I remember in 2005, my parents sitting me down and sharing that my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Later that year, for Christmas, after she had begun treatment, we visited our family and friends in New Orleans to see the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina—forever precious moments with her that I will cherish.
Today, we see headlines about politicians cutting cancer research funding for children, slashing treatment and detection methods from federal budgets, while robber baron CEOs make money hand over fist from the treatment industry. It seems it always falls to artists to step up and say, “We have to help.”
I met Rich Langhorne at Deau Eyes’ holiday show while getting my own copy of the limited-edition Xmas in VA. With so many friends sharing their amazing Christmas songs on this collection, I wanted a copy, knowing this initiative would help people. I asked Rich about the project, and this is what he had to share. — Todd Raviotta
Can you tell us a little bit about the project Xmas in VA and how you got involved?
After my mom, Nancy, passed away from cancer in 2017, my friends and I started a nonprofit that holds benefit concerts in Norfolk around Christmas. The goal is to raise money for cancer research and provide free screenings for uninsured patients at EVMS. DJ Williams has been a cornerstone of those shows since the very first year.
During the pandemic, when we weren’t sure if or when we’d be able to hold a concert again, we pitched the idea to DJ Williams of creating a limited-edition 7-inch record of Christmas songs to raise money for the cause. He said yes, and since then, we’ve made several records with different artists. Through these shows, we’ve built relationships with incredible VA musicians, so we thought it would be fun to create a compilation with them as our first 12-inch release.
On the album, there are some pre-written tracks that were added to the compilation. I know Christmas in Jackson Ward by Prabir was one of them. How did you go about bringing these recordings together for a limited-edition vinyl record?
We tried to make the process easier on ourselves by reaching out to a couple of artists we knew already had Christmas songs and asking if we could include them. Since asking artists to donate their time and talent is already a big ask, this approach helped the album come together more quickly.
In addition to Prabir’s song, I think the only other pre-existing track is the Randazzo one. I’d been listening to that show on Bandcamp and thought it would be fun to include a live track in the mix, especially Skating / SK8N, which is my personal favorite Charlie Brown Christmas song.
Todd’s two instrumental tracks that he had previously recorded worked perfectly as short interludes, and they fit seamlessly into the flow of the record we were trying to create.
Were any songs written specifically for this album?
Most were recorded specifically for the album. It’s about half covers and half originals. The originals written for the record include:
- Wishlist by Dusty Ray Simmons
- Xmas Pets / This Time of Year by Peter Pope
- Brother Arius by Ben White
- Elf on the Shelf by The Lifehacks
Can you share anything about when you first heard some of these songs? Not to play favorites, but is there a truly special track on this album for you?
Other than staying within the time constraints of the record, I wanted the artists to have complete freedom to do whatever they wanted—cover, original, whatever inspired them. Getting each email with the final tracks was really exciting, especially from the artists I didn’t know as well.
I think there’s something special about every song on this record. I remember hearing Wishlist for the first time and thinking it was fantastic. Elf on the Shelf was so catchy that my wife and I had it stuck in our heads—we’d catch ourselves singing it around the house.
I don’t really have a favorite; each song brings something unique. River hits you right in the feels. Truckin’ Trees is a fantastic revival of a forgotten Christmas tune. Christmas Pets by Peter Pope has incredible Beach Boys holiday vibes.
DJ Williams’ Joy to the World has such a great classic sound. And Brother Arius by Ben White is so unique. When you look into who Brother Arius was and conceptually link that to Christmas, it’s fascinating and adds another layer to the song.
Between the instrumentals and songs with vocals, what was your thought process for the layout and sequencing of the songs?
Most of the records we’ve done in the past have been 7-inch releases with a single artist, and in those cases, the artist decides the track listing. For this compilation, we had to handle it ourselves. One of our volunteers, Logan Werlinger, and I spent a day rearranging and listening to the tracks repeatedly to design a Side A and B with a strong flow.
One point of inspiration for us was a clip from High Fidelity where they talk about the art of making a good mixtape (around 29 seconds in):
The musicianship on the record is incredible, and the compositions are amazing. Do you have a favorite instrumental moment?
There are so many great moments, but a few stand out. One of my favorites is the addition of the horns by Kendall Street Company to Truckin’ Trees. It puts their own spin on the original and really elevates it. The bass solo on SK8N is another highlight—it’s so much fun and transitions beautifully into the full band.
What is the geographic spread of the musicians? Is this primarily a Central Virginia album, or does it have a broader reach?
There’s definitely a broader reach:
- Peter Pope and The Lifehacks are from Norfolk.
- Kendall Street Company is based in Charlottesville.
- The rest of the artists are from Richmond.
It’s been great to see artists sharing reposts and excitement about the songs over the past month. How have you seen folks respond to the music?
One of the best parts of these projects—aside from fighting cancer, of course—is the week after we start shipping the records. Seeing posts from people playing them at home is incredibly rewarding. It’s amazing to think that our music might become part of their holiday traditions.
The album is a fundraiser. Can you tell us about the proceeds and how they’ll be used?
All proceeds from the record will be donated to help uninsured individuals in the Richmond and Norfolk areas access free cancer screenings. The album funds programs at Eastern Virginia Medical School’s HOPES Free Clinic in Norfolk and Every Woman’s Life at Bon Secours in Richmond.
What are some of the past releases you’ve created for this cause?
