Mezzo-soprano and Crossover Music Magazine fan favorite Sophie Clarke is spreading holiday cheer with the release of her new album. We caught up with Sophie to dive into the inspiration behind this festive project and to discover what she cherishes most about the holiday season.
CMM: At Christmas Time features a mix of beloved classics and new arrangements. What inspired you to choose the specific songs for this album?
Sophie Clarke: I wanted this album to be a warm and comforting listening experience for the whole family this festive season. I included the classics, such as White Christmas and O Holy Night, but I also wanted to add my own classical crossover spin on some more recent songs, such as Last Christmas and Driving Home for Christmas, which I recorded with classical guitarist Ravi Nathwani. I wished for everyone to be able to appreciate the music whilst also keeping it classically me.
CMM: The first single off the album is A Winter’s Tale. What made this song stand out as the one to share first?
Sophie Clarke: Initially, I asked my friends, family, and followers what their favourite Christmas songs were to make a list for research. My dad suggested A Winter’s Tale, and in all honesty, I didn’t really recognise the title. I had a listen, and that was it—the words are just so beautiful. Many people will recognise the tune, but they won’t recognise the title, and I felt with a lesser-known Christmas song, I’ve been able to really make it my own. The piano arrangement for this was written by my dear orchestrator, Matteo Ressa.
CMM: Tell us about your collaborators on the project and how they helped create the sound and feel of At Christmas Time.
Sophie Clarke: I have been fortunate to work with some wonderful musicians on this project, starting with classical guitarist Ravi Nathwani. We work together as a duo (Duo Cantelina) and perform several concerts throughout the year, so being able to record some tracks together for the album has been very special. I also worked with violinist Gráinne White and baritone James Connolly, who have both added such charm to the album with their beautiful playing and singing.
As always, I recorded the tracks at Hope Mill Recording Studio in Manchester with Tomos Williams, a wonderful audio engineer who I think has heard me say, “Oops, can I do that again?” far too many times to count. Matteo Ressa has also orchestrated several tracks for the album; he always writes so thoughtfully, with each instrument having a distinct purpose within his orchestrations. I wanted the album to be a joyous and emotional experience for the listener, and the love that all of these people have for their craft and for music can really be heard throughout the album.
I also want to mention Peter Snook, who has so kindly sponsored the creation of this Christmas collection. I hope to encourage and inspire other young people to be proactive in pursuing their dreams, and Peter’s generosity and kindness have enabled me to bring a dream to life. Not every working-class girl from Liverpool gets to do this, and I hope the love I have poured into this album can be heard by my dearest listeners.
CMM: Your previous album, Then Sings My Soul, reached over 1.7 million plays—a huge milestone! What does it feel like having your music resonate with people so deeply?
Sophie Clarke: I just can’t believe that that many people have listened to my music. I am incredibly grateful for each listen, download, and purchase, and I am also so grateful to those who have enabled me to release recordings in the first place. I love to choose pieces with beautiful words, full of meaning, and I aim to keep reaching more and more people with my music. This is only the start!
CMM: What are some of your favourite personal Christmas traditions, and how have they inspired the music on At Christmas Time?
Sophie Clarke: As someone who attends church weekly, Christmas services, especially Midnight Mass, are really important. From roughly the age of seven, I have always sung for various carol concerts and services every year in beautiful churches around the UK, and it’s always been a very important part of my Christmas. Beautiful music and peaceful settings allow you to really take a moment to remember and appreciate what Christmas is all about.
I have included some traditional Christmas hymns/carols on the album, such as In the Bleak Midwinter, O Holy Night, and Silent Night, to reflect this, and they were definitely my favourite pieces to record for this collection.
“At Christmas Time” will be released on November 29th.
