Pentatonix Talk ‘Christmas in the City’ Album & Gift of a New Frank Sinatra Vocal: ‘They Blessed Us With His Voice’
Pentatonix has once again captured the spirit of the holiday season with their latest album, *Christmas in the City*, a project that has been described by group member Kirstin Maldonado as “the biggest labor of love.” This seasonal offering, which marks the quintet’s 11th entry into the top 10 of Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart, is a blend of original compositions and beloved Christmas classics, all inspired by the enchanting atmosphere of New York City during the holidays. The album’s concept originated from an ornament spotted by Scott Hoying at a holiday market, which sparked the creation of the title track and set the tone for the rest of the album.
The album features over half of its tracks as new originals, with all five members—Mitch Grassi, Hoying, Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee—contributing to the songwriting process. Among the familiar classics included are “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Silver Bells,” as well as a unique rendition of “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” which features a previously unreleased vocal from the late Frank Sinatra. Maldonado expressed her pride in this collaboration, stating, “They blessed us with his voice,” highlighting the emotional and artistic significance of the track. Additionally, the album includes a collaboration with JoJo on the original song “Snowing in Paris,” showcasing the vocal talents of both artists.
In conjunction with the album release, Pentatonix has embarked on their *Christmas in the City Tour*, which began on November 8 and will conclude on December 22 in Fort Worth, Texas. This annual tradition has become a staple for fans, allowing families to come together and enjoy the festive music live. Sallee noted the joy of recognizing familiar faces in the audience year after year, emphasizing the special connection the group has fostered with their fans. As they prepare for their upcoming U.K. and European tour in 2024, Pentatonix continues to spread holiday cheer through their music and performances, solidifying their status as icons of the Christmas season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATsgfbtgPck
“This has been the biggest labor of love,”
Pentatonix
’s Kirstin Maldonado says of the group’s latest seasonal album,
Christmas in the City
. “We’re all just really proud of it.”
The project, which the quintet began planning in January, was inspired by the magic of the holidays in New York and features a bevy of original songs as well as a host of Christmas classics.
Related
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On the latest episode of the
Billboard
Pop Shop Podcast (listen below), Pentatonix’s Maldonado and Matt Sallee join the show to chat about their new album (which marked the act’s
11th top 10
on
Billboard
’s Top Holiday Albums chart), all things holiday music, and their current tour.
The concept of
Christmas In the City
was initially sparked by a holiday ornament that Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying spotted at a festive holiday market in New York, says Sallee. That led the group to put together the title track, and soon, the rest of the collection snowballed from there. (And, while the album’s genesis may be owed to the Big Apple, Sallee notes the group is “trying to bring joy” to “every city” with the album and the tour.)
“We really wanted to make this album feel like it was a classic Christmas album paying homage to the ‘40s and the ‘50s and it can live in those classic playlists,” says Sallee, “so that’s a big reason why we used different instrumentation [and] sonics.” Certainly the “classic” vibe is aided by how the album not only showcases Pentatonix’s soaring harmonies, but also boasts dozens of musicians playing live instruments.
Further, more than half of
Christmas in the City
consists of newly written tunes, with all five of Pentatonix’s members (Mitch Grassi, Hoying, Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Sallee) writing material on the effort. There are also some familiar favorites present, including “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver Bells” and a new take on “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” with the late, great Frank Sinatra (who died in 1998).
“They blessed us with his voice,” says Maldonado of the Frank Sinatra Estate, who let Pentatonix use a previously unreleased vocal take of Sinatra singing the Irving Berlin-penned standard. “This arrangement is perfectly what we wanted to achieve within this album too… I feel so proud of it. I love it so much.”
“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” also serves as the album’s first radio-promoted single, and the track jumps 12-9 on
Billboard
’s Adult Contemporary airplay chart dated Dec. 6. It marks the eighth top 10 for Pentatonix and the 21st for Sinatra (and his first since 1980).
JoJo also joins Pentatonix on the album on one of the set’s new originals, “Snowing in Paris.” “She sounds so amazing” on the track, says Maldonado. “She’s so talented and so kind. We love her.” Sallee adds, “She’s so insanely talented and gifted as a vocalist. It’s one of those, like, whoa, speechless moments when you hear her singing on the track. It’s just so good.”
And it wouldn’t be Christmastime without a holiday tour from Pentatonix, as the group has mounted a seasonal trek yearly since 2017 (save for 2020, owed to the COVID-19 pandemic). This year’s tour, aptly titled the Christmas in the City Tour, launched on Nov. 8 and is slated to wrap on Dec. 22 in Fort Worth, Texas. The group will then mount a U.K. and European tour next year that is scheduled to start April 7 in Budapest and continue on through May 3 in Stockholm.
As Pentatonix has become a staple of the holiday touring season, Sallee says he can “recognize faces” of fans who have come to the show year after year. “We’re blessed to be able to be families’ traditions each year. … It’s just such a special, humbling gift that we’re something that could bring a family…together and listen to our music and come to a concert and just have a good time together.”
————
Also on the podcast, we’ve got chart news on how there’s a brand-new No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 thanks to Stray Kids’
DO IT
; how the
Wicked: For Good
soundtrack casts a spell on the charts; and how a legendary rock band returns to the Billboard 200 top 10 for the first time in over 10 years. Plus, hosts Katie and Keith chat about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, how holiday music is starting to take over the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and much more.
The
Billboard
Pop Shop Podcast
is your one-stop shop for all things pop on
Billboard
‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear
Billboard
‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and
Billboard
’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or
downloaded in Apple Podcasts
or your favorite podcast provider.
(Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show
on Billboard.com.)
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Celeb & Ent news.
