Christmas is only two days away and, in case you haven’t yet picked out the soundtrack for opening gifts, Sons of Serendip has a beautiful new holiday album out that the whole family will enjoy — “Christmas: Beyond the Lights.” Fusing R&B, gospel and neo soul with classical music, lead vocalist Micah Christian, cellist Kendall Ramseur, harpist Mason Morton and pianist Cordaro Rodriguez created a tender holiday record showcasing quality musicianship.
Not familiar with the instrumental and vocal quartet? The group went all the way to the finals during the ninth season of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in 2014, finishing in fourth place (magician Mat Franco was declared the winner). Since then, the classically-trained musicians — who all met through “a series of serendipitous events” while attending graduate school at Boston University — have released two albums: a self-titled effort that came out in January (featuring gorgeous covers) and the holiday opus that came out in October.
On “Christmas: Beyond the Lights,” Sons of Serendip magnificently transform yuletide standards like “Let It Snow,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “The Christmas Song” into unique compositions that sound unlike any other versions out there. Additionally, the lone original track, “Miss You Most,” fits right in alongside the classics and will surely strike a chord with those missing loved ones during the holidays.
Did you do your own arrangements?
Yes, we do all of our own arrangements, orchestrations and production. When it comes to the arrangements, Cordaro is usually the primary arranger, but what’s exciting about this album is that each member took on an arrangement or two.
How did you come up with the original tune “Miss You Most”?
“Miss You Most” was written by our manager Vincent “V. Rich” Richardson. He’s a classically-trained pianist, songwriter and vocalist. He brought the song idea to us and, after we heard it, we knew that we had to arrange and record it.
Why record such a sad holiday song?
The holidays bring up a wide range of emotions in all of us — and not all of them are happy. Sure there’s a risk in releasing a holiday song that touches on the more difficult aspects of the season, but it’s a reality that many people face when they deeply miss someone during the holidays. This song is for them. What’s interesting is that “Miss You Most” is the most popular song on the album, so people are definitely resonating with its message.
What is your all-time favorite traditional Christmas song?
Definitely “O Holy Night.” It’s one of those timeless songs that’s not only musically interesting, but also has a lot of depth to its message. And that high note at the end is pretty awesome too!
What is your favorite contemporary Christmas song?
That’s a tough one. I think we lean toward the classics.
How do you personally celebrate Christmas?
My wife and I get together with my family on Christmas Eve and have dinner, play games (usually Apples to Apples) and then we exchange gifts. By the end of the night, we’re usually exhausted from the food, storytelling and laughter. Then, for Christmas Day, we’ll take a trip to my wife’s family’s place for a party with tons of amazing food. I usually end up in a food coma by the afternoon.
What foods do you usually get to enjoy on Christmas?
We usually have mac and cheese, turkey or chicken, candied yams, collard greens and rice and beans. Then, for dessert, my wife makes a mean tres leches cake and my mom makes an incredible banana pudding. More than the gifts, this just might be my favorite part of Christmas.
Will you play your own CD during your Christmas festivities this year?
Absolutely! We’re excited about the album and so are our families!
Do you have ideas for your next record?
We have a few songs that we perform at shows, but haven’t recorded yet, so they will most likely be on the next album. But what we’re really looking forward to is getting out more originals! A few of the members of the group are songwriters/composers, so we’re planning on working on some new material over the next few months.
Do you keep in touch with any of your fellow competitors from “America’s Got Talent”?
Yes, we keep in touch with Emily West and Miguel Dakota from our season, Taylor Williamson from Season 8 and Samantha Johnson from Season 10. Samantha is from the Boston area, so she has performed with us and was also featured in our music video for “Miss You Most.” We’re hoping to do more “AGT” collaborations in the near future.
For more on Sons of Serendip, visit the group’s official website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
