Jon Cornwall keeps his “chin up” with his new Christmas single, Grinchy Me

Just in time for the holiday season, Halifax-based folk and Canadiana artist Jon Cornwall is keeping his “chin up” this Christmas by releasing his single Grinchy Me from his 2024 album Great Villagers.

Funny enough, writing Grinchy Me helped me remember what the point of this holiday really is. – Jon Cornwall

Telling the story of someone overwhelmed by the holiday season who eventually finds comfort in his loved ones, Cornwall wrote Grinchy Me just before Christmas two years ago, when money was tight, and he was stressed about keeping his family happy.

“I have always loved Christmas, but that particular year I was dreading it and started to feel myself turning inward and not wanting to see anyone at all,” he says. “Funny enough, writing Grinchy Me helped me remember what the point of this holiday really is.”

But while Grinchy Me has all the hallmarks of an emotional Christmas song, what makes this single especially notable is the accompanying music video, which blends Cornwall’s heartfelt lyrics with quirky visual storytelling.

“I’ve always wanted to put out a Christmas song,” says Cornwall. “Broadcasters often look for Canadian Christmas content, so I thought it might increase my chances of getting airtime. But really, the timing came together when Andrew [Buckles] emailed me with an idea for a video.”

A longtime friend and collaborator, Buckles suggested using “chin puppets” for the video, a technique in which characters are created by drawing faces on the chin and filmed upside down. “I’ve been experimenting with chin-puppet videos, originally with my kids, and I thought it would mesh perfectly with Jon’s song,” says Buckles. “I emailed him with the idea, and thankfully, he was on board.”

With Cornwall on board, getting his other band members – DJ Timmons, Alanna MacLellan Mansell, and Kent Sobey – to play along took little convincing. “Nobody questioned it,” says Cornwall. “We trust Andrew and his creativity completely. Plus, it was just a great excuse for all of us to hang out and have some fun.”

Filmed in the tiny hamlet of Great Village, Nova Scotia, in a church hall previously used for the television show Brojects, from which Cornwall got the title for his album Great Villagers, the video features the band performing in an upside-down puppet world.

Buckles’ process involved an innovative setup with no hidden puppeteers.”The band members themselves animate the puppets,” says Buckles. “It was tricky, especially making sure the puppet actions synced with the band’s performances. When Jon, for instance, plays his piano, his puppet mirrors that action. It was a bit of a rigmarole to get it all to work, but with some clever editing, it came together.”

The release of Grinchy Me has sparked new opportunities for Cornwall. “It’s amazing how a little bit of action, like this video, can trigger opportunities,” he says.

Buckles, meanwhile, is already brainstorming his next project using the chin puppet technique. “I’ve got something in the works for another project that uses the same technique,” he says. “But for now, I’m just happy Jon’s finally getting some light on his album.”

You can find out more about Jon Cornwall and his music at johncornwall.com.