Timmy Maia Archives - Jesse Prex

I can’t say enough about my collaborator, Funkee Boy, keyboardist/composer extraordinaire! His talent, experience and connections are such a gift to those of us just starting this journey! (And, bringing in a magical vocalist like Timmy Maia to turn “Kindness for Christmas” into a [hopefully!] RnB Christmas classic was genius!)”

Well, what a great early Christmas present he’s giving those of us who are part of the works on his new Christmas 2018 album, “Underneath the Mistletoe” – the album debuted at #6 on the smooth jazz charts!

Holiday Music Chart for smooth jazz!

If you haven’t listened to the album, give a listen to some samples! “Underneath the Mistletoe”

All of the 11 tracks are great (“Kindness for Christmas” is track 1 🙂 ) – some fresh RnB takes on a few Christmas classics, plus modern Christmas songs debuting on the album, from some new voices on the lyrics scene!

New Christmas songs for 2018

“That’s What Christmas Means” – featuring Ru Williams, written by Rod Turnquest and Funkee Boy

“One More Holiday” – featuring Ru Williams, written by Theresa Amorando and Funkee Boy

“Merry Christmas to You” – featuring Funkee Boy and Anthony Rivera, written by Hector Ho and Funkee Boy, and

“Underneath the Mistletoe” from Funkee Boy, featuring Timmy Maia and Leila on vocals.

I love the Christmas classics, and, I love new ideas being expressed musically, so, I love the work on this album! You can find it in all the usual places – Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, and here’s a link to help you find it: “Underneath the Mistletoe.”

I wish everyone out there a blessed holiday season, whether that be Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice or all or none of the above! May we all experience a deepening connection to those we love, an openness to those whom we don’t yet know we love, and a genuine appreciation for those who remind us when we forget, there really is only love!

My new Christmas song!

So excited by the big news! New for Christmas 2018, my first Christmas song – “Kindness for Christmas”! Written by the team of Funkee Boy and, me, Jesse Prex, the track features vocals by the soulful Timmy Maia, with keyboards by Funkee Boy,

As I thought about Christmas songs, “Kindness for Christmas” kept reverberating in my head, over and over. After working a bunch of scenarios about what “kindness for Christmas” could mean, I finally came up with a concept I was happy with!

The process for me is a little intense, because it all starts with a story. And, for me, that story has to be meaningful, have something special and hopefully uplifting in it. I could fill a book with the rejected stories, but so many of them came off preachy, or bitchy, or trivial.

I finally started pulling some of the better thoughts together, and a story about a good-hearted person with a love for Christmas, a big heart, and not a lot of cash came together. Of course – even though they didn’t have much, they would want to share with the world the blessings of kindness!

I originally penned it as “Santa Bring Us Kindness for Christmas.” I was thinking of some the great work pop groups such as NSYNC did with fun. “peppy” Christmas songs, and took that direction. (I was having fun with it mentally – one of the original verses had them shopping in a packed mall with “…My reindeer headgear makes strangers laugh.” Hey, it’s no “Little Drummer Boy,”, but I enjoyed the visual!)

I’m so grateful for my genius collaborator, Funkee Boy! I shipped it off to him and he loved the general concept, but, he wanted to shift it to a more sophisticated R and B piece, in line with the Christmas CD he was putting together.

Needless to say, I love where he went with it, and, we hope you love it, too! It’s featured on his new Christmas CD, “Underneath the Mistletoe,” available at CD Baby, iTunes, and Amazon!