10 Questions with ... Jadon Lavik

1) Talk a little about the process of recording "Christmas"?

I approached this record much differently than records past. We got my favorite musicians together and listened down to my demos for the tunes and then pressed "record." There's a lot of spontaneity on the album, more like the old days of studio recording where you get the right guys in the room who play the way you like to begin with, and you let it be what it is. We had a blast recording these tunes!

2) How did you select which songs to record for "Christmas"?

My wife and I literally sat down and had a brainstorm of our favorite Christmas songs as well as the original tune I wrote. We wanted to be strategic about making a record that bridged the gap between the Christian and secular. There are tunes on this record that are standard carols that even a non-Christian would find themselves listening to and then BAM! Hit 'em with a "this is what Christmas is all about" tune like "Hallelujah the Lord Has Come" or "O Come All Ye Faithful" or "Silent Night."

3) Do you have a favorite song on the record?

My favorite song on the record is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." This song has always been a favorite of mine and I really like the way the recording came out. It has a very laidback, easy feel and newness to it that we were able to capture by changing some things both in the chords and melodically, yet retaining the classic sound.

4) What is your all-time favorite Christmas song?

"Silent Night." For me that song just cuts to the core of celebrating Christmas and remembering the significance of Jesus' birth. The imagery of the manger scene at the birth of Christ has always been a powerful lyric and melody to me. Coupled with the fact that our church has a tradition of singing this song as we pass lit candles across the auditorium on Christmas Eve, this song is my all time favorite Christmas song!

5) What is your favorite Christmas memory?

My favorite Christmas memory is getting snowed in at my parents' vacation place. We had no choice but to fire up some hot cocoa and play board games for way too long. That's the stuff we remember the most, doing nothing with the ones we love and loving every minute of it.

6) Do have any specific family Christmas traditions?

My favorite Christmas memory is a family tradition we had growing up. My dad always had us write on a 3x5 card our "Gift to Jesus" for the next year. As kids, this kept us out of the mindset that Christmas was all about getting and more about giving. We'd spend a few minutes thinking of something we could give back to God for the next year then write it down on the card. It was usually something like this: "My gift to Jesus in 2011 is my tongue. I want to be more careful with my words and honor God with how I speak to others," or maybe something like this, "My gift to Jesus in 2011 is our finances. I want to give God more this year than in years past and see how God uses me in letting go of more of our money this year." My dad would save the cards every year. It was always fun to look back at the cards from previous years and see how God worked in and through our lives as we gave Jesus certain gifts over the years. This is a tradition we've continued now that my wife and I have a family of our own.

7) What is one thing you hope that Santa brings you this year?

A new wallet. Mine has worn a hole in it and the other day I lost my punch card to the local yogurt place. I was pretty bummed. I only had two stamps to go for a free yogurt. [Frown]

8) What are some of your favorite Christmas albums?

[Oops, no answer. Maybe he doesn't have a favorite? We'll find out.]

9) Do you have any plans for a Christmas tour?

Yes, we've actually lined up about 10 concerts in the Southern California area this season and are very excited about not only staying local during the holidays, but performing all these new songs. We put together a compilation project called "A Christmas Together" with a bunch of very talented worship leaders and songwriters from the SoCal area and are doing concerts together this Christmas. The compilation is on iTunes. )http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-christmas-together-vol-1/id395650972)

10) If you could travel anywhere in the world to spend Christmas, where would you go and why?

Hawaii. There's something really special about Hawaii during Christmas time. Last year we had a chance to be there over Christmas and I was so inspired, I bought a ukulele and wrote and arrangement of "Mele Kalikimaka" that appears on the new Christmas record. Growing up in the Northwest, we were always celebrating Christmas in the snow or cold weather. It was nice to mix it up a bit and celebrate the Lord's birth poolside. [Smile]