Michael James Scott Calls XMas EP His ‘Protest With Joy’ After Difficult Year: ‘This Is About Hope For The Future’
Michael James Scott is serving up some spice this holiday season with his debut album, ‘A Fierce Christmas!’
Michael James Scott is bringing his infectious cheer into your households this holiday season with the release of his debut album, A Fierce Christmas. Known for his role as the Genie in Broadway’s production of Aladdin, Michael decided to share the Christmas spirit and his stunning vocals after a difficult year of Broadway’s shutdown due to the ongoing pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. “This year has been insane, to say the least. But, through this year, the crazy thing is that with so much pivoting, there’s been a lot of conversation,” he explained in an EXCLUSIVE interview with HolllywoodLife.com. “There’s been a pandemic, but also there’s been a huge race awakening in our country, and so much conversation has happened and it has been incredible to be a voice of someone who is of color and is also gay.”
Two months ago, Michael was approached to record with with the label Scratch 17, based in his hometown of Orlando, FL, to produce the EP. “One of the biggest things that came out of this album, for me, was this being my protest. My protest was going to be joy this year,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with that, and for me, that was the idea of showing a black man’s face, giving joy.”
He continued, “Lord knows we need some joy. We need love and we need light and we need laughter.” Michael, who is used to performing 8 shows a week on Broadway, had that abruptly taken away, along with the entire theater community, in March when the doors shuttered due to the spread of Coronavirus. At this time, they’re predicting theaters won’t reopen until September 2021.
“I’m so used to being in the theater, together on Broadway, and the opposite is happening with this pandemic,” Michael said. “Not everyone celebrates Christmas, but everyone celebrate the holidays — that is a universal thing. And at this moment, it’s bigger than the word Christmas. It’s about this hope and the idea of hope for the future, and all the things we have to look forward to.”
Michael added, “I’ve always wanted to do an album, but it was one of those things of just being uncomfortable and putting yourself out there, and if there’s one thing this year has taught me, it’s truly that the time is now.” We couldn’t agree more!
Michael James Scott’s Christmas EP, A Fierce Christmas, is available on all streaming platforms!