"I Guess I’m a Romantic At Heart!" – D'ARTAGNAN Teases Christmas Single 'Merry Christmas Darling'
In a serendipitous twist of fate, Hampton Court Palace's ice rink set the stage for a love story as enchanting as it is real. One year after a heartfelt proposal under the twinkling lights of the same ice rink, D'Artagnan remains as devoted as ever. Not one to let such moments pass without tribute, D'Artagnan channels his emotions into his music, crafting the heartwarming festival single, 'Merry Christmas Darling.'
D'Artagnan's upcoming release is a glimpse into his own life, a tale of love that transcends the boundaries of time and space, and he's eager to share that warmth with the world during the holiday season. But that's not all—prepare for a visual feast as the new music video seamlessly blends cherished home videos with high-quality footage, all set against the backdrop of this extraordinary love story. For D'Artagnan, this is far from the first step into the world of music. Trained from an early age in various artistic disciplines, including dance at the prestigious Pineapple Studios, he and his brother formed a dynamic duo that quickly became a sensation. Their performances attracted the attention of none other than Hollywood's finest, including the likes of Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, and Michael J. Fox. On November 1st, 2023, 'Merry Christmas Darling' will be released, inviting audiences worldwide to share in the magic of Christmas and experience the love story that inspired it. D'Artagnan's melodies and lyrics promise to warm your heart and make this holiday season all the more special. Indie Boulevard was lucky to have an exclusive chat with D'Artagnan. Throughout our conversation, we were able to unearth numerous intriguing details about his new single, music video, and much more.
IB: Hey there, D'Artagnan! It's a pleasure to have you with us on Indie Boulevard. So, your brand new song 'Merry Christmas Darling'; is based on a real-life Christmas love story. Can you share more details about that magical first date at Hampton Court Palace's ice rink where you met Josie?
D'Artagnan: Josie & I met at a mutual friend’s birthday party on 21st December. We were both single at the time and I suggested that we all go ice skating at Hampton Court Palace ice rink between Christmas and New Year. A few people from the party said that they would come. However, on the day only Josie turned up with our friend who wanted just to watch. So Josie and I were thrust together on the ice. As I’m a decent skater I held her hand so she would feel safe. I had decided I really liked her and was happy that she trusted me to look after her on the ice. I even taught her to skate backwards (see video!). Following that we started dating.
IB: The fact that you proposed exactly a year later at the same place is incredibly romantic. What inspired you to choose Hampton Court Palace for such a special moment?
D'Artagnan: I had decided in the summer that I wanted to propose to Josie, I began to make plans as to how I would do this. I bought the ring in the summer and then asked Josie’s father for her hand in marriage in September. I thought there would be no better place to propose than the ice rink that has such a beautiful setting and was where we had had our first date. I guess I’m a romantic at heart! I suggested that we go skating to mark our first anniversary, but I kept my intended proposal as a huge secret from her.
IB: 'Merry Christmas Darling' captures the warmth and love of the holiday season. How did you translate your emotions and experiences into this heartwarming Christmas song?
D'Artagnan: I thought of the magic that Josie and I had shared and the lovely time that we were having. The words and melody came together very quickly. I really hoped the song would resonate with other people.
IB: Tell us about the creative process behind the new music video for 'Merry Christmas Darling'. How did you decide to combine new footage with home videos from your original date?
D'Artagnan: I wanted to tell the actual story with authentic material. It was fortunate that I had pictures and videos of our first date that were captured by our friend who was watching. I also had photographs of the proposal that were unexpectedly taken by the ice-photographer who kindly gifted the pictures to us. I then used new footage to weave it together as a whole piece to tell the story.
IB: Can you share any anecdotes or interesting stories from the set of the music
video that added to the overall magic of the production?
D'Artagnan: The blue Christmas jumper with the snowflakes on it that I wear was given to Josie’s father by Josie’s mother when they were 22 years old. She had bought it for him on a trip to Norway. It is the best Christmas jumper that I’ve seen and I love the fact it is vintage so nobody else will have one. I borrowed it from him to wear for filming. The house we used for filming is Josie’s parents house that they have lived in since she was 1 years old. It’s always a special place to be at Christmas time with its huge log fire. It was lovely to capture that family location in the video. We also had great fun filming at Piccadilly Circus by Eros, the God of love. We were keen to include our dog Rufus as he is such a cutie. It was fun to include our friends and neighbours in the party scene that was filmed at the Yellow Shark recording studio in Cheltenham where the song was recorded.
IB: Your 2019 album, 'Crush Hour', was a hit with over 100 FM stations across the UK. Can you tell us if you have any plans for another album in the future, and if so, can you give us a sneak peek into what we might expect from your upcoming musical projects?
D'Artagnan: I’m currently writing some new material and will be recording tracks in the New Year.
IB: You have a diverse artistic background, including dance at Pineapple Studios. How has your training in various arts influenced your music and performance style?
D'Artagnan: I have eclectic taste which all goes into the mix and I see what comes out.
IB: You and your brother made a name for yourselves performing for celebrities like Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, and Michael J. Fox. Could you share a memorable experience from those early performances?
D'Artagnan: I recall was when we performed for Roger Moore’s private birthday party at San Lorenzo’s in Knightsbridge. Whilst singing Blue Moon we changed the words to Blue Moore. It was all going so well that whilst singing the middle 8 we then looked at each other and spontaneously incorporated a reference to Gold Finger. He and his celebrity friends were over the moon!
IB: With 'Merry Christmas Darling' set to release on November 1, 2023, how do you plan to celebrate the holiday season this year? Any special events or traditions you're looking forward to?
D'Artagnan: I have lots of gigs and parties going on and am playing a gig at the Stroud Brewery on Christmas Eve. We will then go to Midnight Mass and on Christmas morning we will head off to the famous house in Nottinghamshire that you see in the video to spent it with family.
IB: As the holiday season approaches, what message would you like to convey to
your fans and the broader audience who will be listening to 'Merry Christmas
Darling' this Christmas?
D'Artagnan: I hope you all have a wonderful time, be kind to one another. As I sing in the song: ‘Wishing you love, wishing you joy, wishing you things you can’t buy’.
