Nicole Laurel Asensio's new Christmas song hits close to home for Pinoy listeners
Christmas can be both a joyous and a lonely time for many.
For all the festivity, the season can bring back moments and an avalanche of memories, deepening that feeling of longing for loved ones dear to our hearts.
This is the prevailing feeling in the song “Christmas Without You” written and recorded by Nicole Laurel Asensio.
A prequel of sorts to last year's “See You This Christmas,” the track tells the story of a couple saying their goodbyes and exchanging well-wishes as one of them needs to leave to work abroad to support their loved one.
Both continue to be optimistic during the holiday season despite the distance and hopeful that they will be together again soon.
“The initial songwriting process was quite simple. I began humming a melody and out came the first verse. It was after that that I couldn't squeeze anything,” recalled Nicole.
“I started watching Christmas movies on Netflix in hopes of drawing lyrical inspiration. A day later I had my first draft of the song lyrics and melody.
“It was also at this point in time that I started working with a young Dumaguete- based Nigerian songwriter named Sam Akins on a few other music projects.”
Nicole and Sam worked together to shape the song including tweaking the lyrics and arrangement to give life to the material.
“I loved what he had done when he sang it, so I decided to keep his soulful flavor in the coda of the song.
“Thematically, I wanted the song to traverse from having the persona alone in present day to plunging into her memories with her lover. Hence, a musical shift of sorts was in order.”
Lending their expertise to flesh out the tune were Ira Cruz (guitar), Michael Guevarra (saxophone), Otep Concepcion (drums), Simon Tan (bass), Nikko Rivera (keys), Lester Sorilla (trumpet), and Darius Mendoza (trombone).
“Christmas Without You” will be available on Spotify and all digital platforms on November 26.
The music video of “Christmas Without You” will drop on December 2.
Take a look at the Kapuso stars and personalities who graced the network's Christmas station ID 2021.
