Set for release on Oct. 23; Available for Pre-Order on Oct. 9
Nashville, Tenn. – Singer-songwriter, Ana Cristina Cash, has put her spin on the Hawaiian holiday classic, “Mele Kalikimaka.” Produced by John Carter Cash and recorded at the historic Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tenn., “Mele Kalikimaka” is a lively song with a dreamy, tropical melody and lyrical sentiments of trading in the stereotypical wintry Christmas for a sandy beachy one. Made famous by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950, “Mele Kalikimaka” was written by R. Alex Anderson. The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning “Merry Christmas.” “Mele Kalikimaka” will be released worldwide Oct. 23 and will become available for pre-sale via iTunes on Oct. 9.
The new track follows Ana’s recent full-length album release, SHINE, that was released in April 2020 (here). Ana wrote or co-wrote every song on the 14-track album, aside from her two renditions of “Dream” by Roy Orbison and “Seminole Wind” by John Anderson. A special co-write on the release was “Brand New Pair of Shoes,” as it is a co-write between her and her father-in-law, Johnny Cash. Putting music to the lyrics once written by Johnny himself, creating a jazz-inspired tune. SHINE has received praise from American Songwriter, Billboard, Entertainment Focus, The Americana Music Association, and many others. In addition to the success of her album, Ana’s work as a co-writer/co-translator for Los Tigres Del Norte is also garnering attention; receiving two nominations for Latin GRAMMYs, in the categories of Best Norteno Alum and Best Long Form Music Video.
Ana Cristina, who was inspired by her 3-year-old daughter to record “Mele Kalikimaka,” commented, “I wanted to record ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ because I was inspired by my little daughter’s love of Hawaii and luaus. Since 2020 has been such a challenging year, I was eager to put out a Christmas song during the holidays that was inspired by bright colors, sunshine, and tropical vacations. I know that many people share my sentiment of wanting to escape and travel right now, so I wanted to capture the spirit of Hawaii. Growing up in South Florida, I celebrated a tropical Christmas every year, surrounded by palm trees. Christmas is a state of mind no matter where you are.”
She continued to talk about her inspiration surrounding the production of the track, saying, “I had the vision to have Tahitian style drums at the top of the song because of its rhythm, which I love. My husband and producer, John Carter Cash, and I visited Tahiti for our honeymoon several years ago, and I fell in love with their native sound. This was a lot of fun for us. Derrek Philips, who played drums on the track, did a great job of creating the Tahitian drum sound, and it feels very authentic.”
In 2018, Ana released her debut full-length holiday album, My Christmas Collection, a unique compilation featuring eleven all-time favorite Christmas classics and one original song. My Christmas Collection was produced by John Carter Cash and recorded at the historic Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tenn. The compilation features everything from a captivating bilingual track, “Silent Night (Noche de Paz)” that showcases Ana’s rich voice, outstanding harmonies, and Hispanic-American heritage, to a heart-warming duet, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” with John Carter Cash. My Christmas Collection is available here.
Ana Cristina Cash was raised in Miami, Florida. Ana, of Cuban descent, is bilingual and began a professional career in music at the tender age of six. She quickly became an accomplished champion of the singing competitions on the variety show, “Sabado Gigante.” Ana’s recordings showcase her broad vocal range, from a deep resonating contralto to an amazing soaring soprano, revealing what is known to some as a “whistle register.” Ana signed to Sony Music’s Latin division at the age of 15 and recorded her debut album, Ana Cristina, in the Spanish language. In 2004, she was nominated for the Premio Lo Nestro Award. The next year, she went on to become the first Hispanic-American to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” for a presidential inauguration for President Bush in 2005. In 2016, Ana married music producer, John Carter Cash, and has since been writing and recording the music she was born to sing. Ana’s music perfectly blends her connection with rockabilly and gritty blues, adding in a flavor of country and soul to create her own distinctive sound. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut, performing her own original songs, in 2019. Other notable appearances Ana has made include performing at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Madison Square Garden, and various other major sporting events.
For more information on Ana Cristina Cash, visit https://www.anacristinacash.