When was the last time you did something just because it felt like fall?
Apple picking is one of those traditions that seems almost too wholesome to be real. Orchards. Hayrides. That perfect crisp apple you eat right there in the field. It’s Hallmark-movie levels of autumn perfection.
And you know what? I love it.
“Apple Picking” is my love letter to those simple seasonal traditions that make us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. It’s sweet without being saccharine. Nostalgic without being cheesy. It’s just… nice. And sometimes we need nice.
I wrote this song thinking about all those little rituals we do every year. Apple picking, pumpkin patches, corn mazes—things that might seem silly or cliché but actually matter because they mark time. They remind us where we are in the year, in our lives. They’re anchors.
The melody has this gentle momentum, like a walk through an orchard. It’s not rushed. It’s not trying too hard. It just lets you enjoy the moment, the sweetness of being present in a simple pleasure.
In a world that’s constantly demanding our attention, constantly pushing us to do more and be more, there’s something radical about apple picking. About doing something slow and seasonal and sweet just because it feels good.
“Apple Picking” keeps that momentum going after “Sweater Weather.” It says, “Yeah, fall is exciting, but it’s also this—quiet afternoons, simple joys, moments that taste like honey crisp apples and contentment.”
So grab a basket. Find an orchard. Or just let this song remind you that sometimes the sweetest things in life are the simplest.
“Apple Picking” is track 3 on My Thanksgiving, available November 21st.
There’s a specific kind of nostalgia that only a childhood home can evoke.
The way the light hit the kitchen in the morning. The squeaky stair you learned to avoid when sneaking out. The spot on the wall where they measured your height every year. The sounds and smells and small details that meant “home” before you knew what that word really meant.
“Childhood Home” is bittersweet by design. Because that’s what it feels like to think about the place that raised you—especially if it’s not yours anymore.
Maybe your family moved. Maybe the house was sold. Maybe it’s still there but feels different now. Or maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who still gathers there every Thanksgiving, watching your own kids run through the same rooms you did.
Either way, the childhood home lives in us differently as adults. We see it through new eyes. We understand things we couldn’t understand when we were small. We feel grateful for things we took for granted. We notice what was missing alongside what was there.
The melody has this wistful quality—not quite sad, but definitely reflective. It’s the sound of looking back with love and longing and the wisdom that comes from distance.
I wrote this song thinking about all the Thanksgivings that happened in that first home. The traditions that started there. The version of myself that existed there. And how, even though I’ve moved on and grown up, that place still holds a piece of my heart.
“Childhood Home” is where the album really leans into the bittersweet nature of Thanksgiving. Because this holiday is as much about memory as it is about presence. As much about who’s not here as who is.
We’re getting closer to the emotional core now. The hardest part is coming.
But we needed this stop along the way—this tender acknowledgment of the places that made us who we are.
“Childhood Home” is track 12 on My Thanksgiving, available November 21st.
There’s something magical about the moment everyone arrives.
The door opens. Coats pile up. Voices fill rooms that were quiet just minutes before. Someone’s already in the kitchen. Kids are running around. And suddenly, your house isn’t just a house anymore—it’s alive with the people you love.
That’s what “Family Thanksgiving” is about. It’s the opening number, the warm welcome, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. It’s the sound of coming home.
I wanted this song to feel like a hug. Like that first embrace when family walks through the door. There’s anticipation, joy, maybe a little chaos, but mostly just this overwhelming sense of togetherness. This is what we’ve been looking forward to all year.
With its warm melodies and inviting lyrics, “Family Thanksgiving” sets the tone for the entire album—and for the entire day. It’s a reminder that Thanksgiving isn’t really about the turkey or the sides or getting everything perfect. It’s about the people. Always has been.
When I was creating this song, I thought about all those arrival moments over the years. The way my heart lifts when I hear familiar voices. The way even the awkwardness feels kind of wonderful because we’re together. That’s the feeling I wanted to capture.
So as you press play on “My Thanksgiving,” let “Family Thanksgiving” welcome you in. Pour yourself something warm. Settle in.
Because we’re about to take a journey through this beautiful, messy, meaningful holiday together.
Stream “Family Thanksgiving” and the full My Thanksgiving album, available November 21st.
Here’s something that’s always bothered me: We go straight from Halloween to Christmas.
One day we’re carving pumpkins, and the next, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is blasting in every store. Don’t get me wrong—I love Christmas music (I literally just made two albums of it). But what about Thanksgiving?
We’ve got one holiday entirely dedicated to gratitude, family, and reflection, and somehow it’s become the forgotten stepchild of the holiday season. No soundtrack. No anthem. Just the awkward silence between spooky season and jingle bells.
It’s time we changed that.
The Thanksgiving Music Void
Think about it. Halloween has “Monster Mash” and “Thriller.” Christmas has hundreds of classics. Even New Year’s Eve has “Auld Lang Syne.” But Thanksgiving? We’ve got… what? A handful of elementary school songs about turkeys? Adam Sandler’s comedy bit?
For a holiday that’s supposed to be about coming together and counting our blessings, we’ve left it musically empty. And in a world that feels increasingly divided and chaotic, isn’t that exactly when we need songs about gratitude the most?
Why Thanksgiving Deserves Its Own Soundtrack
Thanksgiving is rich with meaning. It’s about:
Connection – Gathering with people we love (or learning to love the people we’re stuck with at the table)
Reflection – Actually pausing to consider what we’re grateful for instead of rushing to the next thing
Imperfection – Burnt pies, awkward conversations, family dynamics in all their messy glory
Togetherness – Finding common ground, even when everything else feels polarized
Presence – Being in the moment before the chaos of the December rush
These are profound, beautiful, complicated themes. They deserve music that honors them. Music that makes us feel something. Music that gives voice to what we’re all experiencing around that table.
