‘Tis the season for dozens of new renditions of Christmas chestnuts to fill the ears (at least). While these fresh covers of old-time classics can often be stirring, catchy, and heartwarming all the same, it’s even more exciting when an artist hits the holiday music scene with a track that truly presents a brand new sonic journey for the senses.
Such is the case with Katie Garibaldi, an up-and-coming Americana artist hailing from good ol’ San Francisco. Despite her bay city slicker roots, Garibaldi holds down the folk fort impressively well with this swinging, retro roots scorcher. And as many western classics go, this newfound take on the style from the songstress reminds us that it’s all not candy canes and saccharine come Christmastime.
We still find trouble, and we still hurt. Sometimes, that means that we’re in for an ‘Unhappy Holiday’. Things are looking up for Garibaldi by its end in its accompanying video, directed and produced by Anna Haas. Yet, it’s the very real journey depicted in the video—almost as if a page from the artist’s journal has been brought to life—that drives things home.