Folk-Pop Artist BLUE MONKEY Delivers "Dive Bar Christmas" TODAY
ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FILMED AT SANTA’S PUB IN NASHVILLE
NASHVILLE, TN (December 6, 2024) — What better way to embrace the festive spirit than by kicking back on a barstool, raising a glass, and soaking in the glow of dim, cozy lights? Folk-pop artist Blue Monkey flips the script on traditional holiday scenes, reminding us that Christmas isn’t about the setting — it’s about the company you keep. Charlee Remitz’s sonic alter ego, Blue Monkey — praised by LA Weekly, American Songwriter, and Alternative Press — drops their unique spin on a holiday track with “Dive Bar Christmas” out today. They have created a sound that lives in the in-betweens: it’s folk that doesn’t stick to the script, ambient pop that refuses the gloss, along with a lyrical story that dives for the heart.
STREAM “DIVE BAR CHRISTMAS” HERE.
Offering a fresh take on what Christmas can be, the official music video for the track was shot at Santa’s Pub, a beloved Nashville dive bar known for its year-round holiday charm. Depicting scenes of acquaintances enjoying each other’s company, the group comes together for a “Holiday Support Group,” where they share candid moments and reflect on the bittersweet reality that the holidays aren’t always cheerful. With this unique outlook on the season, Blue Monkey intends to bridge the gap between joyful Christmas tunes and somber holiday tracks, finding the positivity in the melancholic and the reality in the sugar-coated.
In Blue Monkey’s universe, the boundaries between creator and creation dissolve, enabling art to flourish in its most genuine and primal form. Blue Monkey shares, “The moniker, in a way, removes the presence of impact, returning the art to its most primitive stages — creation, or else.” This signifies a break from rigid identities, inviting listeners to step beyond the limits of the self. Blue Monkey delves into the essence of retaining childlike imagination, encouraging us to fully embrace our potential without the constraints imposed by society.
Blue Monkey (Chuen), the 11th sign of the Mayan Zodiac, symbolizes the birth of creativity for humanity, uniting the past, present, and future. For Charlee Remitz, it transcends the idea of an alter ego, becoming a gateway to freedom — where the weight of an inherited name can be cast aside, and fresh seeds of creativity can bloom in an expansive garden.
Blue Monkey introduced this new persona with the release of “Pylons” on August 16 and “Pretty Things” on September 13. “Pylons,” with its fitting 11:11 runtime — a nod to its Mayan influence — paints a picture of life in Nebraska, where simplicity thrives and stars illuminate the sky. Meanwhile, “Pretty Things” celebrates the transformative power of aesthetics, exploring how the way we adorn our surroundings can profoundly impact our lives, striving to bring that truth into focus. Watch the “Pretty Things” music video here.
Blue Monkey’s most recent single release was the unvarnished “Common Enemies,” on November 22. The track exposes the tenderness, the betrayal, and the competition hiding just beneath the surface of most friendships. The track doesn’t ask permission to go dark; it leans into the real places, the spaces where friendship gets tangled with resentment and personal agendas, where human connection’s rough edges are exposed.
STREAM “COMMON ENEMIES” HERE.
Blue Monkey’s whimsical perspective on life has ignited more than just a revival of artistry; it has initiated a homecoming. This outlook encourages a return to patience, advocating for a journey through life filled with joy rather than obligation. With intentionality at its heart, Blue Monkey investigates the idea that art can lead the way, where cultivating patience gives rise to freedom, allowing for a detachment from the constraints of time and creating abundant opportunities for the most inspired creations to emerge.
Blue Monkey is about refusing categorization, working in a folk-pop hybrid that feels limitless, a place where banjo riffs meet airy synths, and the result feels like it was always meant to be. The music becomes a release — a way for the artist to strip down identity, reinvent, and give listeners a way into that freedom, too. With vivid lyrics that invite listeners to question, reflect, and reclaim, Blue Monkey is carving out a space that’s wholly their own. Their work is a call to all who want to transcend boundaries — of genre, of self — to explore, play, and live without labels.
As Blue Monkey continues to transform, they aspire for their music to serve as a permission slip for others to explore, play, and redefine their identities without boundaries.
