Since giving birth to a bouncing baby boy, life has changed for singer/songwriter Alli Rogers travels with a guitar in one 
hand and a diaper bag in the other. Still, Alli wouldn’t change it for the world—dearly loving music and her family. Alli’s newly released Christmas album, The Silent Stars, is a beautiful addition to her body of work. The album is true to Alli’s singer/songwriter style and includes original material and a new spin on favorites. The Silent Stars is my favorite album of the holiday season, so I am thrilled that Alli is Un-Wrapping Christmas here at Backseat Writer. Also, head over to NoiseTrade to download Alli Rogers’ music by paying what you want or telling five friends about how cool Alli is.
Being a new mom with a beautiful baby son, have you thought differently about the story of Jesus’ birth this year?
When I was pregnant last Christmas I saw everything through the eyes of Mary. I suppose I will this year as well, after having met the little life that grew inside me. I can’t imagine what it was like for her and I hope we can sit down and have coffee one day. 🙂 I have a few “Mary” songs that I started for the Christmas record that didn’t make the final cut; they were fun to write for myself I suppose. Every baby is such a miracle; I love thinking of Jesus as a little baby and wonder what he was like. I reference this is one of my songs called “Adorn”. What a mystery!
Why did you decide to release a Christmas album this year?
I’ve always loved the holidays because I love spending time with family and coming together to remember why we have hope. I also know there are plenty of people who dread the holidays, or who have lost loved ones and their absence is louder than ever at Christmas. I wanted to write some songs that would speak to everyone, the traditionalist, the cynic, the heartbroken. I didn’t want to just write a bunch of happy, shiny songs to listen to while you throw tinsel on the tree. Not that there is anything wrong with happy songs! I just wanted to put my spin on it I suppose, look at the idea of Christmas music from a different angle. Make people think. Shed some light, hopefully.
Which of the songs on THE SILENT STARS is particularly special to you? (You can name more than one!)
It changes. Today, as I’m answering these questions I’m thinking of “Adorn” and am really happy with that song. It speaks of the great mystery of the incarnation and wonders at what really happened at the moment Christ was born. It’s so crazy to think about! The Creator–entering creation. I also really loved writing a new melody and arrangement to the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”. The lyrics of that old hymn are very relevant and speak to me everything time I sing or listen to it. I need reminding, that as Frederick Buechner puts it, “What’s lost is nothing to what’s found, and all the death that ever was, set next to life, would scarcely fill a cup.”
Describe one of the biggest Christmas-related catastrophes that happened.
No catastrophe comes to mind at the moment, but I am remember a year when there was so much snowfall that our garage was covered and my brother and I jumped off the roof of our house into the snow! That would never happen in Nashville!
What’s your fave Christmas song/Christmas movie or cartoon/Christmas cookie?
A family favorite Christmas album is the Alabama Christmas album. Listen to it every year! As well as Amy Grant, gotta have some Amy Grant Christmas. Favorite song might be: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas/ Let your heart be light/ Next year all our troubles will be out of sight” With those three lines and instantly I’m 8 years old in my plaid flannel nightgown watching the snow fall before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.
She is Beloved 