Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter Dylan Menzie’s new Christmas EP is a shining example of what the genre can be – not just because, musically, he knocks it out of the park, but because Menzie has doubled down on what the holidays mean to him by making it a charitable effort to a cause close to him.
Menzie released his four-song Christmas EP, entitled I Guess I’ll Cancel Christmas this week, with proceeds going to HFC, a nonprofit agency dedicated to assisting individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. HFC strives to raise awareness, encourage the younger generation to live a “brain-healthy” lifestyle, and assist families in providing care to loved ones living with these challenges, something Menzie feels a strong connection to.
“As someone who has had family members live and die by this disease, and watched caregivers suffer right alongside them,” said Menzie in a post. “I know how much of themselves primary caregivers give up for their loved ones as Alzheimer’s progresses, and I think these unsung heroes are past due for a little TLC, don’t you?”
And as if those noble and sincere intentions were not already enough to leave you full of the warm and fuzzies, Menzie’s music will finish the job.
When a song is as engrained in our collective consciousness as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, an artist can fall victim to trying too hard to make the song their own or stand out amidst the numerous renditions flooding the airwaves, streaming sites, holiday specials, etc. Instead of trying drastic or potentially jarring alterations to the musical arrangements, Menzie makes subtle yet significant additions like featuring the drumbeat more on said track.
Menzie brings us one original (the EP’s title track) and his version of three holiday favourites: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, and “What Christmas Means to Me.”
That original track is a sweet, down-tempo ditty about the spirit being sucked right on out of Christmas without the someone special that lends meaning to the assorted decorations and traditions. The set concludes on a more uplifting but equally beautiful note with Menzie’s version of “What Christmas Means to Me” as church bells ring to bring the compilation to completion.
Dylan Menzie impressively packs enough enthusiasm, spirit, and musicianship into just four songs. One can only hope that this too becomes a tradition of the season. The EP is available through Menzie’s website for a contribution of as little as $10 to HFC.