Jazz vocalist, Cat Bernardi has released her very first holiday single, “Let’s Get Cozy“, along with a music video for the release. This single is the title track of a holiday season EP of the same name and was generously supported by the Mississauga Arts Council’s MicroGrant award.
“Lots of people are unable to connect with those outside of their households and unable to partake in the typical activities they would at this time of year,” says Bernardi of her new holiday single, “It celebrates the simple beauty of being at home and making a special event out of spending time with people in your household and taking a break in the solace of the home.”
Check out the video for “Let’s Get Cozy” below, and find out more about Cat via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Cat Bernardi, and I’m a jazz vocalist and composer from Mississauga Ontario. I love jazz and grew up listening to greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Natalie Cole. I’ve been performing and gigging since I was just a high-schooler and haven’t stopped since. I’m also a huge fan of reading, writing, cooking, coffee, and Disney movies!
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style with the song.
I would classify my music as jazz, but it definitely takes influence from other genres depending on the song. I love to write Bossa Novas, Sambas, and songs that have a Bebop bounce. This song, in particular, takes inspiration from R&B and certainly from that classic, warm Motown sound.
I wrote Let’s Get Cozy on a cool morning in November. The phrase ‘Let’s Get Cozy’ came to me while I was standing in my kitchen. I just pictured what my ideal Christmas would look like and it was just that: Cozy. Comfy. Warm. I immediately started singing the first lines, recorded them on my phone, and then ran to my keyboard to flush out the rest. I thought a lot about how I wanted people to feel when they heard the song, and that led to the way that I wrote and produced it. It needed to make people think of Christmas, but in a way that felt fresh, warm, inviting, and of course…cozy.
How are you keeping creative without shows? What are you spending your time on?
My ‘Let’s Get Cozy’ EP has been a huge creative undertaking for me over these last few months. You can hear the rest of the EP, including my original song ‘Wishes in Wintertime’ and acoustic arrangement of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ on all streaming platforms. With this EP, I was involved with every step of the process, from recording vocals at home to co-producing it, to giving collaborative feedback to the mixing and mastering team. I’ve also had a lot of fun recording little videos of me singing and playing piano or guitar and adding it to my various social media platforms like Instagram (@CatBernardiMusic) and Facebook (@CatbernardiMusic). I’ve also been spending time making fancy coffee and posting pictures of it online…it’s a hobby for sure!
Tell me about the holiday times growing up.
Christmas was and always has been about family for me. Growing up, we’d visit my Dad’s side of the family (our Nonni) up on Christmas Eve–where we’d eat lots of delicious, traditional Italian foods and treats–and then spend Christmas Day with my Mom’s side of the family at our home. Christmas Day involved checking to see if the Santa snack got eaten (it always did!), opening presents, enjoying eggnog and Panettone for breakfast, and then watching a Christmas movie together. The whole day would culminate in a delicious meal that we’d all share together. Not much has changed since then…well, maybe the Santa snack!
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
Growing up, the Canadian artists I loved listening to included musical giants like Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, and Diana Krall. The artists I’m listening to right now on the Canadian scene include: Laila Biali, Scott Hellman, William Prince, and local artists like Cynthia Tauro, Meagan De Lima, Heather Christine, and Chris Ning.
Connect with Cat Bernardi:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram