There is something inherently nostalgic about the holiday duet. It is a calculated piece of seasonal architecture designed to pull at the heartstrings while dominating the airwaves. Whether you are spinning the unlikely pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie or the domestic warmth of Johnny Cash and June Carter, the formula works because it feels like home.
Canadian country mainstay Jojo Mason understands this better than most. He has teamed up with the formidable Kristin Carter for a new seasonal offering titled *The Gift*. The track hit streaming services just as the Dec. 1 threshold approached, offering a much-needed shot of dopamine to a fan base that spent most of 2020 staring at four walls.
I caught up with Mason to talk about the mechanics of holiday cheer and the sheer exhaustion of a year that refused to quit. We talked about his RV tour, the *Changes* EP and why he decided to make mental health the centre of his digital footprint. He is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, even when that sleeve is a festive sweater.
The chemistry between Mason and Carter on the track is undeniable. It is the kind of vocal pairing that feels inevitable once you hear it. Mason has a grit that grounds Carter’s crystalline delivery, creating a balance that many holiday tracks lack.
"How awesome is that right? I’m so happy I got a chance to finally sing with her. She’s so rad. I love working with great people, so when the opportunity to collab came up, I had to jump at it," Mason says.
The industry timeline for Christmas music is notoriously bizarre. While the rest of us are worrying about sunscreen and patio drinks, artists are often locked in wood-panelled studios trying to conjure the feeling of a blizzard. It is a strange, disjointed way to work, but it is the reality of the release cycle.
Mason explains that the hustle started long before the frost hit the ground. For some, the tinsel comes out before the Canada Day fireworks have even faded.
"We got rolling in early fall, but some people go as far as recording in the summertime. I was seeing all these post from friends hitting the recording studio in July and August — but I get that because, as of next year I’m going to start celebrating half Christmases, as well. I feel like we deserve that after what we’ve all gone through this year. Christmas in July and Christmas in December. It really doesn’t take much for me to get in any kind of Christmas spirit. If it was socially acceptable, I would probably celebrate all year round. I mean, why wouldn’t you?" Mason says.
The 2020 holiday season was a logistical nightmare for most families. Between travel restrictions and the general anxiety of the era, the traditional gathering felt like a relic of the past. Mason, however, found a way to multiply the joy, even if the logistics were messy.
He leans into the chaos of a blended family schedule. For him, the holiday is less about the date on the calendar and more about the volume of people he gets to see.
"Well, like everyone else, we’re not exactly sure what it’s going to look like this year. I’m lucky enough to be in a relationship with somebody who gets two different Christmas, so now in total I get three Christmases with family every year. That means I get three batches of presents and I get to spoil three batches of family, and I love every second of it. For me, Christmas is all about taking the time to unload all of the BS that you deal with all throughout the year and focus strictly on the important things — which is family. The love that you have in your household with your loved ones and your animals and the time you get to spend is just so important. Those are the biggest moments for me that I cherish so deeply," Mason says.
Then there is the great debate: the tree. It is a polarizing topic in any household. You have the convenience of the artificial limb versus the high-maintenance reality of a shedding pine. Mason is a purist, even if his household is divided on the matter.
He wants the sensory experience. He wants the smell of the forest in his living room, regardless of the vacuuming involved.
"I think a lot of people really dig the artificial ones, and that’s totally cool — and my lady wants to get one of those really big trees that you can just put up and take down every year. But I kind of want to get a real one. You know what I’m saying? And you do it up right — visit a sustainable tree farm. There’s just something about the smell of a pine tree when you wake up in the morning that really means its Christmas," Mason says.
There is a wild card in this domestic scene, though. His cat, Mayonnaise, is a first-timer when it comes to the festive foliage. Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows that a Christmas tree is just a giant, glittering climbing frame.
Give us a vaccine so we can get back to normal life. One of the things I miss the most is getting to see people smile. Walking around and not being able to smile at people is one of the hardest things. ... I just want to be able to spend some real time with my family — and I want to hug everybody.
Mason seems to be realizing the potential for disaster in real-time as we talk.
"Oh man. This is his first Christmas, so maybe I should be a little nervous about that," Mason says.
When you listen to *The Gift*, you are struck by the production. Scott Cooke, the man behind the boards, managed to capture a specific type of nostalgia. It does not sound like a modern country song trying to be a Christmas song; it sounds like a classic pop ballad from the era of oversized sweaters and music videos shot in soft focus.
Mason knew the song was the right move the moment the demo hit his ears. It had that unquantifiable "familiar" quality.
"I just love the old school feel of song. It feels like a 90s pop ballad Christmas song from back in the day. The minute I heard it, it felt so familiar. It also represented my chance to finally sing with Kristin. I pitched it to our producer Scott Cooke and asked him what he thought the chances were that Kristin would be down for it. We asked her and apparently it was an immediate yes as well. So, I think it was a match made in heaven. The song itself is just so refreshing and new. I love the classics, don’t get me wrong, but this one just felt so good. I felt like Kristin and I would blend together to sound really great, and I think we did a pretty good job. It’s all about the feel of the music for me. If it doesn’t make me feel anything, I’m doing it wrong," Mason says.
