What inspired you to create a Christmas album?

Tyler Shaw: I’ve always loved the holidays and everything around them. Although it’s freezing outside, Christmas music seems to bring a special type of warmth into the house and makes you feel warm and fuzzy. For the past eight years, I’ve released a new holiday song each year, and now I’ve finally tied everything together with a few new tracks. It’s always been a goal of mine to release a full Christmas album, and it feels extra special that it will also be available on vinyl.

Can you walk us through the creative process for selecting songs on A Tyler Shaw Christmas?

Tyler Shaw: For sure, it’s definitely a team effort. When it comes to selecting songs, I try to go for ones that haven’t been covered too often. If you look at my tracklist, a lot of the covers I’ve released aren’t the most mainstream, which makes it a fun challenge. The creative process itself is a lot of trial and error—figuring out what works. I want to keep the integrity of the original song but also add my own spin to it.

So, I’ll start by getting as close as I can to the original, but then I’ll go back and tweak things here and there to make it feel more like my version. It’s all about finding that balance.

You’re going on a Christmas tour across Canada. Tell us a bit about that.

Tyler Shaw: I’m super excited, as this will be my second Christmas tour. I went on my first one last year, and I didn’t really know what to expect, but I had a blast, so I wanted to do another this year. We've got a bunch of dates in Ontario, and then we're heading to the East Coast as well. The tour starts on November 14, just in time to get in the Christmas spirit, and it’s going to be a jolly good time.

Let's take a trip down memory lane when you won the MuchMusic Coca-Cola Cover Contest in 2012. How do you feel looking back at that moment and seeing how far you’ve come as an artist?

Tyler Shaw: Oh man. Yeah, that was so fresh and so new for me. I started writing music when I was about 13 or 14 years old, but after that contest I was thrown into the industry rather quickly, meeting corporate labels and just learning the ropes of the industry, which was a huge learning curve. Looking back on it now, I knew absolutely nothing. I was so naive and ignorant, but I feel that's just how it usually is when you're young and you get thrown into something that's super fresh and new. It was definitely an experience, and I'm obviously grateful for it because it led me to where I am now. It was a moment in my life that I'll never forget because it was life-changing.

What would you tell your younger self looking back?

Tyler Shaw: Oh wow, so much. But if I had to pick one thing, it would be to take it slow. You don’t have to rush. Just slow down and breathe. Yeah, just breathe, man. I think that’s what I’d say.

You're a mental health advocate, and you've talked about the industry's highs and lows. Can you share a bit about your experience and why you choose to talk about it?

Tyler Shaw: You know, I did say that, and it's completely true, but at the same time, you don't have to be in the industry to have highs and lows. I think life in general, no matter who you are and what you do, you're going to go through highs and lows. For me, mental health has always been something I cared about, even back in middle school. I don’t know if "passion" is the right word, but it’s always been a topic I felt strongly about. I’ve always wanted to advocate for speaking up, finding help, and being vulnerable. Over the years, I wish I had done more with my platform about using my voice to advocate, but now I’m committed to doing more. I’ve partnered with Movember this year to create content and send messages specifically aimed at men. I think we’re often taught at a young age to just "suck it up," but that mindset is harmful.

If you're not feeling your best, it'll reflect in the way you treat other people and you treat yourself. It’s an important subject that deserves to be taken seriously.

What message do you want to convey to your fans during the holidays?

Tyler Shaw: The holidays can be tough for a lot of people—whether it’s financial stress or the loss of a loved one around this time. I want my album to bring joy, comfort, and peace to everyone. There are high-energy tracks, but there are also more reflective ones that might resonate depending on your mood. I hope that when people listen to the album, they find something that gives them comfort or helps them feel a little bit better. There’s a variety of vibes, and I hope people can find the ones that speak to them.

For upcoming tour dates or to stay updated on Tyler Shaw, follow him on social media @tylershawmusic or visit his official website, tylershawmusic.com.

This interview has been edited for brevity.