Feature: Sandy Martin Decodes “Christmas Time Cookies”
What was the creative process like for this particular song?
My creative process varies with every song that I write. The idea of this song came to me after I had a dream about my late Mother… She loved everything about Christmas and a time where our big family came together. The spiritual meaning as well as family tradition which was passed down by her Mother was very important to Mom. She loved classic Christmas music which was always playing during the season. In my dream, Mom and a crew of us were in the kitchen baking her homemade cookies while singing along to Wayne Newton’s classic Christmas record. That record was one of our many family traditions. Mom was kneading the dough as the record stopped. She asked me to start the record over. Of course I dropped the needle on the record to play it again! I woke up from that dream filled with joyful memories of Mom. At that moment the chorus lyrics flooded my brain as I darted to my guitar to write my new holiday song titled, “Christmas Time Cookies.” Memories of tradition and past Christmases filled the pages of my notebook as my guitar brought my song to life. That simplistic slap guitar intro gives a Johnny Cash feel which paved the way. Three chords total in the song with my Capo on the third fret.
With so many lyrics to go with, my Co-writer, Tim Phoenix stepped in and helped break down the best of the best! He had great input and ideas that added color to the song. My Producer Carlos Villalobos was the perfect choice as he nailed the vision in my head and knocked it out of the ballpark with his amazing instrumentation, mixing and mastering. This song is very close to our hearts and I do believe that the three of us were the perfect team in creating a universal song that hopefully becomes a Christmas classic.
What do you like the best about "Christmas Time Cookies?”
For me, Christmas is truly the most magical and best time of the year when smiles seem so much brighter. It’s that special time of the year when love and spirit fill the air just like the smell of cookies. I wanted to capture that same type of feel in my song and I think that myself and the other two writers did just that. “Christmas Time Cookies” takes you on a magical holiday ride with a nostalgic story and beautiful upbeat instrumentation. It’s a ‘feel good’ fun song loaded with family traditions and familiar holiday sounds that lift the spirit. I think the song’s energy drives the soul that leads to singing and dancing. It reminds me of all those great Christmas songs from the past. My song’s contemporary but it gives you the feel of the old Christmas classics and I think that’s what makes it extra special.
Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from this single?
“Christmas Time Cookies” main theme rides on Tradition and the importance of passing it down. Upon listening, it may tug at the heart a bit and bring back beautiful memories from the past. I’m hoping that my song can be a part of this year’s holiday season where families make more memories to forever remember. Whether you’re baking cookies, wrapping presents or sipping red wine, it’s a catchy song that adds to the holiday fun.
As far as a message for the listeners? Nobody makes homemade cookies better than Grandmas and Moms and mine made the best and that’s the truth! Lol
When I listen to my song, I think about tradition mostly. The long sleepless nights that Mothers and Grandmas endure in the days building up to Christmas. A party in the kitchen filled with sugar, frosting, wine and dough. Mixing ingredients from an old recipe book passed down from generation to generation, handwritten by Grandmother matriarchs from the past. Most families have a version of it. Those that didn’t? You better believe that my Grandma and Mother always made sure tin cans of cookies were delivered. Townsfolk looked forward to our family cookies yearly. My song of course mentions Grandma and it’s true that Santa Clause himself has his favorite cookies from Grandma’s across the world. Who’s cookies does he like the best? My Grandma’s! lol
Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?
It all started at home. Eclectic music was always playing at my house and I fell in love with most genres. I knew from a young age that music was my destiny, so after college I packed my bags and moved to Los Angeles. My story is quite the journey with many roads traveled and too many stories to tell. After time and hard work, my big break was landing a record deal with an all girls group named, “Breeze.” We signed with Overbrook Entertainment, owned by Will Smith. Our distribution was through Jimmy Iovene, owner of Interscope Records. During this time, I was also writing and recording songs independently with many well known Producers. My goal was to better my song writing chops to become a credible song writer in the business. My ambition paid off, leading me to place many songs in Film/TV… My song, “Rush,” which I wrote and performed, caught the attention of movie director "RIC ROMAN WAUGH.” That song landed me the title track for a Lionsgate Film, starring James Caan and Cuba Gooding Junior… Later, Rod Stewart’s musical director contacted me to sing background vocals on Stewart's up and coming tour which gave me extra credibility as a sturdy background singer. Along with song placement for Film/TV, I’m an independent artist here with my new single, “Christmas Time Cookies” and I sure hope that you’re all feeling the Christmas spirit and the vibe that my song offers.
How do you balance crafting relatable stories with maintaining your unique voice as a songwriter?
At the end of the day, we’re all unique and special in our individualism and I think that’s what naturally comes out. Life would be boring if we all had the same taste buds, smell, touch and liked the same things. I stay true to myself and I write with my soul and feelings, hoping there’s someone out there that can relate to what’s inside my crazy head. I trust my gut and I simply go for it. My brain has a tendency to produce overthinking so I try not to complicate things with my writing style. My goal for this particular song was to keep it simple. I think that myself and my team achieved that goal.
