Blake Darling and Lindsey Yung, life-long friends and stellar musicians, have joined forces as “The Winters” to create what is sure to be a classic Christmas Album for the ages with the release of their new album, “Yuletide Songbook Volume I.”  Blake, a multi-instrumentalist, plays a myriad of instruments including acoustic/electric guitar, banjo, drums, percussion, and electric bass.  Lindsey, a well-known San Diego singer/songwriter known for her soaring vocal ability is the voice of The Winters and also lends her ukulele chops.   

The Winters began when Lindsey and Blake began performing their favorite Christmas songs together in 2007.  It became an annual tradition and they ended up recording the EP, “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” in 2009, which was met with critical acclaim and sold out 2 weeks after its release.  

In an age where music is a polished collection of post-editing and technological enhancements, The Winters are a breath of organic, fresh air.  The upcoming album, “Yuletide Songbook Volume I” is a 14-track collection of songs all recorded on Garage Band, which is shocking considering the sonic quality of the album.   Blake mixed and mastered this album, truly shining as an engineer.

The Winters have a way of making classics feel fresh and new, while never overstepping or straying too far from the original nature of the songs.  A definite style runs seamlessly through each song and they add their own flare to all the holiday favorites.  Guest musicians and friends Rainier Dizon on piano, Chad Tuthill on upright bass, and Erdis Maxhelaku on cello, join in on many songs adding a wonderful warmth to the album.   The use of quirky instruments like the banjo and ukulele and the original arrangements revitalize the classics of the holiday season, making the 2010 full-length Christmas album “Yuletide Songbook Volume I” an album that will surely become a favorite and make its way back into your stereo speakers/iPods year after year, after year.