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My happy place, is a state of mind brought on by a combination of things coming together and creating a feeling of well being, serenity and joy in a given moment in time. Since I was a little girl, Christmas has represented a time of magic for me. The anticipation, the preparations, the air of something other than usual, otherwise intangible all around. During Christmas, there is more emphasis on family and togetherness, playing, singing, eating good food and enjoying the moment. We experience a lightness of heart and peace of mind, we feel more charitable and generous of spirit. Throughout history, Christmas was a time when people got to experience a respite from war, from crime and poverty through charity. Christmas was holy and any disruption of peace was condemned as unlawful. The music that came from these times communicated that peace and that joy. I wished to write a song that had this kind of festive but utterly peaceful atmosphere. One that immediately brought the listener to a place of feeling at home and at ease with themselves as well as the world. A song that reminded us what Christmas is all about. Growing up, I loved the nativity story above all others. The magical night in Betlehem when Jesus was born, the messenger Archangel Gabriel appearing to Mary, the three kings who followed a star in the night sky, all of it. Even though it may seem as a fairytale to many of us in our day and age, to me it remains real. As real as can be. May we not forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas in some fever dream of consumerism, but honor our traditions and our history, so that we may know and remember who we are. I hope this song strikes a chord with you and inspires you to create a stress free, joy filled holidays for you and your family. To say prayers and light candles, to give thanks and be merry. I leave you with the words of Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo in The Hobbit: “If more people valued their home above gold, the world would be a far better place indeed.” Merry Christmas everyone. --------------------- MY HAPPY PLACE - CREDITS Written by Markéta Irglová Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson Arrangements by Marketa Irglova Recorded & mixed by Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios, Iceland 2023 Mastering by Scott Hull at Masterdisk, Peekskill, New York 2023 Performed by MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ: Lead vocal, Piano, Cymbalom, Percussion, Organ STRINGS: Una Sveinbjarnardóttir - violin Ása Guðjónsdóttir Skelton - violin Þórunn Ósk Marinósdóttir - viola Sigurgeir Agnarsson - cello CHOIR: Sara Gríms, soprano Ásta Marý Stefánsdóttir, soprano Ella Camille Budzinski, alto Svanfríður Hlín Gunnarsdóttir, alto Páll Sólmundur H. Eydal, tenor Karl Friðrik Hjaltason, tenor Gísli Gamm, bass Ragnar Pétur Jóhannsson, bass ©℗ 2023 Masterkey Sounds ℗ 2023 Marketa Irglova Music Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)
