Noah Hutton’s “Christmas Time” was born from a spontaneous spark and shaped by heartfelt collaboration. In this interview, he shares the family moments, studio magic, and creative instincts behind his modern holiday single.
1. “Christmas Time” was inspired by a spontaneous moment during a family car ride. Can you walk us through that spark of inspiration and how it turned into a full song just a few hours later?
I’m not exactly sure when the spark hit. We were heading home after Thanksgiving lunch, listening to holiday tunes, and my wife, Tash, mentioned that the world needed new Christmas music. She felt we’d been hearing the same ones for too long. I joked that I didn’t write Christmas music and wouldn’t even know where to start. It honestly never crossed my mind again after that.
Later that evening, I was practicing for a show and hit a wrong note. As musicians know, sometimes a good-sounding wrong note can be the key to finding the right song. It immediately had a very distinctive, ‘jiggly’ feel. I looked at Tash and said, ‘I think you’re going to get that Christmas song.’ A cute story started playing in my mind right away, and I wrote it out.
2. This track features contributions from Marco Freeman, Edgar Zambrano, and even your son Bryson. How did each collaborator help shape the sound and spirit of the single?
I am incredibly grateful for each artist’s contribution to this project. Marco’s bass line is foundational; it provides a steady, rhythmic trot that evokes the feeling of a horse pulling a winter sleigh. Speaking of which, at the beginning of the second verse, you’ll hear a soft set of sleigh bells, added by my son, Bryson, which truly makes you feel the sleigh passing by. Finally, Edgar brought the Christmas magic, adding both lead guitar and keys. He is responsible for one of my favorite parts: a subtle sound effect of little feet sneaking out to catch Santa.
3. You recorded at Eclipse Studios in Normal, IL, marking your first time in a professional studio. What was that experience like, and did it influence the final direction of the song?
Erik at Eclipse Studio is a fantastic studio engineer to work with. For Marco, Bry, and I—it was our first time in a professional studio—he immediately made the experience relaxing and a ton of fun.
Erik jumped all in from the very first note, vibing with the energy, adding shakers and percussion, and suggesting creative elements I would have missed otherwise. He even switched the lights in the recording booth to red and green to add that extra touch of Christmas magic. We came in with a small idea of how the song should sound, and he took that vision and helped shape it into the tune we have today.
My wife, Tash, was there for support and to be part of the experience, and honestly, I don’t think the smile left her face all day. I remember second-guessing myself at times, and she would immediately reassure me that things were sounding on point. The glow on her face when the project was finished let me know it couldn’t have come out better.
4. With the release of “Christmas Time” opening new doors, including recent live performances, how has this song changed your momentum or outlook as an artist?
The release of ‘Christmas Time’ brought with it a wave of live shows and news performances, quickly pushing me past my comfort zones. For the first time, I achieved an understanding that I was going to be okay. I am now much more confident in sharing my authentic self and vision as an artist.
5. You’ve said you’re simply trying to tell your story as a singer-songwriter. How does this Christmas release fit into your personal artistic journey and the themes you gravitate toward?
The story behind the song itself is part of my artistic journey. Almost all of my songs have some quirky, unexpected element that sparks their creation, For ‘Christmas Time,’ it really was Christmas magic.
6. Holiday music is full of tradition, but your song brings a fresh feel. What elements—musical or emotional—were most important for you to capture in creating a modern Christmas track?
Thank you! When a story starts to reveal itself, it happens fast—I’m really just along for the ride. Once I had a chance to pause and process Christmas Time, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to try to capture: the simple, fun moments of Christmas. The kind of moments anyone can place themselves in, and hopefully ones that bring a smile to their face.
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