Give these Oklahoman Christmas tunes a spin
Fowler VW of Norman and Blackwatch Studios return with fresh holiday vinyl
Don’t feel bad opening this present early.
The annual Fowler VW of Norman and Blackwatch Studios holiday album has returned for another rendition. “A Blackwatch Christmas, Vol. 7” features 10 newly recorded tracks from Okie musicians. This year’s lineup includes Breakup, Sherree Chamberlain, Jacob Tovar, Desi & Cody, Ben Kilgore, Emily Hearn and more.
“A Blackwatch Christmas” is the seventh Christmas album produced by the local car dealership in partnership with Norman-based Blackwatch Studios, as part of a long-term goal to make Oklahoma the independent Christmas music capitol of the world, according to a release.
Side A of the vinyl and digital album is filled with five original songs and Side B features five classic covers.
Per tradition, the recordings were released for free on a limited-edition vinyl that’s available now at Guestroom Records in Norman and Oklahoma City, the Holiday Pop Up Shops in Midtown (right next to Bleu Garten) and Fowler VW’s dealership. You also can stream the new record and the previous volumes at www.fowlervwchristmas.com.
I highly suggest listening to Breakup’s original holiday tune, “Be With You.”
Oklahoma’s own Cassidy Mandel, 23, and Abby Callaghan, 22, are Breakup. The Tulsa-based duo worked alongside recording engineer Chad Copelin for their Christmas contribution while tracking their own record.
“Working at Blackwatch is the best, hands down,” Mandel told The Oklahoman. “Any ideas we had were easily brought to life, everyone there is brilliant and they have all kinds of instruments. We’ve been working with Chad from the start of the project, so this was an easy extension of what we had already been up to. We can’t wait to hear this wild record.”
The band had some difficulty getting into the holiday spirit while recording in warmer weather but conversations about Christmas movies, music and memories helped the session get festive. The song fell together quickly after a one-night writing session and was recorded in a single evening a week later with a surprise guest.
“That’s actually our friend Ryan Lindsey singing behind Abby,” Mandel said. “BRONCHO had been at Blackwatch the same day, and they graced us with a little collaboration. The mythical Nathan Price gave us a quick beat and the whole song came together.”
To celebrate the release of the new album, Fowler VW will host a free concert and Christmas party from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday at Stash, 412 E Main St. in Norman. The all-ages celebration will include DJ sets, refreshments and craft beer by Anthem Brewery. The first 200 attendees will receive a limited edition vinyl copy of the record.