We pivoted to his personal influences. You can tell a lot about a singer by their favourite duets. Mason does not stick strictly to the country lane. He looks for vocal power and emotional resonance.
He name-checks a 90s R&B staple and a bluegrass-infused tear-jerker. It is an eclectic mix that explains his own versatile vocal style.
"One of my favourite duets of all time is Mariah Carey and Boys II Men — One Sweet Day. That’s my jam. Whiskey Lullaby, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, also amazing," Mason says.
The conversation turned toward the philosophy of giving. In a consumer-driven culture, it is easy to get lost in the price tags. But Mason is a practical man. He values the intent over the invoice.
He is also the type of person who finds receiving gifts awkward. He would much rather be the one doing the "spoiling."
"I’m a very practical shopper. I think gifts and presents are very, very important — but it doesn’t matter how much you spend. It matters, you know, how much thought you put into it. I think it’s important to show people that you that you care and that you love them, whether it be making them a card or making them a gift. To be totally honest, I hate when people buy me presents. I like spoiling other people. That’s my thing," Mason says.
However, even the most selfless person has one gift that sticks with them. For Mason, it was a gesture from his fiancé that was so deeply personal it redefined what a "present" could be.
It happened just before he hit the road with the James Barker Band. It was a pre-emptive strike against the loneliness of the tour bus.
"The best gift I’ve ever gotten, ever, was from my fiancé. This was a couple of years ago when I was getting ready to start traveling with the James Barker Band tour. It was starting up right in January, and it was the first time we were going to be away from each other for a long period of time. She made me cards for every emotion that I could possibly be feeling while I was gone. Like, if I was happy, I’d open one up and she’d have some pictures of us and a note or a little funny story about us. Or if I was sad, or if I missed home, she had some pictures of her and the dog and a note that would say how much she missed me too. I was blown away. I almost started tearing up — it really was incredible. Those are the kinds of things that mean the most, right?" Mason says.
I asked him if he could ever top that. It is a high bar for any partner to clear.
"No. Absolutely not. But I’ll spend the rest of my life trying," Mason says.
Despite the global standstill, Mason’s 2020 was incredibly productive. He released the *Changes* EP and managed to pull off a cross-country tour in an RV, playing 30 shows in 30 days. It was a feat of endurance and safety protocols.
But when asked for his highlight, he does not point to the CCMA Awards or the chart positions. He points to the quiet moments at home.
"Honestly all of those things were amazing, but the best thing to come out of 2020 was the time I got to spend with my fiancé. I would consider that a massive win. We’ve all been going through so much, and I feel like we really got to spend so much time learning from each other and supporting each other. I feel so lucky to be with somebody like her. Professionally, I would say getting to travel across Canada in the RV. It was 30 distanced and safe shows in 30 days, and it was amazing. I look back on that experience and just smile. We got to go spread joy across the country during the pandemic. For a musician, it doesn’t get any better than that," Mason says.
The RV tour was a lifeline for fans who had been starved of live music. It was a reminder that the industry could still function, even if it had to be reimagined. Mason is adamant that the effort was worth every mile.
"In a heartbeat. There’s no question about, I would. One of my favourite things to do is to play music, and to play music for people. So, if I get a chance to go out and play, even in the middle of a pandemic, I’m going to do it. Safety was so important, of course, and we made sure the protocols were in place — but man, we really felt like we were doing something so special. I felt so uplifted and so hopeful, and it was an experience that really helped keep my mind strong," Mason says.
That focus on mental strength is not just a passing phase for him. Mason has been vocal about his own struggles, launching "Mental Health Mondays" on Instagram to foster a sense of community. It is a rare moment of vulnerability in an industry that often demands a polished, perfect exterior.
He saw the collective trauma of the pandemic and decided to use his platform as a pressure valve.
"Back in March when the pandemic first hit — it was a big shock for me, mentally, physically and emotionally. If it was that big of a deal to me, I knew it would be to everyone else as well. I was one of many people who were going through a lot and didn’t feel like they had an avenue to talk or have anyone to just listen. Friends in the music business, my parents, my fiancé and one of my best buddies, Joe, were all going through the same thing. And I felt like if I need to talk to somebody, I’m sure somebody else did too. So, I wanted to give everyone a safe space — one where they would know they’re not alone, because the worst thing in the world is to have to do it all by yourself. I wanted to give people an outlet to set some goals and start the week off right, every week. And hopefully it’s as good for them as it is for me. If somebody relates to it, that’s more than I could ask for," Mason says.
Looking toward the horizon of 2021, Mason’s wishes are the same as everyone else’s. He wants the masks off and the crowds back. He wants the simple human interactions that we all took for granted before the world stopped turning.
"Give us a vaccine so we can get back to normal life. One of the things I miss the most is getting to see people smile. Walking around and not being able to smile at people is one of the hardest things. So next year, when everything gets back to normal, we’re not going to be wearing masks and we’re going to be playing shows. We’ll be able to get together with all our friends, and I’ll be able to see my dad. I just want to be able to spend some real time with my family — and I want to hug everybody," Mason says.
