ALYA spreads Christmas joy and warmth with album No More Lonely Christmas
By Kurt Beyers
No More Lonely Christmas, the new album from ALYA, which was just dropped, is a fulfilment of the artist’s Christmas wish, embodied in the track that provides the name for the album.
The eight tracks feature ALYA’s versions of three classics, including a collaboration with Eric Clapton on “Silent Night,” and five original songs, including the title track, a fast, fun, hand-clapping, jazzy, pop love song.
“We wanted to create something that would be an updated version of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ which is a song I really love, a Christmas classic, but we felt like it’s time for something new, fresh, cool, and ‘No More Lonely Christmas’ is the song that came out of the thought.”
Where Mariah’s song is a wish for a certain someone, ALYA’s song is the wish come true:
I waited since forever
and now that we’re together
I feel the holiday cheer
Cuz I’ll never be alone on Christmas
“It was very fun to record,” she said. “There is a lot going on in the track.”
Piano, horns, clapping, drums all combine in a happy, joyful celebration of love and the season.
“It’s just a very, very good feeling song. I had so much fun recording it, and I really hope that everybody else will feel the joy, feel the love that I put in the song. I really believe that it has all the chances of becoming a new Christmas classic.”
The song is a perfect namesake for an album that carries the artist’s Christmas hopes.
“I wanted to put over so much love, so much good emotion, so much good energy that when you listen to the record you will feel like, no matter where you are, you are surrounded by your loved ones.”
“Little Drummer Boy” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” along with “Silent Night,” are the album’s three classics. Together, they constituted the EP she put out last year, Home for Christmas.
They have been updated for the current album. This year’s version of “I’ll Be Home” features Indiara Sfair, “a wonderful musician from Brazil,” on harmonica.
ALYA will live her Christmas wish on Monday in Los Angeles, when she will perform at the Good Shepherd Shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The children were asked to request gifts in advance, and they will get their wishes when ALYA distributes gifts.
“I will be Mama Claus,” she said.
Gifts will also be distributed to the mothers and staff and ALYA is providing a catered luncheon for the residents and staff.
On December 19, she is streaming a live show from Burbank for STAGE.LIVE.BUY, a showcase for new artists modeled after NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series.
The day the album released she performed for a “Models in Comedy” Christmas special.
ALYA was born and raised in the Soviet Union and, as a child, started classical vocal training. She immigrated as an adult to the United States in 2012 and began her career in music.
“I dropped everything and started my life from scratch,” she says in her official biography. “I took the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference.”
She has amassed millions of viewers on her social media platforms. Her single “Hope,” released earlier this year, went viral on TikTok, drawing more than a million views. As an artist and a philanthropist, she has been featured in Star, Us Weekly, In Touch Weekly and Life & Style.
Beginning last year, she took her career further down the road less taken, putting out music at a much faster pace.
“It takes a while to find the right people. It takes a while to find the sound that you really love,” she said, “and I’m just warming up.”
No More Lonely Christmas is her first full length album. Next year, she will come out with more singles.
“We will probably drop an album at the end of next year with a new sound, with new people.”
“I’m very excited. I started doing live shows again. That was extremely rewarding and fulfilling for me.”
Now is No More Lonely Christmas.
“If you’re alone, if you’re on the road, I hope when you listen to the album that you will feel this Christmas spark and this Christmas spirit will uplift you and give you hope and help you carry on for the coming year,” she said.
“That’s my Christmas wish.”
Celebrate Christmas by connecting to ALYA on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
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