We spoke with Becky Wiles about “Bringing Jesus to Christmas” and more!

Hi! What was the spark or inspiration behind “Bringing Jesus to Christmas”? What particular moment or thought made you say, “I need to write this song”?

A:  It was early fall when this song message came to me.  You know, the time of year when the stores have Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s decorations all crowding the aisles simlutaneously before the temperature drops below 70 degrees. I wanted to slow things down before they ramped up, to maybe give meaning and reflection a chance this year. 

How did your writing process for this song differ from your earlier material? Did Christmas themes or the season change your approach to melody, arrangement, or lyrics?

A:  My debut album Free Kind of Me was a mix of country and folk originals and included some very personal Christian ballads. This song keeps in that style but is the first time I call out Jesus in a song, which felt right for this song and this message. I write songs very quickly. Sometimes the words come to me first, sometimes the melody. Often the very early waking hours or in the car.  I have about 800 voice recordings on my phone with tidbits of lyrics or melodies.  I often have 90% of a song done within 30-60 minutes. This is a gift I do not take for granted. It does make me feel as though I must be called to do this and it gives me a sense of mission with my music. I am so grateful for that. This song came to me in a similar way, but after I had the structure down, I took a lot of time finalizing the lyrics.  I wanted the paint the picture for listeners of the image of Jesus joining Christmas dinner, with Mom pulling up a side chair to make room at the big table for our surprise guest.

Why was it important for you to release this as an original Christmas single, rather than doing a cover or reinterpretation of traditional carols?

A: I think Country Christian music is having a nice moment right now and I wanted to share this message in a modern way with new audience. And I think this story isn’t told in this same way within the traditional music.

Can you walk us through the lyrical message of “Bringing Jesus to Christmas”? What are you hoping people experience or reflect on when they listen to it during the holiday season?

A: The commercial pressure of Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year, and so does the planning. Friends and family send group texts trying to confirm Christmas dates and gift parameters, marriages and divorces add headaches to the planning, with multiple stops in one day for so many. Gifts this year? No gifts this year? Maybe we say $20 or less. Maybe just gifts for kids. I’ll send a spreadsheet. Spotaneous heartfelt gift giving is out the door. The opportunity for naturally-occuring meaningful moments that might stand a chance in a calm, intentional easing into the season is out of the question. In short, there is no room for Jesus to remind us why this is (one of) his big day(s)! In fact, we wouldn’t have any of it without Him. We forget that, or never knew it or we don’t care. We have our plans all set for December. And we haven’t even raked the leaves yet.

What was the most challenging part of bringing this song to life, whether in the studio, choosing instrumentation, or capturing the right emotional tone?

A: I wrote this song on piano and had some great dissoant intro chords.  With all my songs, I have to decide if guitar or piano is the way to go. I write on both.  I could hear a harmonica part early on and I thought the guitar matched that well. With that choice, though, I lost some of the cool piano chords.

How has your audience responded so far to “Bringing Jesus to Christmas”? Are there any feedback or moments from listeners that really stood out or surprised you?

A:  I’ve had several listeners tell me the song made them cry. I consider that high praise. I share my music to make people think, feel, reflect and ultimately draw people closer to God. This reaction tells me one or more of those things has happened. 

In terms of musical influences, did you draw on particular artists, styles, or traditions of Christmas music when crafting the sound of this single?

A: This song arrangement and vocal was inspired by current talents such as Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood and a little Chris Stapleton too.

Were there collaborators on this track, such as producers or musicians, whose contributions were especially meaningful to the final version? How did their input shape the song?

A: My producer, Jake Johnson with Paradyme Productions in Madison, WI is a true talent.  He hears things immediately that can make or break a section of a song. We collaborate so well together and he’s a wizard of a producer.  The guitarist here is Doug Boduch, also from Wisconsin.  Doug played most guitar parts on my debut album as well. He is so exact in his playing – when I get his tracks back I’m all smiles every time. They always sound even better than I imagined!  He’s contirbuted so much to the success of my songs. Jim Hoke is the awesome harmonica player here. I think his track really polished off the vibe!

In what ways do you hope this song impacts people beyond the holiday itself? For example, is there a message or challenge you want to carry forward after Christmas is over?

A: My hope is that this song encourages all of us, myself included, to slow down, look for meaning and reject the hectic pace that is presented as the only path – at Christmas and all through the year. And I hope this message leads people to check out Jesus for themselves – even if that only starts at Christmas as a first step.  And I don’t mean what the news says about Christians or church or religion (in fact, avoid that if possible!), but what Jesus was like as a person, how he lived, and what he stood for. 

Looking ahead, what else are you planning for the rest of this year? Are there more releases, live shows, tours, collaborations, or other projects that you’re excited about?

A:  I’ve got enough new material for a next album and so far it’s turning out to be a grand back porch jamboree of sorts with clapping and dancing. And in between songrwriting, I love singing at local coffee shops, outdoor restaurants and wine bars.  If I make one person smile, that’s a great gig.