Elite music manager Jeff Robinson's multi-media firm MBK (My Brother's Keeper) Entertainment Inc released a Christmas album in early October that includes fourteen holiday classics from several artists including Elle Varner, Bridget Kelly, Coko of SWV, Brandy, Tyrese, Alicia Keys, Gabi Wilson, and many more.
Robinson decided to work on an album as to a way to remind people what Christmas is really about during the holiday season. He says, "Holidays are about family, love, and of course sharing. So it's with great joy that I had the pleasure of pulling together my MBK Family to create this fantastic holiday album with love."
Some of the songs on the album include covers of "O' Holy Night," "Mary Did You Know," "Silent Night," "Make Me Over," and the late Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." This electrifying album is so soulful, and it will be listed as a "must-have" for the holiday season!
Gabi Wilson is a rising star who's been given the title of "child prodigy" and is featured on this wonderful album. The 18-year-old fromVallejo, CA native plays five instruments and has been writing and practicing since the age of three. Gabi has had two of her original songs featured on Disney's "Next Big Thing," and she's signed to Robinson's MBK. She's a BET's Music Matters artist who performed at the 2014 BET Awards.
Singersroom chit-chatted with Gabi who informed us why this Christmas album is so unique from the others we've heard in the past.
Check out our interview with the young vocalist and purchase A Classic Holiday above!
Singing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" – All of the artists were able to pick out the songs we wanted to do for the album. I chose "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. It's one of my favorite Christmas songs. I was excited that I was able to sing the song but with my own twist. It's just a beautiful song!
Musical Concept for the Album – It was Jeff Robinson's idea to start working on the album. We all know Jeff has managed and worked with artists like Alicia Keys, and so he decided to create a Christmas album that would be a mixture of new and older artists. He wanted to create an album that everyone can appreciate.
Collaborating with Other Artists on the Album – I wasn't in the studio when the other artists were recording their songs. But I felt like I had to step up and show everyone who I am as an artist. I like to call it the "showcase," and I just wanted to stand out on this album.
How "Classic Holiday" Is Different from Other Christmas Albums – There's a great number of people on this album, and each song has a different musical style. The style is based on the artist's signature talents. That's what make this album special and different from others. Elle Varner sings, "This Christmas," and she has a jazzy style and my tracks include a classic piano and horns.
Sharing her Special Relationship with Alicia Keys – I am very much inspired by Alicia Keys, and I have followed her career from when she first came out in the early 2000's. Since I am under MBK management, I got a chance to perform for her and from there, she wanted to be a part of my career. She started giving me advice about the music business, and I am currently writing on her new album now. Alicia is an artist who is not afraid to learn from the young because she wants to stay relevant. She has years and years of musical success, but she embraces change. So I have learned so much from her, and we have so much love for each other.
Debut Album in the Works – There's an album in the works, but I have a mixtape coming out real soon. It's very personal, and it's a little bit of spoken word. I consider the music to be very jazzy, and I am very excited to launch my work.
