New York-based singer/songwriter Gina Naomi Baez has become known for her love of Christmas music over the past few years, having released a slew of original holiday songs, and 2022 follows suit. However this year sees the artist feeling blue, reminiscing on old times and entering a sad girl Christmas phase. The new single “When You Hear Joni” may be melancholy, but it is certainly beautiful, as Baez sings about the agonizing feeling of no longer being able to listen to a song, due to the memories it beholds. Music can be a reminder of certain moments in life, and often that can be a wonderful thing, but on the flip side the sentimentality of some songs can be utterly heartbreaking and for Baez it’s “River” by Joni Mitchell. 

Working alongside Meghan Kabir, Baez confides, “I kept thinking about the idea of how a song you once loved can be ruined even because it reminds you of a certain heartbreak or emotional situation in your life. I took a bunch of personal feelings and situations in my life and then Meghan helped mold them with me into a story that I think anyone can relate too.”

Ticking all the boxes of what a Christmas song should include, “When You Hear Joni” features twinkling instrumentation, snowy melodies and heartwarming lyrics. This is a holiday track with a twist and will make a perfect addition to any winter playlist.