Amanda Stewart's Stellar Holiday EP 'Since It's Christmas' OUT NOW

AMANDA STEWART
 — AMERICANA SINGER/SONGWRITER —
RELEASES FIVE-TRACK HOLIDAY EP
SINCE IT’S CHRISTMAS

COMPOSED OF THREE ORIGINALS AND TWO COVERS

Above: ‘Since It’s Christmas’ EP artwork

“Amanda Stewart's ‘Since It's Christmas’ is simply flawless.”
–  Country Standard Time, December 18, 2023

NASHVILLE, TN (December 20, 2023) — Today, powerhouse vocalist and acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter Amanda Stewart releases her five-track holiday EP — Since It’s Christmas. Composed of three originals and two covers, Amanda’s vocals captivate listeners with her sweet buttery twang that feels like a warm hug. Continuing to prove herself as an introspective, thoughtful, and highly empathetic writer, she makes many feel seen, exploring how the magical aurora of the holiday season sometimes coexists with feelings of loneliness and a longing for those we may have lost along the way. 

STREAM SINCE IT’S CHRISTMAS HERE.

Lead single and title track “Since It’s Christmas” hit streaming platforms on November 15 accompanied by an exclusive premiere from Americana UK, with editor Jonathan Aird praising, “‘Since It’s Christmas’ finds the Montana-based singer bringing the same sharp-eyed observation that was noted on her debut album Venom.” Building on this success, Amanda then shared her rootsy take on Counting Crows’ “A Long December” on December 1, coinciding with the 27 year anniversary of its original recording (December 2, 1996). 

In a recent live review, Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard Time remarked: “Stewart was honest in her delivery, oftentimes injecting a lot of emotion into the material.” This insight was shared following her captivating show on November 30 at Rockwood Music Hall in Boston, MA, where she showcased several tracks from the Since It’s Christmas EP. “Soaring, powerful, emotive voice,” he concluded.

TRACKLISTING FOR SINCE IT’S CHRISTMAS:
“Since It's Christmas”
“One Hell Of A Year”
“A Long December”
“Merry Christmas to Us”
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Above: Amanda Stewart; Credit: The Whiskey Ginger

Since It’s Christmas succeeds the release of her 12-track album, Venom, which arrived on a wave of praise this past July. “We’re hooked from the first moment of this artist’s high level recordings,” shared Music Connection, among other nods from the likes of The Boot, Americana Highways, Americana UK, and more.

Growing up in the mountains of Montana, Amanda spent much of her time on her grandparent’s ranch, being exposed to the acoustic instrumentation and simple yet honest songwriting of Americana, folk and country music styles. The musical notes of her childhood braided with the openness and sequestered life in the mountains allowed her the space and quiet that was integral in her journey of self-discovery as a person and as an artist. “Montana is a hidden gem full of all sorts of genres of music,” Amanda says. “That paired with the slower pace of life compared to other cities I’ve lived in like Seattle, gave me the figurative and literal space for self-reflection.”

It’s hard to believe Amanda wasn’t always honed in on her craft with an album like Venom that’s so honest and raw, but the songwriter took a while to find her own voice and sound. Music has always been a part of her life. “I can remember sitting at the old, slightly out of tune, piano at my grandparents ranch in Montana just plugging away at the keys and singing nonsense,” she reflects, “I was always singing or humming as a kid.” But it wasn’t until she started truly dedicating herself to the art — writing her own songs and playing gigs most nights of the week — that she really started to understand what her voice could do and how singing of things she cared about made her better.

“I just want people to feel ok with whatever they're feeling,” Amanda says when talking of the message she hopes to portray through her music. “There are songs about a lot of serious and difficult things, and also songs about fleeting moments in my life, and I know others have had similar experiences.” Life doesn’t look the exact same for every person, but through shared emotions we are reminded of how connected we truly are, and Venom perfectly encapsulates these synchronicities. “I want people to get these songs stuck in their head, so that they can be reminded that someone else has been where they may be at now or have been before in life.” 

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