Fantasia Announces Holiday Album 'Christmas After Midnight'
Summer isn’t over yet, but Fantasia is already gearing up for Christmas. The soulful songstress is set to release her first-ever holiday album, Christmas After Midnight, next month.
Produced by Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole), the 12-track project will include Tasia’s renditions of her favorite holiday classics, including “This Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” a duet with CeeLo Green.
“I’m so excited for my first Christmas album,” said Fantasia. “My grandmother Addie Collins’ birthday was on Christmas Day. I will never forget how she would put up the prettiest Christmas trees and lights. But more importantly, I’ll never forget the impact she had on me and everyone else around her this time of year. She was a loving woman who helped all her grandchildren understand the true meaning of the holiday, its impact on our spirituality and character as well as the importance of recognizing the value of family and significant relationships. This album is dedicated to her. So as she would always say, ‘Keep giving the Gift of Giving!'”
Recorded at Los Angeles’ iconic Capitol Studios and Nashville’s famed Blackbird Studios, Christmas After Midnight is a festive mix of rock, soul, jazz, funk, and blues.
According to Fantasia, the album is an ode to singers of yesteryear who have influenced her work. “This album pays homage to my grandmother and is a gift from me to all of those who remember their grandparents or parents putting up Christmas trees and being a blessing into people’s lives,” she explained. “I’d also like to pay homage to the great singers like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles who stood strong in what they believed in—the music. I hope that it blesses you guys. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
Fantasia has also revealed the album’s artwork, which shows her standing alongside a Christmas tree. Posing elegantly in a red dress, the “American Idol” champ looks pensive with the holiday season on her mind.
Christmas After Midnight, which follows last year’s The Definition Of…, is due Oct. 6 via Concord Records.