How can people find your music? You can find my music on all streaming platforms, and Bandcamp!
What is your current single and/or album? I just released a double single – “New Used Car” and “Double-Sided”
What was a typical Thanksgiving meal look like for your family? As an Armenian family, no meal is complete without pilaf! The first time my husband came to Thanksgiving, he was a little confused that we didn’t do mashed potatoes. We never do. Sometimes we will have Ghapama – which is a fancier rice pilaf cooked with dried fruits inside a pumpkin. Rice will always make an appearance, and usually at the expense of the potato. Armenians love Ghapama so much they wrote a song about it! Definitely worth checking out.
What were your Thanksgiving traditions when you were younger? Hmm most of our traditions involve food. Besides pilaf, my dad would make this very retro pineapple and sweet potato dish. His stepfather taught him to make it. I guess he used to run a restaurant in Niagara Falls back in the day, and this is something he used to make. Sounds weird- but if you get the pineapple caramelized just right- it is perfection. I also remember my cousins bringing films on VHS to watch. They were older, and way more clued into pop culture than I was. They taught me the Macarena! I have a distinct memory of watching ’10 Things I Hate about You’ with them on Thanksgiving for the first time.
How has your Thanksgiving celebration changed since you have became an adult? I am nostalgic for the VHS tapes, but those are no longer part of our thanksgiving day. Our baby daughter was born in October, so this is the first year celebrating with her. Although she is a bit too young to partake in the food aspect, and I have a feeling she will nap through most of the festivities, it is exciting to think about the traditions we will pass on to her. And for the first time this year we are making mashed potatoes! (Not sure if my husband will read this, but we wanted to surprise him…)
What is your favorite Thanksgiving Day memory? Definitely when my great Uncle Varujan came up to stay with us. He lived in the Bronx in New York City, and it was always a big deal when he would visit. He was very artistic and would spend hours drawing with me.
What are you most thankful for this year? My daughter!
Do you prefer artificial Christmas trees or real trees? Real all the way! I love the smell of the pine. Amanda Shires’ song “A Real Tree This Year” just about sums it up.
When do you decorate your Christmas tree? It differs every year. We usually wait till mid December. Armenians don’t celebrate Christmas till January 6th (which is Epiphany in other Christian traditions), so the tree needs to be fresh to last into January. I make a new tree topper every year with magazine cut outs, foil, and any other odds and ends I can find. My favorite one was the David Bowie tree topper I made when I was living in Chicago.
What is your favorite Christmas song? What makes it your favorite? Oh man, hard to pick a favorite song. My favorite Christmas album of all time is Odetta’s “Christmas Spirituals.” I listen to it year round. I would also add “The Cherry Tree Carol” into the mix. Also, Stan Rogers’ “First Christmas” always makes me cry. I love Aimee Mann’s “I Was Thinking I Could Clean up for Christmas,” John Prine’s “Christmas in Prison,” and Dar Williams’ “The Christians and the Pagans.”
What is your go-to holiday drink? Anything with ginger!
What is your favorite Christmas present that you have ever received? Last year my husband framed a copy of my debut album “Nayri” for me.
What were your Christmas traditions when you were younger? Singing! Usually followed by a big potluck party my parents would throw. They’d invite all our neighbors.
How have your Christmas celebrations changed since becoming an adult? We now make ebelskivers (a pancake tradition from my husbands family). And we still sing!
What is your favorite Christmas memory? Waking up to snow in Montreal.
How do you spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day? My husband calls this time between Christmas and New Year’s Day “postmas preyear.” We usually spend it cooking, and eating, and thrifting.
How do you spend New Year’s Eve? Different every year, but usually we lay low. Last year we went out for sushi. And watching “Grease” with my childhood friend.
What do you typically eat on New Year’s Day? We don’t have a specific New Years Day foods that we eat. But around New Years, Armenians begin their preparations for Armenian Christmas. My grandmother used to make Anoush Abour every year. It is a sweet dessert porridge made with cooked wheat kernels, nuts and dried fruit. She would season hers with rose water and cinnamon. And then it is traditional to eat fish and, you guessed it, more pilaf.
Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for 2025? To find the joy in small moments. To love my family and friends fiercely. And to sing to my daughter as much as possible.