12 Dec Essex band Velinski release single Christmas Is A Time For Everyone
How do you write a bouncy party type Xmas song when there has been so much recent turmoil in the world? How can you expect people to be happy during the Festive Season when they’ve experienced tragedy and sadness? The answer for Andrew Williams of Velinski in late 2017 was simple- you can’t, BUT rather than compose a sad song, write something positive to help victims feel they are being remembered when most people are celebrating.
The result was a positive song with a positive message. “We don’t want to dampen peoples’ spirits” says Andrew. “We can all enjoy the holiday period, that’s what Xmas represents whatever your religion or beliefs. Good will to all mankind – why not? That must however also include the unfortunate people in our world and in particular, as the song says, those whose lives have changed for ever more.”
And now the song has been fully recorded and released as a single in 2018 with a supporting video, the message is the same, this year and probably for future years. There are always going to be victims of some sort and those much more unfortunate than the majority. As Luciano Pavarotti said in Sarajevo “We must remember we are happy and we must share our happiness with people who are sad.”
Andrew and his Velinski partner Adam McEvoy met at a music studio near Romford a few years ago. “Andrew came in wanting to record a few songs. I liked them and so offered to produce his demos” says Adam. They got on well and decided to collaborate on future projects with guest vocalists as Velinski. “The name comes from my paternal family who had to flee persecution from Eastern Europe in the early 20th Century” explains Andrew, “just like Fiddler on the Roof.”
They enlisted the services of vocalist Cliffton Medford for this and a few of their other songs. “Clifton has a really great voice and has previously featured on the X Factor” says Adam. “We knew he would ideal for this song- even though he had a cold when he recorded the vocals!”
Velinski hope ‘Xmas Is For Everyone’ will strike a chord with the public and give them something to think about. It might be a bit idealistic but the message is heartfelt and genuine and the marching music is a pure traditional festive treat.
The track will be appearing on a compilation CD with TV advertising through the Grammy award winning label BongoBoy records.