What Thanksgiving Music Could Be
Thanksgiving songs don’t have to be corny or cliché. They can be:
Honest about the complexity of family gatherings
Warm without being saccharine
Reflective without being preachy
Fun while still having depth
Relatable to how we actually celebrate today
Imagine songs that capture the chaos of cooking, the awkwardness of small talk with relatives, the quiet gratitude you feel when everyone’s finally gathered, the bittersweet nature of traditions as they change over time. That’s real. That’s Thanksgiving.
Filling the Gap
That’s exactly why I created My Thanksgiving—an entire album of original songs dedicated to this overlooked holiday.
With my indie singer-songwriter style and Broadway-inspired sound, I wanted to create music that feels both intimate and grand. Songs that you can play while you’re prepping the meal, gathering around the table, or reflecting on what matters. Music that gives Thanksgiving the soundtrack it deserves.
The album takes you on a complete journey through the Thanksgiving experience:
We start with “Family Thanksgiving” welcoming you in warmly, then build energy with anthems like “Sweater Weather” and the sweet nostalgia of “Apple Picking.” There’s “When I Sat at the Kids Table”—because we’ve all been there—and the relatable chaos of “Thanksgiving Traffic Memories.”
The energy peaks with Broadway-style moments in “Annual Family Photos” and the big band celebration of “Thanksgiving Charcuterie” (yes, really). Then we shift into deeper territory with “I’d Say Yes Again” and “You Chose Me”—songs about love and the choices that bring us together.
“Grateful” offers a reflective pause before “Where I’m From” and “Childhood Home” take us into bittersweet nostalgia. The emotional core hits with “Empty Chairs”—acknowledging the people who aren’t at the table anymore. And we close with “The Clean Up,” a gentle, hopeful resolution that reminds us the love remains even after the dishes are done.
It’s not just a collection of songs. It’s the full emotional arc of Thanksgiving—the joy, the chaos, the gratitude, the grief, and the hope.
Using AI technology to bring my vision to life, I was able to craft the rich, layered sound I heard in my head—the kind of production that captures both the theatrical and the personal. The stories, the heart, the gratitude? That’s all genuine. The technology just helped me build the world these songs needed to live in.
A Holiday Worth Celebrating
We live in an age where we’re constantly rushing to the next thing. Thanksgiving asks us to slow down. To sit. To appreciate. To connect.
But without music to mark the moment, it’s easy to let it pass by unnoticed—just a speed bump on the way to Christmas.
I believe Thanksgiving deserves better. It deserves songs that help us feel what this holiday is really about. Songs that become part of our traditions. Songs that remind us, year after year, to pause and be grateful.
So this November 21st, I’m releasing My Thanksgiving—my contribution to filling the void. An album full of original songs that celebrate gratitude, family, imperfection, and togetherness in all its beautiful, messy forms.
Because the world needs more Thanksgiving songs. And it’s about time someone wrote them.
My Thanksgiving releases November 21st, followed by My Kind of Christmas on November 24th. Let’s give Thanksgiving the soundtrack it deserves.
Follow Melanie Grace for updates and behind-the-scenes content about both albums.
It’s Time to Shake Up Christmas Music (And I’m Here to Do It)
By Melanie Grace
Let me be honest with you: I love Christmas music. But somewhere along the way, we got stuck in a loop. Every year, it’s the same rotation—the same classics, the same covers, the same predictable themes. Don’t get me wrong, those songs are timeless for a reason. But it’s 2025, and we deserve Christmas music that reflects who we are right now.
So I did something about it.
Two Albums. Brand New Songs. Zero Repeats.
I spent the last year pouring my heart into creating Christmas music that actually speaks to the way we celebrate today. Not just rehashing “Jingle Bells” for the millionth time, but writing songs that are fun, inspiring, relatable, and yes—relevant.
My Thanksgiving drops on November 21st, and My Kind of Christmas follows on November 24th. Both albums are packed with completely original songs that capture the real spirit of the season—the chaos, the joy, the gratitude, the imperfect moments that make the holidays actually memorable.
Now Streaming!
Why New Christmas Songs Matter
Here’s what I realized: every generation deserves its own holiday soundtrack. Our grandparents had Bing Crosby. Our parents had Mariah Carey. But what about us? Where are the Christmas songs that talk about FaceTime calls with family? About finding magic in small moments? About celebrating in ways that look different than they did 50 years ago?
The Christmas music industry has been playing it safe for too long. Streaming playlists recycle the same few dozen songs ad nauseam. Radio stations bank on nostalgia. And new artists are pressured to do covers instead of taking risks with original material.
I’m done with playing it safe.
What You Can Expect
These aren’t your typical Christmas albums. Yes, they capture all the warmth and magic of the season—but they do it with fresh eyes. The songs are written for people who:
Love the holidays but don’t fit the cookie-cutter mold
Want music that feels like this decade, not last century
Appreciate actual storytelling and real emotion
Are tired of the same old sleigh ride metaphors
Both My Thanksgiving and My Kind of Christmas bring something new to your holiday playlist. Real lyrics. Real moments. Real celebration.
Join the Revolution
The Christmas music industry needs a shake-up, and I’m hoping you’ll be part of it.
Stream My Thanksgiving starting November 21st and My Kind of Christmas on November 24th. Share them with people who are hungry for something fresh. Let’s prove that there’s room for new voices and new stories in the holiday music landscape.
It’s time for Christmas music to catch up with the rest of us.
