KINGSWOOD CHANNEL SPIRIT OF THE GREATS ON THEIR CHRISTMAS ALBUM, A KINGSWOOD CHRISTMAS

27 Nov

Celebrating their love for some iconic artists and the Christmas standards they’ve made legendary over the years, KINGSWOOD release their first festive record, A KINGSWOOD CHRISTMAS.

An album perfect for late nights by a fire, rousing sing alongs or for a simple nostalgia break with family, A Kingswood Christmas is the Melbourne band’s way of paying tribute to some classic music and the brains behind them. The band’s love for jazz, big band and the style of rich instrumentation that has formed many American and global western music trends comes through strongly on the record - a fitting way for Kingswood to cap off a big year of music.

LISTEN TO A KINGSWOOD CHRISTMAS HERE

Incorporating favourite Christmas standards including ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, A Kingswood Christmas covers a wide range of the universal Christmas catalogue.

Recorded with Guus Hovenaars and co-engineered by Hovenaars and Kingswood’s Alex Laska out of Melbourne’s Newmarket Studios this year, A Kingswood Christmas also features some stunning string and brass instrumentation courtesy of Irena Laska (Flute), Richard Butler (Tenor Saxophone), Steve Hornby (Double Bass) Jack Davies (Double Bass). Working with these musicians on the record adds to the overall authenticity of the music, an element of the album that was very important to Kingswood to keep.

“The album follows archetypal jazz philosophies, critical to the feel and authenticity in the experiences we adore; live to tape trio and quartet performances attempting to capture the spirit contained within these wonderful compositions. The main beds of the album were recorded in two days with four microphones, seeing Melbourne’s Newmarket Studios become a hot-bed of swing and cheer.” KINGSWOOD

The album is a special one for the band, who have gone through a huge amount together over the last year to lead up to the release of their third studio record Juveniles and more recently, their reimagining of the album, Reveries. A Kingswood Christmas is a presentation by a family of musicians who want to make their fans happy; a final gift for the year.

“Kingswood has always been a family, and a perfect time and a perfect time for us all to reflect on the importance of this bond is indeed Christmas. The subconscious embodiment of this dynamic within Kingswood directly correlates to the wonderful ethos that has been instilled in us from our own families and the attitudes and philosophies that accompany govern a lot of the decision making process e.g. in the same way that you test your ideas with your most trusted loved ones.” KINGSWOOD

With proceeds from the album going towards Beyond Blue, A Kingswood Christmas takes on further significance for the band. As an opportunity for them to help people who have been doing it tough throughout the pandemic and might be facing more hard times during the Christmas and summer season, Kingswood have wanted to use their platform for good.

“Many Australians are approaching an unprecedented period of difficulty, with the ongoing hardships the pandemic has caused, running into Christmas. The experts at Beyond Blue recognise that sometimes holidays can also bring stress, anxiety and depression, particularly among those dealing with loneliness, relationship difficulties or financial worries. Beyond Blue provide vital support for all Australians and together, we want to remind everyone that if you’re in strife and you need support for your mental health, reach out and ask.” KINGSWOOD

A Kingswood Christmas is released Friday 27th November