Switchfoot Opens Up About the Making of their First Christmas Album

By Blessing Harper Oct 14, 2022 05:32 PM EDT

Grammy Award winning rock band Switchfoot releases their new single "California Christmas," today. The song is the first single from their debut holiday LP, this is our Christmas album, out November 4th.

Bringing sunny nostalgia to winter time, the original track opens with a muted piano riff that's reminiscent of strolling down a sandy path towards the beach on Christmas day. With vivid imagery of the holidays in California - including jacuzzis, swimsuits, 85 degree weather, palm trees, and more - lead singer Jon Foreman's honeyed yet raspy vocals ring with authenticity as he sings about Christmas at home.

"I've had the privilege of celebrating the holidays in a lot of different places -Boston, Detroit, Nashville, Virginia... but there is truly nothing like a California Christmas," Lead singer Jon Foreman says. "All the classic American Christmas songs sing about snowmen and chestnuts on warm fires... and as much as I love nostalgia, I wanted a song that captured the idiosyncrasies of San Diego during December. When I'm home for the holidays I've got sunshine, tamales, surf sessions, and a Christmas tree at the beach."

Marking the band's first-ever holiday record, this is our Christmas album finds Switchfoot infusing their signature West Coast sound to a number of holiday classics and five, new original Christmas songs. Cheery, nostalgic and brimming with sunshine, the 11 track collection was inspired by everyone from the Beach Boys to Black Flag, and promises to be the perfect soundtrack for the holiday season with a new California twist.

During the past few Christmas seasons, Foreman found himself looking for a Christmas album that reflected the way he felt, and he realized there wasn't anything out there. So, he started writing his own - making room for all the emotions felt over the holiday season - the good, the bad and the ugly; tradition, heartache, beauty, joy, and pain.

"For some of us, Christmas reminds us of loved ones we've lost, or complicated relationships with friends or family," Foreman says. "For others of us, we question the capitalist materialism that saturates the holidays. For others, it's a sacred time of giving, celebrating the divine gift of sacrificial love."

this is our Christmas album is about embracing Christmas for all that it is. Songs that mourn, songs that celebrate and songs that question.

this is our Christmas album Tracklisting:

1. California Christmas

2. Looking For Christmas

3. Christmas Time Is Here

4. Scrappy Little Christmas Tree

5. Silent Night / It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

6. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

7. Midlife Christmas

8. Interlude (Everybody Knows A Turkey)

9. The Christmas Song

10. New Year's Day