Mared & Bronwen – A Joint Christmas Review

Bronwen and Mared have been visited by the ghosts of Christmas past and present this year to tell their respective tales of home. Both Welsh singer-songwriters draw on a rich array of imagery to convey the festive season.

‘December Blues’ contains the most simple yet striking of pictures that represent a very modern sensibility. The smell of “cinnamon” and “chocolate rum” emanating from the “winter market” conjures up a bustling city scene which, though mixed with more traditional fare in verse two, nevertheless paints a contemporary picture. This is in contrast to the throwback references in ‘Christmas After All’, where “sherry” and “Sinatra” on the “jukebox” cast an air of nostalgia that is more snow globe than real world. The presence of an Irish-style Folk tune adds to this sense that Bronwen is trying to reach for something that no longer exists; while the soft beats of Mared’s soul-infused track find her in the current moment, seeking contentment in the downtime of an otherwise busy life.

Both songs contain a sense of loss; and both celebrate a remedy of sorts. For Mared it is spending precious time with another who is “healing my December Blues”. For Bronwen, it is rediscovering her childhood memories in the here and now. These occur at home: a place of paradox in their stories insofar as negative associations begin to dissipate with the discovery of love. This is what makes both tracks veer away from the saccharine, even as both remain heartwarming. For their concept of home is more emotionally-complex than standards such as ‘The Christmas Song’. Yet they retain an essence of that same spirit which means they can sit happily on any playlist that contains the classics.

They might sound different but what ties ‘Christmas After All’ and ‘December Blues’ together is the evocative pictures used by Bronwen and Mared respectively. Whether old or new, their symbols of Christmas are what lay the foundations for two songs that are welcome additions to the yuletide canon. For the worlds they create are very easy to enter and get lost in.

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Featured Images (C) Mared / Bronwen Lewis