Tag: Seasonal Music

The Journey Is Part of the Holiday

By Melanie Grace

Let’s be real: Thanksgiving traffic is the worst.

The packed highways. The weather delays. That person who absolutely should not be driving but somehow got their license anyway. The GPS rerouting you seventeen times. The gas station bathroom stops. The “Are we there yet?” energy that never quite goes away, even when you’re the one driving.

But also? Some of my best Thanksgiving memories happened in the car.

“Thanksgiving Traffic Memories” is that fun, relatable breather we all need. It’s the song that says, “Yeah, getting there is chaos, but it’s also kind of part of the magic.”

I wrote this with a playful energy because I wanted to capture both the frustration and the humor of the journey. The backseat sing-alongs. The arguments about whether we should’ve left earlier. The random roadside attractions. The way time slows down when you’re stuck in traffic with the people you love (or tolerate).

There’s something about being trapped in a car together that creates intimacy, even when you’re annoyed. You talk about things you wouldn’t otherwise talk about. You laugh at things that aren’t even funny. You make memories in the in-between moments.

This song is a palate cleanser—a fun break in the album’s emotional journey. It acknowledges that Thanksgiving isn’t just the destination; it’s also the getting there. The hours on the road. The pit stops at Cracker Barrel. The debates about the best route. The collective relief when you finally see the exit sign.

So next time you’re stuck in Thanksgiving traffic, crank up this song. Embrace the chaos. Make some memories.

Because years from now, you won’t remember the traffic. You’ll remember who you were with.

“Thanksgiving Traffic Memories” is track 5 on My Thanksgiving, available November 21st.

Growing Up, Looking Back

By Melanie Grace

We’ve all been there. Literally.

The kids table. That smaller table off to the side where the “real” conversations weren’t happening. Where the plastic plates lived. Where you were definitely not getting any wine.

“When I Sat at the Kids Table” is pure nostalgia wrapped in a smile.

It’s about that perspective shift that happens when you finally graduate to the adult table and suddenly you’re looking back at where you came from. And weirdly? You miss it. The simplicity. The silliness. The way everything felt less complicated when your biggest concern was whether you’d get the last dinner roll.

I wanted this song to have an uplifting energy—not sad nostalgia, but the warm, fuzzy kind. The kind that makes you grateful you experienced those moments, even if you can’t get them back exactly as they were.

There’s something bittersweet and beautiful about growing up. About realizing you’re now the one making the mashed potatoes instead of sneaking extra marshmallows off the sweet potato casserole. About sitting at the table where people are talking about mortgages and health insurance instead of arguing about who gets to be player one.

But here’s the thing: we carry the kids table with us. Those memories, that lightness, that version of ourselves that just wanted to have fun and be included—it’s still there. “When I Sat at the Kids Table” is a reminder to keep that part alive, even as we navigate adult Thanksgivings.

So whether you’re still at the kids table (no judgment), just graduated (congrats!), or looking back from years away (hello, fellow adults), this song is for you.

Because we were all kids once. And Thanksgiving remembers.

“When I Sat at the Kids Table” is track 4 on My Thanksgiving, dropping November 21st.

The Sweetness of Simple Traditions

By Melanie Grace

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.

The Place That Holds Our History

By Melanie Grace

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.

Welcome to My Thanksgiving

By Melanie Grace

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.