California Holiday
by Kadhja Bonet

— Released 2nd December 2022

LA-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Kadhja Bonet announces ‘California Holiday’ - a holiday themed EP in which, across 6 Charlie Brown inspired tracks, we see the talented artist channel her newfound appreciation of the festive season in what she describes as a ‘modern take on the typical magical Christmas story’. Released on the 2nd December on Ninja Tune, Kadhja today shares lead single “Little Christmas Tree”.

Speaking more on the release Kadhja says -

‘I have never been a holiday person. As a kid I spent holidays hiding under beds and in the back of closets. But as an adult, I somehow picked a partner who is a true holiday lover. Opposites attract, or so I hear. I started making a playlist of all my favourite holiday songs and deep cuts to at least feel like I had some control over the celebration, and then I felt it was a shame to not appreciate good songs just because I can't get behind the commercialism of Christmas. I am Charlie Brown and he is me’.

Throughout the 5 soulful renditions we see Kadhja challenge and explore holiday standards as she ponders her own personal entry into the holiday canon, title track 'California Holiday', and how it 'draws on personal feelings beyond the holiday itself'.

‘I won't be asking Mariah Carey to step aside anytime soon, but it's nice to make holidays relevant to your own story. California Holiday is my attempt at just that. It's a song that I wanted to write because it makes no mention of Christmas, or any one holiday. Instead it focuses on a relationship and how the markers of the year can change your perspective on one, whether by revealing stagnation or jumpstarting a change in the quality of care. I also wanted to make this song because as much as it is about personal relationships, it also signifies my relationship with California, which is a place I've tried to leave many times, but I just keep coming back to. California has that kind of a hold on people. For all its beauty and opportunities, the cost of living and lack of social services make it nearly impossible to survive. I think a lot of people will relate to that angle of the song, this vision of California as a golden state and the hypothetical opportunities they are scared to leave’.