Music
Jillian Antinora Invites The ‘Joys Of Christmas’ in Heartwarming Holiday Album
The Joys Of Christmas captures the warmth of the holiday season in 5 uplifting tracks ranging from Christmas-pop, to decadently smooth jazz.
Folk singer-songwriter Jillian Antinora embraces her favorite parts of the holiday season in her new Christmas album, The Joys Of Christmas, out now. This jubilant project includes original Christmas-pop tracks mixed in with beloved standards steeped in holiday spirit. Antinora’s pristine vocal performance lets listeners in on not only her go-to Christmas tunes, but what truly makes this season so special for her. She especially channels this in original tracks like “Just What We Needed,” where she set out to create something “that reminds us what Christmas brings us.” For Antinora, the anthem “brings peace, love, and freedom from fear.” The singer-songwriter acknowledges that “we have been living with so much fear lately, we need a rest and we need to let the light and joy back into our lives,” she says. “Christmas gives us this and it’s just what we need!” Antinora’s passion shines through with a show-stopping brilliance on each track throughout The Joys Of Christmas.
Antinora lets her honeyed vocals take the spotlight on this record. Her silky tone and masterful control give her the ability to paint each mix with a mesmerizing melody. Unassuming bells delicately caress Antinora’s voice in “Joys Of Christmas” before blossoming into an epic chorus embellished with the colorful harmony of dazzling background vocals. “Joy To The World” is a lively track led by spritely staccato fingerpicking in which Antinora is joined by the harmonies of her 15 year old daughter; Antinora beautifully makes the space to celebrate the importance of family on this track. She effortlessly leans into her technical skill with a glamorously polished performance on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” This smoothe jazz track – characterized by heavenly keys and a rich bass line – sets the perfect mood for a snowy night by the fireplace. The songwriter, entrepreneur, and musical theater actress wrote “Just What We Needed” and “Joys Of Christmas” in collaboration with friend and colleague Chris Kittrell. At its core, this record is an invitation for listeners to embrace the warmth of the holiday season in spite of the hardships that have troubled us all over the last year and a half.
Listeners can stream The Joys Of Christmas on all major streaming platforms out now.
Jillian Antinora is the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for her compositions. Jillian was born in Belleville, Illinois. She grew up in Las Vegas, NV, and later moved to Colorado Springs, CO. Growing up, she studied ballet and was classically trained in voice as a lyric soprano beginning at age 15. In 1996 she moved to New York City to attend American Music and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and pursue her dream of working in the theatre. She worked professionally in musical theatre around the U.S. and on cruise ships for 6 years before getting married in San Diego in 2002. She then lived in Sicily for 3 years where she studied opera. In 2008, she returned to Fort Collins, Colorado where she now lives. Jillian lives with her husband and their 6 children. Jillian and her husband TJ own 3 Subway restaurants, and Jillian runs her own real estate agency. Jillian began playing the guitar and writing songs when her youngest child was born in 2015. She released her first album in June 2021. She loves writing these songs and she hopes you love listening to them!
Artist Spotlight
“Hell has frozen over” finds Sarina choosing peace over being understood
Sarina’s new track, “Hell has frozen over,” explores the less dramatic, more complicated moment of reaching the end of the road, being gaslit, ignored, rejected, and painfully lonely. It translates the emotional burnout into a rock-pop context that’s easy to understand.
“Hell has frozen over” focuses on the decision to step away, instead of explaining, defending, or seeking understanding from people who refuse to listen. The rock foundation gives it the right weight, the pop influence makes it accessible, and the focus stays on the emotional message.
Sarina’s art is the struggle of loss and being strong in yourself. It’s about understanding that protecting your peace is more important than being understood. And that’s the emotional balance that gives the release its character so that the subject matter has relevance beyond a particular circumstance.
“Hell has frozen over“ is a relief from the burden of carrying on a debate that will never be resolved. Sarina turns an experience of isolation into a statement about boundaries, resilience, and the choice not to get caught in the same cycle. The result is a record that’s at its best when it’s being true to what it feels like to finally be free from whatever has been holding you down.
Photo Credit: Andrea Hunter
Artist Spotlight
Girlhood finds summer warmth and quiet freedom on “Lemon Aid”
“Lemon Aid“ is a warm indie-pop ballad from Girlhood that finds comfort in the ordinary and weaves in a sense of release. This song is about surrendering to the moment, finding space to breathe, and letting a little lightness back in. This reflective core is surprising, given the warm summer-night feel of the track, hinting at a moment of emotional rebalancing.
Singer-songwriter Natalie Holmes has a tender personality and fronts the slow-burning “Lemon Aid.” The production supports that softness, keeping the song’s gentle mood and intimate direction front and center. Beneath the comfort is a thoughtful examination of pressure, transition, and the need to pause.
The song’s link to the streets of Stroud offers yet another layer of art to the work. Familiar places can mean something when life feels uncertain, and the emotional scene involves storefronts, parks, cafes, and leafy, winding streets. “Lemon Aid“ searches for beauty in everyday places and rituals, finding still moments that mean something without getting carried away.
The track is the first release of Girlhood’s forthcoming album, “This Will Make Sense In The End,” a more reflective chapter with hope at its heart. “Lemon Aid” is about softness, conjuring a space where dancing, wandering, and just existing can feel like a cure. It’s an unleashing of small observations and soft emotional movement and a clear indication of the thoughtful direction that Girlhood is heading next.
-
Artist Spotlight1 day agoC’batch turns an old guitar performance into a new story with “Our Little Pooh Pea (The Last Light) 4 – Cinematic”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days ago“NO MORE” by Amanda Holley connects healing, awakening, and survival
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoSara Diana follows a wild spirit into the moonlight on latest release “Her Hair’s Like Fire”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days ago“Subterranean Homesick Blues” finds a new direction through Ghost of Panama
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoLisa Jo draws a line under the past with latest release “Done Druggin’ Away the Pain”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoTabi Harlowe captures the ache behind attraction with latest release “So Pretty (It Hurts)”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoDusty Edinger crackle tension into rock electricity with latest release “We Outshine”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoCrooner Ed captures a sweet romantic moment on “I Love This View”