Gargoyle’s Lament is the biggest dynamic drop on the album, a sparse cinematic ballad after all the noise, and it is the most quietly heartbreaking thing I have written for this record. It is sung by a gargoyle, perched above the city, watching the warm windows and the dancing far below. He was given eyes to watch and wait, but never a life to live. Solo cello and strings, a hushed choir like breath, and a wide dynamic range that opens from a whisper into an aching swell.
The heart of it is the bridge, which I call the sculptor. A hand once held a chisel here, shaped my wings and made them clear, he gave me eyes to watch and wait but left my heart outside the gate. And then, hushed, sculptor, sculptor, hear me call, you made me lord of nothing at all.
That line, lord of nothing at all, is the one the whole song was reaching for, and finding it is a perfect example of what revision is really for. In an earlier draft, this same bridge was busy listing French horns. The song’s entire premise is a creature who was given eyes but not a life, and the most important moment in it was being spent describing an orchestra. So we threw that out and let him remember the hand that carved him. The song finally became about what it was always about. It ends looking up, on purpose. Lift your eyes when you go by, something up there wants to fly.
I want to say something about why a song like this belongs on a family Halloween album. Kids can handle real feelings. A little bit of longing, a little bit of sadness, handled with care, is one of the gifts music can give a child. Halloween is the perfect season for it, all shadows and candlelight. The old novelty songs almost never make room for a genuine feeling. New music can. This is the song on the record that might make a grown-up go quiet, and I am glad it is here.
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Why Pre-Saving A Folklore Christmas Means the World
(And How It Helps You!)
If you’ve ever wondered why artists are always asking you to pre-save their upcoming music on Spotify, here’s the secret: it’s the single best way to make sure you don’t miss a beat, while giving independent music a massive boost!
Whether you’re excited for the spooky ghost stories or the tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago, here is what pre-saving actually does for you, and for the album:
- It drops right into your library on launch day: The moment A Folklore Christmas goes live, Spotify will automatically add it straight to your Liked Songs and library. You won’t have to search for it, set a reminder, or worry about missing release day.
- It feeds the Spotify algorithm: Algorithms pay close attention to pre-save numbers. A high pre-save count signals to Spotify that listeners are eager for these songs, which helps push our holiday tracks onto official curated playlists, radio feeds, and recommendation charts for brand new listeners.
- It helps independent music thrive: Every single pre-save gives independent artists a louder voice on major streaming platforms, helping us share these rich holiday traditions and old-world stories far and wide.
It only takes one click, but it makes a huge difference!
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