During a time of socio-political unrest and terrorism around the world, the holidays are a time when the universal language of music can help break down cultural barriers and bring people together. Us Commoners, a music concept project created by Kingston-based singer-songwriter Wayne Nuessle, kick off the holiday season with the original song, “Christmas and Hanukkah.” Written, arranged and produced by Nuessle, and sung as a duet by Bernadette Marnell-Palumbo and Mike Vocal, the song spreads a modern-day message of slowing down and reconnecting with family and friends during the holidays.
LISTEN TO “CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH” HERE
Harkening back to a time before the Internet when people regularly got together on the weekends to discuss “old movie scenes and our wildest dreams,” the Us Commoners holiday track promotes a message of harmony and togetherness with loved ones. Nuessle began the project in Woodstock, NY in 2013 when he met Bernadette Marnell-Palumbo, a lifetime church performer and backing vocalist on many Woodstock area-based projects. Nuessle recruited a number of veteran musicians for the project, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, John Sebastian, who was best known as founder of popular 1960s rock band, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and for his 1976 hit song, “Welcome Back.” Sebastian plays the harmonica and the guitar on “Christmas and Hannukah.”
No matter if you are Jewish or Christian, get into the holiday spirit with “Christmas and Hanukkah,” the new song by Us Commoners, set to release in early December 2015 on iTunes and Spotify.