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I hear the bells from the Cathedral the snow is falling all around the people smile as they are singing of babes and angels heaven bound But was has this to do with living a life of peace and God's delight? Could Baby Jesus in his Manger foresee the hate sprung from that night? In many ways I love this story of stars and shepherds, three wise men of hallelujahs in the heavens and angels radiant on the wind But many people who believe it have turned its magic upside down they've formed themselves into an army that bruises love and knocks it down So Christmas isn't all it should be I stand outside it looking in their hate, dispassion, falseness could be the deeper, darker side of sin But as the winter days grow shorter and fairies gather in the night they sing their Christmas spells together to bring the world back into light Sing prayers for all the righteous people so sure that they are heaven bound if God is Love then let's get loving I'd like a little on the ground So Blessed Be and Merry Christmas let Christmas Spells ring out again of Heaven, Heart and Earth together so mote it be, shalom, amen.

about

ABOUT THE EP
Produced by longtime Brassland artist Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett, the Christmas Spells EP features two holiday classics and a Mx. Justin Vivian Bond original. It opens with "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," a tune debuted by Judy Garland in the 1944 film musical Meet Me in St. Louis which has become one of our most performed and beloved holiday standards. (We offer it as an antidote to recent, modernized versions by Sam Smith & Michael Buble.) Next is "Remember (Christmas)," written by cult singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson. Says Mx. Bond of the Nilsson cover: "I love that the word Christmas is in the title but not in the lyrics. The rest of the song is a beautiful lullaby."

Finally the EP culminates with the stately and riveting original "Christmas Spells."

In many ways I love this story
of stars and shepherds, three wise men
of hallelujahs in the heavens
and angels radiant on the wind

But many people who believe it
have turned its magic upside down
they've formed themselves into an army
that bruises love and knocks it down

Says Mx. Bond of the tune: "I wrote 'Christmas Spells' as someone who was raised under the Christian tradition and who was treated with love and respect within my own religious community as a young person despite being trans/queer. I thought it was important to address the profound disappointment I feel when extremist religious views are used as a tactic, either politically or moralistically, to diminish the profound spirit of the season." Delivered as a kind of incantation celebrating the winter solstice, the EP's release coincides with the holidays. But these three songs are also (no pun intended) evergreen.

credits

released November 27, 2015

Produced by Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett
Engineered by James Yost on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Remember (Christmas)"
Guitar on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Nath Ann Carrera)

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Justin Vivian Bond New York, New York

MX BOND DOESN'T MONITOR EMAILS SENT VIA BANDCAMP. TRY V @ twitter.com/mxjustinVbond
Mx Justin Vivian Bond is a trans-genre & transgender artist living in NYC whom The New Yorker has called “the best cabaret artist of [v's] generation.” Long before Transparent or Caitlyn Jenner drew clicks & headlines, v was a bellwether for an under-recognized community & a well-established downtown legend ... more

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