Kalle Mattson: Twice The Gifts (Half The Love)

By Kerry Doole

Kalle Mattson - "Twice The Gifts (Half The Love)” (Independent): Here's a holiday song with an unusual theme, divorce.

This is a new Christmas song from Polaris longlisted singer/songwriter Kalle Mattson, and he explains its origins in a press release:

“My parents got divorced something like the day after I was born (a little insight into how I am the way I am), so my only memories of Christmas and the holidays are divorced ones. Spending half the day at one house then driving to the next. Two dinners, double the families, and yes twice the gifts. I did some research and I couldn’t believe there weren’t any divorced Christmas songs (or any that I could find), so hopefully, I’ve filled the gap for all us children of divorce.”

He does just that with a sombre and touching tune accompanied by a simple but effective lyric video. Mattson's signature ethereal vocals are front and centre, delivering heartfelt and poignant sentiments, while Colin Munroe (Drake) adds a clean production sound. You likely won't hear this on high rotation on many holiday playlists, but it is being included on UK website The Line of Best Fit's Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada holiday compilation series.

Mattson's latest LP, Youth, a coming-of-age record, was released to excellent reviews earlier this year.

He has upcoming shows at Sault Ste. Marie's Loplops on Dec. 27 and Toronto's Drake Hotel on Feb. 9.

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Publicity: Ken Beattie, Killbeat