Outkast Songs + Holiday Classics = Your New Favorite ATLien Xmas Album!
Editor’s Note From Eldredge ATL November Guest Editor Keisha Jackson: In 2014, one week after the end of Outkast20 reunion world tour, I held my company’s One Voice vocal workshop at Outkast’s Stankonia Studios. With the holidays approaching, I asked Big Boi if I could organize a performance with my workshop attendees for his annual holiday party. Proceeds from the party benefit his non-profit, Big Kidz Foundation. I created a 3-song performance which blended Outkast’s music with traditional holiday songs.
He was so blown away that he suggested we record them in the studio and get them to radio in time for Christmas. Atlanta radio picked it up and listeners loved it!
After the holidays, I thought, why not do an entire record, mashing and remixing classic Outkast songs, including “Bombs Over Baghdad,” “Aquemini” and “Da Art of Storytellin'” with traditional holiday favorites like “Carol of the Bells,” “Christmastime is Here” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”?
It was quite the challenge finding the perfect mix of songs, but we did. I chose 34 vocalists who attended my workshops between 2004 and 2014. Most are from Atlanta, but some from Ohio, North Carolina, D.C., and Tennessee. I organized schedules, determined which voices best fit each song, coached them through and we created “One Voice Holiday: An ATLien Tribute (by One Voice Music Group ATL)!
The One Voice Music Group Atlanta based choral group was formed to give local artists/vocalists an opportunity to gain knowledge, perform and record. Group members are chosen from One Voice Entertainment’s yearly vocal workshops and they perform at various events throughout the Atlanta area.
On “One Voice Holiday: An ATLien Tribute,” I’m pleased to feature the talents of:
DJ CUTMASTER SWIFF (Executive Producer): Additional Music Production, song arrangements, engineering, mixing, DJ scratches
JAMECIA BENNETT: Guest lead vocalist on “Lonely Christmas Anthem”
RE@L TALK : Guest appearance – Rap verses on “Someday”
DEBRA KILLINGS: Guest appearance – Bass player on “Someday”
And the following vocalists:
Kourtney Jackson
Kevian (KB) Bateman
Terica SenTaiya Johnson
Nefie Ellis
Fatimah Jester
Madison Wilson
Ilia Angelene DeJesus
Charlzae Morton
Jameelah Mullen
Kennedi Lewis
Charlette Bell
Fornesa Rogers
Janessa Quarels
Ashley Robinson
Terron Austin
Parrish Williams
Orlando Joiner
Rosa Davis
Charles Bowman
Maya Neiada
Deja Williams
Fayth Hope
Dawn Smith
Natasha Holt
Carla Dennis
Chermire Bey
Tarwana West
Carl West
Kellye West
Nassaureen Rahman
Joseph Westbrook
Naybu Fullman
April Hill
Greer Peters
Marjica Santos
Alana Driskell
Raven Driskell
This awesomely fun record is now available as a download via our Bandcamp page just in time for the holidays. We will also be giving away free hard copies throughout the holiday season!
Happy Holidays!
Richard L. Eldredge is the founder and editor in chief of Eldredge ATL. As a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Atlanta magazine, he has covered Atlanta since 1990.