Artist: Michaela Anne
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “River”
Album: Happy Xmas EP
Label: Yep Roc Records
In Their Words: “The impetus behind this record is that I was asked to perform a set of Christmas songs for a friend’s show. I had never thought of singing Christmas songs so I started from scratch, thinking of which songs I was most moved by and wanted to sing along with when they came on the radio. I wanted modern songs that felt classic to me. I had a five-month old baby at the time and was thinking about what soundtrack I wanted to create for her early Christmas memories. Fun and upbeat but also melancholy, emotional and beautiful, because that is what life is. I have warm memories now of sitting at the piano, practicing ‘River’ with my tiny baby wrapped to my chest, staring up at me.” — Michaela Anne