Here’s a list of our previous releases:
- DJ Williams Almost Christmas (2021)
- James Casey’s A Little Something for Everyone (2022)
- DJ Williams Almost Xmas Vol. 2 (2023)
- An Old Fashioned Xmas by Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini (2023)
- A California Xmas by Grahame Lesh (2024)
The cover art is fantastic. Are there any special details or hidden Virginia references? Who designed it?
The artwork was created by Nate Cepis, a Brooklyn-based illustrator who has done all of our releases. He’s incredible. For this design, he dug deep into Virginia holiday traditions and foods.
There are nods to Brunswick stew, crabs, and trout, as well as fun details like PBR, oysters, the Norfolk mermaid, and Norfolk Admirals hockey. When concepting the design, we wanted something playful and engaging—something people could look at again and again and keep finding new details. My personal favorite is the cut-out beard insert he created with the caption, “Instant Beard as White as Snow.” It’s just perfect.
How to Support the Cause
Xmas in VA is available for streaming on all platforms, with vinyl copies sold through 1223Records.com.
Track List:
Wishlist (Dusty Ray Simmons)
Truckin’ Trees for Christmas (Kendall Street Company)
Christmas Pets (Peter Pope)
Xmas Time in Jackson Ward (Prabir Mehta)
WRUXMAS? (Shera Shi)
In the Workshop (Todd Herrington)
Sk8n (R4ND4ZZO BIGB4ND)
Brother Arius (Ben White)
Elf on the Shelf (The LifeHacks)
River (Lena Klett)
Smoky Mountain Christmas (Deau Eyes)
Sleigh Ride (Kenneka Cook)
Joy to the World (DJ Williams)
All These Things (Todd Herrington)
Put a Little Love in Your Heart (tan.gent)
This Time of Year (Peter Pope)
PRESS RELEASE
Virginia Musicians Unite with Nonprofit to Fight Cancer Through Limited-Edition Christmas Vinyl
Fourteen Virginia artists have joined forces with the cancer nonprofit The Nancy Langhorne Foundation to release XMAS in VA, a limited-edition compilation record under the nonprofit’s label, 12/23 Records. All proceeds will help provide free cancer screenings for underserved communities in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas through EVMS HOPES Clinic and the Bon Secours Richmond Every Woman’s Life Program.
The album features a mix of classic and original holiday tunes performed by some of Virginia’s finest musical talent, including Andrew Randazzo (Butcher Brown), DJ Williams (DJ Williams Projekt, formerly of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), Todd Herrington & Dusty Ray Simmons (Cris Jacobs Band), rising jam-band favorite Kendall Street Company, Richmond singer-songwriter Deau Eyes, The LifeHacks, Prabir Mehta, tan.gent, Kenneka Cook, Peter Pope, Ben White, Shera Shi, and Lena Klett.
From Simmons’ funky original Wishlist to Williams’ acoustic rendition of Joy to the World, the record spans a variety of genres, including rock, pop, country, jazz, funk, and more. Highlights include a live recording of The R4ND4ZZO BIGB4ND’s cover of Vince Guaraldi’s Skating from their 2017 show at The Vagabond in Richmond, Shera Shi’s whimsical take on Where Are You Christmas? from The Grinch, Kendall Street Company’s cover of Truckin’ Trees for Christmas by 1960s country artist Red Simpson, and Elf on a Shelf, a catchy original tribute by Norfolk’s The LifeHacks.
The release is limited to 500 hand-numbered copies and features album art by designer and illustrator Nate Cepis. Three vinyl options are available: standard black, white, and a clear white splatter variant. Records will be available for donation on 1223Records.com starting Tuesday, November 12th, at 12 PM EST. A digital release will follow on Friday, December 6th.
About The Nancy Langhorne Foundation
12/23 Records is the music label arm of The Nancy Langhorne Foundation, a Virginia/Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for cancer research and free screenings. Since 2017, the foundation has raised over $70,000 for organizations such as Eastern Virginia Medical School, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and The Medical College of Virginia through annual benefit concerts and record releases.
The foundation has previously partnered with the late James Casey, saxophonist for Trey Anastasio Band, to create a charity record in 2022. Casey passed away in 2023 from colon cancer, and XMAS in VA is dedicated in his memory.
Other notable Christmas releases by 12/23 Records include collaborations with Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band) in 2023, DJ Williams in 2021 and 2023, and Grahame Lesh (Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends) in 2024.
In addition to records, the foundation hosts an annual holiday benefit concert in Norfolk, VA. Previous performers include DJ Williams, James Casey, Cris Jacobs, Lil Internet, Grateful Jed, Prabir Trio, Shera Shi, and more. This year’s event will be held on December 21st at Smartmouth Brewery in Norfolk.
Release Details
Album Name: XMAS in VA
Label: 12/23 Records
Available: Tuesday, November 12th, 12 PM EST
Formats: Limited-edition vinyl (black, white, clear white splatter) and digital release on December 6th
Track Listing:
- Dusty Ray Simmons – Wishlist
- Kendall Street Company – Truckin’ Trees for Christmas
- Peter Pope – Christmas Pets
- Prabir Mehta – Christmas Time in Jackson Ward
- Shera Shi – Wruxmas?
- Todd Herrington – In the Workshop
- R4ND4ZZO BIGB4ND – Sk8n
- Ben White – Brother Arius
- The LifeHacks – Elf on a Shelf
- Lena Klett – River
- Deau Eyes – Smoky Mountain Christmas
- Kenneka Cook – Sleigh Ride
- DJ Williams – Joy to the World
- Todd Herrington – All These Things
- tan.gent – Put a Little Love in Your Heart
- Peter Pope – This Time of Year
Purchase Link: www.1223Records.com
