writing a Christmas *book*. It felt so...obvious and generic and icky. But it just pushed itself to the surface in the end and I had to let it happen. And, much like a good song is a good song, hopefully a good story is a good story, regardless of the genre. Ironically, the fact it doesn't neatly fit into the standard festive rom com box because of its ~subversions~ is why so many publishers have said no, despite it getting me an agent pretty swiftly.
I'm definitely vibe not lyric-led when it comes to music. So currently the song that *feels* the most like the book is Be Sensible by JEW. The song doesn't explicitly reference the holidays but there are occasional sleigh bells (🫠) and it has a general sweeping, wintery atmosphere. Maybe something to do with the string arrangement? Or maybe it is just those sleighbells and I really am that damn basic...
WAS lyrics are truly sublime btw.
Bloody hell, Hayley, I’ll read this! Also, exquisite musical choice. Want For Nothing is gorgeous.
I've had so many publisher rejections, at this point I'm just tempted to send it out to whoever wants it as a word file 🤣
And yes this is my real name 🤓
Final caveat to say that romantic love isn't in fact totally universal!
So, I started writing what I thought was a Christmas song because 1) the song was literally written before a large family get together I didn’t care to be a part of and 2) the chorus mentions the holidays. But, the more I listened to that chorus with the mere mention of “holidays,” I hated it. It felt...cheap? Gimmicky? I rewrote it because the emotional potency was just what I wanted. Now the song is now a rock-driven angry little thing that still encompasses those feelings that emerged out having to be around my estranged family during Christmas. So, arguably, knowing that? You could say my song is quite like the movie Diehard--undefinable.
This was a very long winded way of saying: I see your apprehension. And no one could do it better than NSYNC, anyway. That’s a timeless Christmas record that can’t be played enough.
I need to hear this song, Ashley!
Aw thanks, Hayley. Soon! It’s one of the last songs to be mixed 🙃
After all this, I'm going to have a bash at writing my own.
Lightspeed Champion/Dev Hynes comes to mind. That show in DC where he came on stage to play guitar for After Hours bc Keith's string broke is definitely a WAS show highlight for me.
On the topic of making deals with the devil, I think I would potentially choose to time travel to see Au Revoir Simone support you guys. What a lineup!
Also, I totally just remembered... it’s so funny that you should mention Fred Durst. Because last night we were watching the film he wrote and directed, starring John Travolta. I know that sounds fake.
BTW, as chance would have it, Fred Durst features on the new single from Wargasm, "Bang Ya Head," released today. It's … actually kind of good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQjZ3fQF75Q
You like a lil Limp Bizkit?? You like a lil Bizkit??
This sounds very fake, but the "John Travolta" detail rings truer than the purest bronze bell.
What the hell film is this? 😂
It’s called The Fanatic. And you bet there’s a cringe moment where one of the characters puts on a Limp Bizkit song and asks “You like a lil Limp Bizkit?? You like a lil Bizkit??”
Noooo! That’s hysterical.
So enjoyed listening to this! Very pleased to hear you extolling the virtues of REM. They were easily my favourite band when I was 15 and have been up there ever since.
Is the barge pole expression not a thing in the US? Didn’t realise it was UK specific.
In breaking free from the old country, certain customs were lost, some deliberately left behind. I'm not sure which is the case here, but no, we do not speak of barge poles in the US.
Also, forgot to mention it earlier but completely agree that Dan Monick is amazing. I have so much love for the work he’s done with you guys, especially the covers for Operator Error and TVeF Under The Sea.
Kinda bummed you didn’t mention Art Brut as one of your favorite support acts- that tour with them and with the Spinto Band is easily one of my favorite WAS tours (and the ones with Rewards, obviously).
ah, yeah, those are both great gangs. I think we missed quite a few top-tier talents in our support assessment. The fact is that we may LOOK like we're in the prime of our lives, but inside our skulls it's nothing but well-aged Swiss cheese.
The way Keith sounded like he was slurring his words in this, I’m thinking it’s more Gorgonzola up there rather than Swiss 🧀