Art Credit: Allison Conway
December 18, 2023: Today Producer Ben Hosley has announced the release of Slow Xmas 3, a compilation of alternative Christmas music released by Bone Sound Inc Worldwide. Like predecessors of Christmases past, the 3rd official Slow Xmas album showcases a variety of musicians interpreting and creating based on one simple prompt: gotta be slow. Among this year’s featured artists is Oscar-nominated actress and singer Amy Irving, performing a modern and appropriately paced version of “We Three Kings.”
“I didn’t know about Slow Xmas until my son/producer Gabe made me aware of it but I am thrilled to be a part of it!” writes Irving. “Also any friend of Griffin Newman is a friend of mine. We made a very different version of “We Three Kings” from the one on last year’s mix.” Slow Xmas 3 is now available across all streaming services.
Stream / Download Slow Xmas 3
Spotify – Apple Music – Bandcamp – Youtube
The creative force behind the Slow Xmas tradition is NYC-based audio producer Ben Hosley. Reflecting on the growing spirit of Slow Xmas over the years, Hosley exhorts that “The children must be allowed to be children again. They must learn to play. They must learn what it means to have fun… we need a Santa Claus on Mars.” What began in 2020 as a bonus content offering for Blank Check with Griffin and David – the acclaimed film / comedy podcast where Ben serves as the longtime producer – has continued to evolve from its chopped and screwed, vaporwave-adjacent origins. Subsequent Slow Xmas volumes featured performances from Heavy Gus, Podcast notable Roman Mars, and Sad13, the solo project of Sadie Dupuis from Speedy Ortiz, recorded with members of Cloud Nothings.
“People used to ask why I do this weird project every year? Now they just don’t ask me.”
– Ben Hosley
Hosley has spent eight years as Executive Producer and on-mic personality for Blank Check. He previously worked at Spotify’s in-house content studio and founded the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater’s bicoastal podcast network. He is an alumnus of The Annoyance Theater in Brooklyn and UCB. His work has appeared on Fast Company, Uproxx, IFC, Vulture, The A/V Club. He has also been “getting into fashion,” and launched his own clothing and lifestyle brand called Congratulations, with the fashion line’s signature “Dang Ass Freak” Tee shirt gracing Vulture’s 2023 Pop-Culture Gift Guide.
About Blank Check
Blank Check is a long-running movie and culture podcast. It’s hosted by film critic for The Atlantic, David Sims, and by actor Griffin Newman; whose recent credits include Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Disney’s Disenchanted.
SLOW XMAS Vol. 2 Tracklist:
1. “On Mars” – brend_zombley
2. “Silent Night” – Josh Richmond
3. “We Three Kings” – Amy Irving, Goolis & Aaron is Your Friend
4. “Stare At The Fire” – Ultra Contra
5. “Auld Lang Syne” – Gabe Wax
6. “Christmas is Slow This Year” – Heavenly Peace
7. “Elves Harp” – Future Museums
8. “Oh, Watch The Stars (Slow)” – JPW
