Micah Edwards Chats His New Single "December 26"
Like just about all of us, Houston-based retro-pop musician Micah Edwards had a rough 2020. But as the calendar was about to turn to a new year, he blessed us with a terrifically catchy single called “December 26.”
It was the latest in a string of new songs from the artist. And I know a lot of folks only listen to Christmas music for a few weeks around the holidays, but this is such a jam that I’ll be blasting it all year long.
With 2021 offering plenty of hope on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what’s next. Micah spoke with Good People, Cool Things to share the inspiration behind his song, what it’s been like being a musician during the pandemic, and the worst gig he’s ever played.
Why was 2020 the right time for a Christmas song?
I had no intention of releasing a Christmas song last year. Maybe I was throwing around the idea in my head to release a cover, but nothing original. Then the inspiration struck sometime in July — in the blistering heat of a Houston summer. My theory is that I was already SO over 2020 (pretty sure we all were), and I was just really looking forward to that Christmastime feeling.
What started as a personal way to look forward to December really turned into a fitting holiday song for 2020. Needless to say, this has been a stressful year for all of us, and the last thing we need is a stressful Christmas. "December 26" is all about cutting out those extra customs that really add on a lot of unneeded stress. What truly makes a happy holiday is embracing those December moments spent with friends and family. I urge my listeners to get back to basics, remember what's important, and relax this December.
What’s something that’s surprised you about being a musician during the pandemic?
Social media isn't all that! It's a great tool to share your stories and a great way to connect, but it will never replace that human connection. A lot of musicians will probably say Amen to this, but if 2021 doesn't bring us more live shows, I don't know what I'm going to do!
Virtual shows are cool and all, but I miss that live energy. I was blessed to release a lot of singles in 2020, I have plans to release more music in the new year, and my #1 priority is to bring those songs to a live audience in 2021.
How have you continued marketing yourself and your music during the pandemic — what's worked and what hasn't?
Most of my recording career was birthed during the pandemic, so I've had to figure some things out. I did a lot of organic Spotify playlist promotion, press releases, FB/IG ads, etc. And to say what worked and what hasn't is hard to say because I believe it's all a process.
I believe all angles of music marketing are necessary, and they all need to work together to push the needle. Sure, there have been some efforts that didn't feel "successful". But how the heck should I know. My music has been trending in a positive direction, and that's all I can ask for.
What's the worst gig you've ever played?
Man, time to reopen those old wounds — let's go! I remember a show I played earlier this year. For some reason, I was the headliner and the acts before me were all hip-hop. And the crowd was definitely there for some hip-hop too.
So I roll up at the end of the show and start playing my baby-makin' soul/lofi pop music, and it just did NOT hit hahaha. All in all, it wasn't that bad. But it's never fun to play to the wrong crowd.
What makes for a great live show?
Energy & connection. The energy's gotta be there — and it's gotta connect with the audience. What's cool is that energy can look different based on the artist, but they've just gotta bring it in their own way.
What can we expect from the new music in 2021?
Not a whole lot on the horizon in the first half of the year. Kinda taking this time to reset and work on my first big project. Up until now, I've released several singles as their own little projects. But I have something a little bigger in the works that I'm really excited about. Hopefully coming to you towards the end of this year.
