Move over Cher, there’s a new holiday album on the scene. One of our favorite breakout stars and sassy pants, Matt Rogers, dropped his debut album Have You Heard of Christmas? which has earned him the title “The Prince of Christmas.” With him being crowned Prince, does that make Cher Queen of Christmas with her new album? Matt was quick to correct.
Let’s get it straight: Mariah is the Queen of Christmas. Cher is like a Christmas Auntie. She’s new to this. Mariah is true to this. With all due! I will say, I absolutely love Cher’s “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” and Leland [Matt’s producer] actually co-wrote that as well! When we were doing my album, I got to hear that song early. And I was like, “If she ends up not wanting that song, I do.” But she wanted it.
Based on his critically acclaimed Showtime special by the same name, the album features additional mixes and guest appearances by his buddy Bowen Yang, MUNA, Vincint, and music impresario Leland. This is not your grandmother’s Christmas album. Though there is sincerity at its core and often an homage to the albums of yesteryear, it has a tongue-in-cheek delivery that is undeniably Matt with songs like “Lube for the Sleigh,” “Hottest Female Up in Whoville,” and “God’s Up to His Tricks!” There are dance tracks, ballads, and Mariah-type anthems, everything you’d want in a gay Christmas for the whole family.
I think what I love most is that it’s musically and comedically eclectic. It’s all Christmas, but it’s every genre. If you didn’t think, like, a dirty trap club song could be a Christmas record, I have news for you … listen to my song “RUM PUM PUM.” Christmas can be anything. Even slutty!
The decision to make a holiday album as his debut recording was an easy one.
Christmas is just so overwhelming – in positive and negative ways! Of course, the energy of togetherness, giving, family, friendship and joy, are all wonderful themes. But it’s also a holiday and a whole season that is very much about money. And then there is a religious aspect that it seems like most of the world ignores. There’s also a whole cast of Christmas characters that really have nothing to do with that religious aspect. So, in that respect, there is just so much to say about it all. Or sing about it all, as it were. The concept of a Christmas album is, on the surface, so pure, but is actually so baldly Capitalist and bottom-line driven. I can’t help but think it’s all just funny. That made me want to do this.
In fact, Christmas is partly responsible for Matt’s sexual awakening.
One of the best memories I’ve ever had was the gift of receiving tickets to my first concert when I was 10. Funny enough, it was to Mariah Carey. I absolutely freaked out. I should have just come out as gay right there. No need to wait until I was 19. It was the Rainbow Tour at Madison Square Garden. It was incredible. She came out in a sailor outfit to perform “Honey” and she asked the crowd, “Do you like the ensemble?” I roared in approval. So iconic. She is the bar in all ways. So that was a joyous Christmas moment for me. Best and gayest gift ever. Thanks, mom and dad!
Have You Heard of Christmas? is released by Capitol Records, the iconic label responsible for some of the most memorable holiday albums in history by singers such as Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. No pressure, huh?
It’s funny, I had this whole image in my head of going into the studio and there being all these buttons and switches and knobs in front of me. But the reality is we did the entire album at Leland’s home studio in Laurel Canyon. It was very relaxing in terms of the environment. I think the first day, and the first few days honestly, were really me just learning HOW to be a recording artist. How to use my voice on the mic. It’s really a skill. Now, after doing this, I feel like being a singer and being a recording artist are really two vastly different things. If you’re lucky, you can do both and incorporate both.
Matt Rogers by Jen Rosenstein
Matt’s biggest challenges in completing the album?
For me, it was stamina and just staying on top of things vocally and health-wise, because we really didn’t have much time to record this and finish the whole product. You do several takes to get it right, and a lot of my songs aren’t easy to sing. I made it difficult for myself! We did this whole album in a little over three weeks in June and July, so it was intense. A lot of singing over and over again. Three of the songs are new, so we had to develop and write and record those, as well as adapt all of my older songs from last year’s comedy special, which were always done with just a piano, into full pop songs.
What I learned about myself is how much I loved this process. Every day recording the album was fun for me. I even love doing my own backing vocals and harmonies. It’s so fun. I got into the recording artist thing!
Fully realizing his title as a recording artist, Matt hits the road for a national tour for the album this December. Are you ready, US?
