Texas Country Songwriter Wade Bowen Announces Christmas Record Release

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX — On November 8, Texas country singer Wade Bowen releases Twelve Twenty-Five, a rare and timeless take on Christmas classics and modern holiday hits. Pre-order the album on iTunes, or pre-order vinyl, CDs and other Christmas items and bundles at wadebowen.com.

Listen to "All I Want For Christmas Is You" via YouTube:
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Twelve Twenty-Five runs the gamut from traditional Christmas favorites like "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night," to renditions of modern holidays songs such as Mariah Carey’s "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and George Michael’s "Last Christmas." Naturally, Bowen also pays homage to his country heroes with covers of Dolly Parton's "Once Upon A Christmas" and Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December" featuring Cody Canada.

"Christmas has always been the most personal of holidays, with its combination of faith and family," says Bowen. "That was true for me while growing up and it’s still true for me today, albeit in a completely different way. As a husband and father who spends so much time traveling the world playing music, I love the feeling the Christmas season brings to my life. And I recognize how quickly time passes and how each Christmas is unique and fleeting. With my family, I try to keep the best parts of the warm, magical, small-town vibe that my parents gave me while growing up in Waco."

That small-town vibe is evident throughout the record, even in Bowen's decision on the album artwork. The cover, a painting of downtown New Braunfels (Bowen's hometown) during Christmas was commissioned from local New Braunfels artist Thom Ricks.

"I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas album that reflects all of that. All that I’ve grown to love. I can remember sitting around listening to Christmas music with my mom and sisters and singing every word. So when it came time to choose the songs for this album, I wanted those to be part of the project. But on top of the classic songs I grew up with, I want to introduce my kids to the modern holiday songs by my favorite singers or things that I watched on TV that also became part of what Christmas means to me. So this record is a reflection of all of that...with a timeless feel. It was made with friends and family, singing songs that came to mean something to me over the years. And maybe, if we’re lucky, something on this album might become a small part of what Christmas means to you. I hope you enjoy it."

Over the summer, Bowen released Inconsistent Chaos, a documentary short film about mental health. In a conversation with MusiCares, Bowen chronicles his struggles with vocal chord issues that left him unsure if he would be able to sing again and the death of his nephew and crew member Chase Everett Cavender, who died by suicide on Father's Day 2018.

Earlier this year, Bowen also released his album Solid Ground on vinyl for the first time. Upon its release, Rolling Stone called Solid Ground, "...a love letter to his home state of Texas and his most musically ambitious set of songs in a career that stretches back two decades." Sounds Like Nashville called it, "A versatile album that blends many sonic flavors and influences seamlessly, Bowen’s Solid Ground continues to enhance the singer’s lengthy catalog all while paying tribute to his deep Texas roots."

Here is the Twelve Twenty-Five Tracklist:

1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
2. O Holy Night
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. I'll Be Home For Christmas
5. Holly Jolly Christmas ft. Brock Bowen
6. Please Come Home For Christmas
7. White Christmas ft. Bruce Bowen
8. All I Want For Christmas Is You
9. Til The Season Comes Round Again ft. Sean McConnell
10. Once Upon A Christmas
11. If We Make It Through December ft. Cody Canada
12. Last Christmas
13. Silent Night