Actor and singer Darius de Haas chatted about his new holiday album and his forthcoming shows at 54 Below in New York on December 16th and 17th.
How did you approach the song selection process for your new holiday album?
It grew out of my concerts originally. I sang a total of about 20 songs and when I had the opportunity to be able to make the album, I knew it was going to have to be a very stringent process of using the songs that I felt would work best on an album.
The way I did that was asking myself, “What is the journey and my personal point of view and does it add anything new or fresh or original or something that people may have not heard or heard as much before on a holiday album?”
What is your personal favorite song on there?
Oh, that’s a hard one! You’re asking me to choose between all of my babies!
If pressed, I do have to say, I am very proud of the journey that the title song of the album, “Let Me Carry You This Christmas,” has taken.
Since it is such a personal song and it is an original song, I am very proud that I was able to bring it forth for people to enjoy and for other singers to hopefully interpret down the road for many years to come.
What inspires your music and songwriting?
Music is my balm and my most personal expression. I’m so deeply grateful to be a musical artist and as I get older I am inspired by living life and by my experiences- the good and the bad— the joyful and the challenging.
I say that art is the illumination of the human experience and when I truly give myself over to it, experience (of course with my daily practice and conditioning) really informs what I do.
Are you excited about your upcoming shows at 54 Below?
Oh absolutely! 54 below is where I started doing my holiday concerts 10 years ago. And my intention was always to do an album that would be made up of songs I performed in these concerts.
It was very helpful and informative to get the audience reaction to what I was singing as a way of considering what went on the album.
So, it is a real full circle moment for me and I am so excited to share with the audiences the journey of all this music culminating into this album.
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology and social media being so prevalent)
It is alternately great and a challenge. Because we have so much technology at our fingertips it is very easy, at least for me, to get overwhelmed by all of it as I came up in a time where you did not have as much technology and access to everything. And, admittedly, I’m horrible at it.
Also trying to figure out how best to put yourself forth on social media is tricky.
I love the tool of it, but you also have to be very responsible in what you put out there and I’m not talking about just when you’re promoting your product but when you are putting out your points of view.
I think at its best when one can figure out how to put forth as much of themselves that they feel comfortable with, and that can either inform, help, enlighten, delight, and just feel that in whatever you put out there, you stand by it.
As human beings we make mistakes and sometimes we do things that are irresponsible and now it’s out there for all the world to see. So one just has to be mindful.
What is your advice for young and emerging artists?
My advice to young and emerging artists would be do it because you love it. Because nothing is promised, and nothing is guaranteed. And even when you do find success as an artist, there are a lot of hills and valleys.
As long as you know within yourself, what you desire to put forth as an artist, and that desire burns deep within ,no one can take that away from you.
Also, learn to stay out of your own way. And that means just know that going into this business no one owes you anything. Stay open, be on time and enjoy the process. And stay curious.
What does the word success mean to you?
Well, particularly in this time where the arts have been dealt so many blows in this country I would say the word success means to be able to get up, get out, raise your voice and still be able to create. And granted- I struggle- like everyone else.
I have also benefited from having incredible people in my life (my parents, aunt and uncle all in the entertainment business) who I learned from and who I was deeply inspired by.
It was instilled in me at an early age to work hard and believe in yourself- even when no one else does. To be an artist is a beautiful thing. It is an honorable thing. And it is essential.
The arts are essential and because like I said before the arts illuminate humanity, there is so much that we as artists can respond to and delve into and help to educate the public at large.
The conversations are difficult and not everyone wants to hear everything and of course there are many different points of view.
But that essentially is what the arts are about- having the conversation- be it through plays, movies, TV, concerts, paintings, digital art, photography, music or what have you.
What would you like to say to your fans about the new album and the 54 Below shows? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
Well, first I would like to say please go out and buy the album and come see my shows at 54 below on December 16 and 17th! I would love for audiences to get out of both the album and the concerts a sense of connection on some level.
The album is great joy, whimsy, and fun but also deep reflection. The holidays can be a joyous time for some people, but it can also be a difficult time for people as well.
I think particularly coming out of this year and personally, for me having experienced so much loss of friends and family recently these songs take on a certain kind of feeling- a certain kind of comfort for me.
I hope that that can be conveyed to anyone who listens to the album or sees the concerts.
It is truly an incredible thing to see something that you formulated in your mind over many years come to fruition and my hope is that “Let Me Carry You This Christmas” is something that will continue to grow and reach more people and hope that they will want to come back to it year after year. Thank you so much.
To learn more about his shows at 54 Below in Manhattan, click here.
His new holiday album is available for pre-order on streaming and vinyl by clicking here.
For more information on Darius de Haas, visit his official website, and follow him on Instagram.