Adding recording artist to his already impressive list of entertainment credits that include comedian, actor, TV host, writer, and podcaster, Matt has had quite the star jump in the last couple of years. Starting out as a staff writer for Comedy Central’s The Other Two and Netflix’s series Q Force, he and his bestie, SNL’s Bowen Yang, made a splash with their hit podcast Las Culturistas, most recently winning iHeartRadio’s Podcast of the Year. Playing a villain of sorts in the hit gay film Fire Island, he went on to hold his own opposite Jenifer Lewis, Molly Shannon, and Vanessa Bayer in the hilarious, but short-lived, I Love That for You. He has popped up in guest spots on a myriad of shows (did you catch his Cell Block Tango in Glamorous?) and was included in Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch,” and yes, we are all watching his star quickly rise. He has gotten comfortable in the interview chair, being at home with Kelly Clarkson and Andy Cohen on their talk shows, as well as a multitude of other media outlets. The media can’t resist his charm, his down-to-earth attitude, and his snappy wit. His current success represents years of hard work, graduating from NYU, studying with the Upright Citizens Brigade, and taking whatever jobs came his way.
Five years ago, I was actually at one of my lowest points and I really wasn’t sure my career was going to go anywhere. I was deep in the throes of my “return to Saturn,” if you will, and I still hadn’t worked in the industry in a meaningful way. I’ve been really fortunate, but I will say if I could go back five years, I don’t even think I’d tell myself “Hey, don’t worry, it’s going to work out.” I think instead what I would say is, “Enjoy the fact that you have the time right now to create and figure out who you are as an artist and a comedian. Go out and be stupid and fail, because no one’s watching.” Nowadays, it can sometimes be harder to create and try things because of who people are. I didn’t get it then, but that time of throwing things to the wall and watching them stick or NOT stick was really important. So, enjoy flopping! One day, you’ll be terrified too.
Matt is one of many from the LGBTQ community who is currently taking the spotlight in mainstream media. With the boom of openly LGBTQ actors and the increase in our community’s content and storytelling in all genres of entertainment, openly gay actors are no longer relegated to independent screenwork.
I don’t take it for granted that the generation before me didn’t have these opportunities. Maybe that’s why I say yes to so much and want to do so much. Because I’m no better than anyone who came before me, I just happen to be a part of a moment where we’re being recognized and the demand for people to see themselves and also see diversity and different kinds of people on screen and elsewhere is being answered to and catered to. I’m so inspired by everyone around me, I always have been. I am unsurprised by the success of all my peers, and grateful for it. And if I had something to do with it, then I’m truly proud.
Now with being a GLAAD darling, talk show guest, and article-inspiring spokesperson for our community, does he feel the pressure to change his persona to best represent the gay community?
If I can give myself credit for one thing, it’s that I do a rather good job of being my authentic self and not sacrificing anything to be palatable to people who might be weirded out by the queer of it all. I hopefully set an example of just radically being yourself instead of playing someone else’s game. I tried that for a really long time and it didn’t fit me. Maybe I don’t say every little thing I think anymore, but everything else I’d like to think is pretty similar to how I’ve always been, and I’d like to think that the “10 years ago me” would be proud of me now. I know he would be, actually.
Matt has learned the definition of busy. Being pulled in a million different directions with so many new opportunities, he’s had to up his mental health game.
This was really the first year I ever really engaged with my mental health in a meaningful way. And it’s funny you mention the “busy” thing because I genuinely used to think that being busy and being successful would solve everything, or that achieving certain things and hitting certain milestones and benchmarks would lead to happiness. It does, but it also doesn’t. I got on Lexapro this year for a reason. I went through a breakup that knocked me on my ass so badly that even months later I couldn’t get out of bed. I tried to get through by being busy and it didn’t work. It actually made it worse. So, I asked for help and now that things are really picking up for me again, I’m not overwhelmed. I feel okay. I also love therapy. I wish I could do it every day. Life can be a lot. I love living in a time when therapy is normalized.
Even with his busy schedule, he still makes time for his ever-growing podcast. With the success that both Matt and Bowen have had, their guest list just gets more impressive, and their audience just gets that much bigger, but it still has that same sincerity and simplicity that first made it famous.
It’s not a hardship at all to make time to talk to my best friend. He happens to be my favorite person to talk to. And especially when people make clear to us just how much the podcast has meant to them over these years, it’s just so gratifying. I love everyone so much for listening, and I just want to hug them forever – but … boundaries.
After his album tour is completed, he, in his words, plans to do shit. Not even New Year’s Eve plans. He’s earned it after these couple of whirlwind years. His album has been greatly received, and he states that his next album will go in the complete opposite direction – maybe a heavy metal album?
As far as his New Year resolution, it’s very simple:
I should probably be better with money. Actually, I definitely should be better with money.
And his message to the community this holiday?
Hey boo, stream my album Have You Heard of Christmas? And – if you can’t love yourself how in the HELL you gonna love somebody else?
Stream Have You Heard of Christmas? anywhere you get music. Hip Tip: It is also available on vinyl.
Get tickets for Matt’s tour at mattrogerscomedy.com.
[Featured Photo by Jen Rosenstein]Last modified: November 27, 2023
