Winter Mixtape

The compilation features new original tunes and holiday covers from every artist on their roster. Counter to the pious bent of many holiday tunes and their reliance on rote motifs, the Winter Mixtape’s songs paint a relevant and transparent picture of the holiday season in America.

Press

Indy Week “It’s an endearing, oddball mixtape, and it satisfies from start to finish.” See full article

Liner Notes

The record kicks off with a Trippers & Askers original, “Christmas in Mumbai” - an acoustic guitar driven expression of existential gratitude, vitalized by a call to love every human regardless of creed and color. 

Next comes Chessa Rich’s interpretation of Judee Sill’s 1971 occult-leaning hit, “Jesus Was a Crossmaker.” Starry electric piano tones and ambient sleigh bells bridge the gap between spiritual fervor and strange temptation. 

Released the very same year as JWACM, Joni Mitchell’s “River,” rendered here by folksmith Chris Frisina,  is a portrait of the melancholy and deep regret that harangues so many of us during the holidays. 

After “River” comes T. Gold’s original “305 ‘til I Die (Christmas in Miami).” The production is lawless, turning acoustically recorded drums and guitar into glitched out samples in the vein of The Books, but the message is soft and nostalgic - a remembrance of carefree Christmases spent skateboarding along the ocean. 

Stepping back into the folk tradition, we arrive at Blue Cactus’ cover of Winter is Blue, by Vashti Bunyan. The bands’ twang takes on astral dimensions over the course of the tune and introduces the listener to the real depths of holiday sorrow. 

Next, the record kicks up the energy several gritty notches with Owen FitzGerald’s take on “Father Christmas” by the Kinks. 

Following Owen’s fuzz-off, we find ourselves at Earleine’s “Santa,” an unsettling and psychedelic journey into the mind of a mall Santa. These are all the thoughts you knew were occurring, but could blissfully ignore until now. 

Second to last is Libby Rodenbough’s cover of “Just Like Christmas,” by the band Low. It’s a slow-burning indie-rock cruiser, focused more on the myriad sensations of winter, rather than, as the title would suggest, Christmas. 

The record’s final track, Josh Kimbrough’s original “Frost in the Valley,” is arguably its coziest, most holiday-by-the-fire-esque, piece. Josh’s extended melodic guitar phrasing, accompanied by Casey Toll’s guttural touch on the upright bass and Whit Wright’s swathe of steel atmosphere, provide the perfect sendoff. 

Written by Saman Khoujinian

Credits

All songs mixed and mastered by Saman Khoujinian. *Track 8 mixed by Phil Moore

Christmas In Mumbai - by Trippers & Askers

• Performance

• Guitars/ Voice - Jay Hammond

• Production

  • Written by Jay Hammond

  • Produced by Jay Hammond

  • Recorded at Home in Asheville, NC and Washington D.C. by Jay Hammond

Jesus Was A Cross Maker - by Chessa Rich

• Performance

• Vocals/ Keyboard - Chessa Rich

• Bass/ Synthesizer - Alex Bingham

• Guitars - Joseph Terrell

• Drums - Yan Westerlund

• Shaker/ Sleigh Bells/ Space Echo - Gabe Anderson

• Production

  • Written by Judee Sill

  • Produced by Chessa Rich & her band

  • Recorded at Bedtown by Saman Khoujinian

River - by Chris Frisina

• Performance

• Vocals/ Acoustic Guitar - Chris Frisina

• Acoustic Guitar - Saman Khoujinian

• Percussion - Gabe Anderson

• Bass/ Harmonies/ Organ - Alex Bingham

• Production

  • Written by Joni Mitchell

  • Produced by Alex Bingham and Saman Khoujinian

  • Recorded at Bedtown by Saman Khoujinian and Alex Bingham

305 ‘til I Die (Christmas in Miami) - by T. Gold

• Performance

• Acst. Guitar/ Vocals/ Harmonies/ OP1 samples/ Shakers/ Yamaha DX - Saman Khoujinian

• Percussion - Gabe Anderson

• Bass - Alex Bingham

• Yamaha DX/ Wurlitzer/ Organ - Joe MacPhail

• Production

  • Written by Saman Khoujinian

  • Produced by Saman Khoujinian

  • Recorded at Bedtown by Saman Khoujinian and Alex Bingham

Winter Is Blue - by Blue Cactus

• Performance

• Vocals/ Flute - Steph Stewart

• Vocals/ Guitars/ Synthesizer - Mario Arnez

• Production

  • Written by Vashti Bunyan

  • Produced by Mario Arnez and Steph Stewart

  • Recorded at home by Mario Arnez

Father Christmas - by Owen FitzGerald

• Performance

• Electric Guitar/ Bass/ Drum Machine/ Vox - Owen FitzGerald

• Harmony Vox - Saman Khoujinian

• Production

  • Written by - Ray Davies

  • Produced by - Owen FitzGerald

  • Recorded at home on Tascam 424 mkii Tape Machine by Owen FitzGerald

Santa - by Earleine

• Performance

• Vocals/ Harmonies/ Acoustic Guitar - Ashley Wright

• Percussion/ Piano/ Electric Guitar/ OP-1/ Rhodes/ Harmonies - Saman Khoujinian

• Production

  • Written by Ashley Wright

  • Produced by Saman Khoujinian

  • Recorded at Arbor Ridge Studios by Saman Khoujinian

Just Like Christmas - by Libby Rodenbough 

• Performance

• Guitars/ Bass/ Strings/ Vocals - Libby Rodenbough

• Drums/ Sleigh Bells - Phil Moore

• Production

  • Written by Low

  • Produced by Libby Rodenbough

  • Recorded at home

  • Engineered by Libby Rodenbough

  • Mixed by Phil Moore

Frost In The Valley - by Josh Kimbrough

• Performance

• Guitar - Josh Kimbrough

• Pedal Steel - Whit Wright

• Double bass - Casey Toll

• Production

  • Written by Josh Kimbrough

  • Produced by Josh and Ari Picker

  • Recorded at home