Please help us in welcoming Mindy Pack, who’s bringing in the holiday cheer with her latest single release “Shine for Me Again, Star of Bethlehem.” Although the single differs from the average Christmas song, it creates a nostalgic feeling of celebrating the miracles that come with the holiday season.
Welcome, Mindy Pack! Excited to chat with you! You have a new song out today. It is a cover of a Holiday song. Tell us more about why you chose this song to cover and release.
Hi! Thank you for having me. I have sung this song since I was 12 years old. It was sung all the time in the church I belonged to but was typically performed as a slow choir piece. I loved the melody, the meaning, and the message. There are so many incredible holiday tunes that talk about this time of year but what I really loved about “Shine For Me, Star of Bethlehem” was the bridge of the song. It talks about how life goes on and sometimes we lose our way or the focus but how there is always a constant in life. In this song, the constant is the star, and it will always bring us back. We can always find our way back and be grounded and reminded of what is important. You just need to look for it! I just really love how this song is somewhat different than the average Christmas song.
However, why I decided to put it out was to show my clients and friends that I can sing. By profession, I have had a career as a voice coach. I coach clients all over the world from the novice to the celebrity. I am always surprised that when my client hears me sing, they are like “I didn’t know I could sing.” I mean…you wouldn’t take drum lessons from a coach who couldn’t keep rhythm, would you? Why would you do voice lessons from someone who can’t sing? It’s so funny to me. Well after hearing this over and over I decided this year was the year. I asked a friend of mine who is a vocal arranger and who I work with on many tours and we took this choir piece into what is today. It was so fun to hear it with a gospel choir and really get to tell the story both lyrically and through the melody with power. I am proud of how it turned out!
The other random fact is after singing this song since I was 12 yrs old I was able to meet the composer. Though many twists and turns, he is now a part of my family. It was fun to surprise him with this song and to present a different version of one of his creations.
Do you get nervous before you release new music or is it more of an excitement for you?
Both!!! However, I am really excited. I have always wanted to put music out there, but the timing wasn’t right, or things got too busy. I am always on the other side of this process. I am regularly helping artists release their own music and discover their own sound or artistic fingerprint. It was really fascinating to experience all the things my clients go through in their own discovery. I had to take off the voice coaching hat, put on my big girl pants, and just do it. This gave me a deeper understanding of the stress and emotions that the clients I work with and experience go through. I am really looking forward to people hearing something new and seeing what everyone thinks. I’m really proud of how it turned out.
Was there anyone or anything in particular that pushed you to pursue music?
Pursuing music was not an option for me. I knew I wanted to have music in my life from the time I was 8 years old. Originally it was to be a singing heart surgeon. Obviously, Medical school didn’t pan out so here I am doing music full time in a lot of different capacities.
I was always singing and dancing around the house, auditioning, and driving my parents crazy! My parents have done everything they could to provide me the education and opportunities to develop as a child. Because of that, I have had the opportunity to travel and tour the world through music. I love being on the stage and filling that adrenaline and excitement. My husband Brandon and kids Chase, Bodi, and Tessa are also always supportive of my crazy and are excited that I finally have something to put out. They have been known to call friends while I’m singing around the house just so their friends can hear me sing.
I am also blessed that not only do I still get to perform but I also get to inspire and work with other passionate musicians as their coach. Music is such an important part of our world and culture that to be able to have some small part in helping other musicians inspire and create is so rewarding. I can’t imagine a life where music wasn’t a part of it.
What are your favorite holiday traditions?
Oh man, growing up my family and I use to go to my grandfather’s property in the Utah Mountain’s and we could cut around 100 fresh Christmas Trees every Thanksgiving. We would climb up mountains in waist-high snow, with a hand saw, and haul them down the mountain either by hand, snowmobile or horse. We would load them up in the trailers and haul them all home where we would then set them up along the fence in the back yard. Neighbors and friends would be lining up while we unloaded because they wanted the fresh-cut Christmas Tree smell. We would sell the Christmas trees all of December. It was how we made our Christmas money. It was some of the hardest work we ever did, but the smell of a fresh cut tree is amazing.
More holiday music on the way or any other surprises up your sleeve?
That’s the plan for next year. I am just figuring out what music and songs we want it to be and the overall feel. I’m looking at some other originals and spicing up some classics and hopefully a collab here and there. As far as surprises….Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you right? You’ll just have to follow me so that you can be the first to know!
Other than your own, what has been your favorite song released this year?
This is a hard one because I love everything. I have been obsessed with all the parodies that have come out in 2020. Particularly with Chris Mann’s who is a client of mine. His stuff is cracking me up and man can he sing! I’m also loving Miley Cyrus’s “Midnight Sun” and cannot wait for her album to drop and I’m really digging Justin Bieber’s “Lonely.” I’m really excited to see what comes out next year with everyone taking a pause in touring and creating. I think next year the music is going insane!
Tell us where we can find you online and get our hands on your new music?
So you can find me at www.mindypack.com or my Instagram handle @mindypack
You can stream the song on all platforms including these:
SPOTIFY | ITUNES | AMAZON MUSIC | APPLE MUSIC
