Interviews Next Wave

OpenSoul Talks “Blue Christmas” And More

In a music industry full of ghost writers, auto-tune, and prickly personalities, an artist like Jamaica’s OpenSoul is one-in-a-million,

By TCR Staff

December 24, 2023

OpenSoul Talks “Blue Christmas” And More

In a music industry full of ghost writers, auto-tune, and prickly personalities, an artist like Jamaica’s OpenSoul is one-in-a-million, an absolute breath of fresh air. Not only does this rising star from Negril have angelic pipes, infectious aesthetic, and intuitive songwriting skills—he’s also just an authentically good person. If gratitude made a sound, it might sound like OpenSoul.

Even before his music career took off, OpenSoul was featured on the generational Netflix hit “Top Boys”. Then, while producing and songwriting alongside his pal and fellow Jamaican phenom Andon, OpenSoul first graced the world with his tropical-infused R&B by performing at resorts around the island. Now boasting a burgeoning Instagram following of over 20k believers, OpenSoul is poised to pop off big-time. His overlooked catalog of steamy, dreamy bangers is sure to keep fans intrigued while they await his sure-fire blessing of a debut album, due out early next year.

Ultimately, OpenSoul is a man of the moment—and this moment every year calls for new Christmas tunes to keep the season bright. With his single “Blue Christmas” OpenSoul shrugs off Elvis and confidently claims this title for his original track. Never one to shy from complex emotions, the casually masterful songwriter crafts a balance between holiday hopes and mellifluous melancholy. For a song dedicated to Santa, “Blue Christmas” is sure to get everyone in the mood, especially with those undeniable falsetto riffs.

Fans are cozying up to Steven Bernard’s equally masterful music video for “Blue Christmas” to hone in on their holiday hopes and the vibes are strong. Amidst palm trees and twinkle lights, OpenSoul welcomes us to his homeland for some sultry seasonal glee. Bernard’s patient camerawork elevates a simple cinematographic concept to create an instant classic. Let’s get ready to hear a new “Blue Christmas” for years to come.

Who are your biggest music influences?

My response to questions like this is that I value a lot of artist from different generations.

What made you want to become a musician?

As a child I’ve always loved music and writing.. I never saw myself in this position until an opportunity came my way and I can say that I’m glad I took that chance because people from all over are listening and loving my material.

⁠Could you tell us a bit about your relationship with Andon? What is like working in the same industry as your friend?

Our friendship started a while back but we lost contact.. We reconnected in 2018 because of work… we decided to write a song and recorded it with another coworker and we just released it. We sang together for a while and it was fun.. Having him in the picture made things a bit smoother.. we both had no idea what we were getting into but we’ve been each other’s support system. Now we’re both branched off in our own genre to leave our mark.

Could you tell us about your songwriting process? How do you usually overcome creative blocks?

Song writing comes naturally to me especially when I allow myself to feel the emotions of my present or past or the emotions of others. I don’t get a lot of creative blocks but if I do it’s usually solved by putting myself in a fresh situation which isn’t my own or going to a scenic view by myself and reflect quietly.

Could you tell us about “Blue Christmas”? What did you choose this song to cover?

Blue Christmas came about by a heartbreak I had close to a Christmas one year, but it got amplified when I witnessed a stranger go through a similar situation. When my manager sent me this Christmas beat, I pulled from these experiences and decided to say my piece and ask the spirit of Christmas to at least flip the script of this Blue Christmas me or anyone else had ever experienced.

What was it like working on the music video for “Blue Christmas?

Working with Steven, the director, for my videos is always a great time. The video for Blue Christmas was done at the last minute because the song was written and recorded close to Christmas. My manager asked him to come up with a quick concept because we wanted to release both the song and video before Christmas day even though we were already in the season. He came up with this simple yet very beautiful concept of me performing the song with a band in the background outdoors decorated with Christmas lights and other elements. It was simple yet magical at the same time.

What advice would you offer to newer artists just starting off?

Being an artist isn’t a walk in the park. There is a lot of work to do. You’ll hear “No” a lot. Keep pushing to become better and ALWAYS believe in yourself.

⁠What is next for OpenSoul?

They can expect an EP soon. A short story… great things to come.