Don’t let the title fool you. “Christmas Cards” by Skylar Lee is not a holly jolly seasonal track about spreading holiday cheer. Instead, it is a tragic break-up song about surviving the cold season without the one person the singer thought she’d spend every Christmas with. Now, Lee watches their life through obligatory holiday cards—a tradition she was a part of only this time last year. In the song, she confesses the immense pain of receiving the highlights of a life she used to know to know the deepest intricacies about. In the first chorus, Lee explores the life updates she has already gotten. Then, in the second chorus, she shares the ones she fears for in the future. Lee concludes the song with the gut-wrenching outro: “And you’ll keep on sending ‘til you lose my address// At that very moment// We’ll have nothing left.” Her detailed songwriting places the listeners into the singer’s vulnerable mindset, flawlessly illustrating her devastating heartbreak.
Skylar Lee is one of the industry’s most underrated talents. From her perfect pitch to her clever songwriting, she consistently delivers unforgettable tracks. “Christmas Cards” instantly captures the listener's attention with the singer’s angelic vocals and a soft, acoustic guitar, followed quickly by a subtle airy synth wave. She effortlessly reels the audience in, setting the scene for the melancholic atmosphere. Before she is even done with the first line, anyone listening determines the song is not a joyful track of merriment and whimsy. The delicate soundscape is reminiscent of a perfect blend of Sabrina Carpenter and Kelsea Ballerini, while maintaining Lee’s signature style. Throughout the track, her stunning vocals showcase their beautiful range from her lower register to her flawless falsettos, as well as the beautiful harmonies. In the break before the outro, a steady bass guitar is added while mesmerizing vocalizations begin, bringing a new dynamic to the track. Then, Lee closes the song with the original production, bringing the song full circle and ripping out the listener’s heart one final time. The simplicity of the music paired with the deep lyricism makes “Christmas Cards” the perfect winter track. The song exemplifies Lee’s innate talent, once again reminding fans why they fell in love with her to begin with.
Skylar Lee is a pop singer, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville. From a young age, she knew music was her passion, so when she turned 17, she moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville to pursue her dream. Lee proudly wears her heart on her sleeve, which translates into vulnerable lyrics and creative hooks. Her perfect-pitch ear provides a unique talent when it comes to songwriting. She has already made impressive waves in the music industry, including being featured in Rolling Stone India for two of her 2022 tracks, “Hotel in a Hurry” and “Modern Art”. Additionally, Lee was a Top 25 finalist in the American Songwriting Competition for “Modern Art” and a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for her single, “Too Good to Be You.” Following down the path of her inspirations like Maisie Peters, Mimi Webb, Conan Gray, and Dagny, Lee continues to garner more and more fans for herself, proving that she is on track to be one of the world’s next great pop musicians. Her innate talent has earned a spot on many of my playlists, but my personal favorite is my Blondes With Bangs playlist!
Written By Karlee Skipper
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