Steven Stewart - Christmas: The Thrill of Hope (2018)

Steven Stewart is a singer/ songwriter based in Finland who has written songs for Gold and Platinum albums for local and international artists including Idols, The Voice, X-Factor, Eurovision. He is a popular voiceover actor for many brands and was also the music director and host of the Nokia Music Podcast for many years.

Recorded in Finland, the land of Santa Claus Village and the North Pole, this beautiful album is a mix of fresh arrangements of classic Christmas songs, English versions of traditional Scandinavian carols, as well as gorgeous, new, heart-warming originals for the family to enjoy.

The music is grounded in real instruments for an intimate, live feel of piano, guitars, and strings. A few songs feature a very scandinavian instrument called the Key Fiddle (Nyckelharpa) which is similar to a violin with piano keys, so listeners can hear the subtle wooden clicks as its played which gives a warm, very human touch with a deep rich sound.

The album includes some of the best talent from the Finnish music scene as well as special international guest vocalists.