The Story Behind “Under The Christmas Tree”
I’d been working with my original recording that featured CiggiBurns’ haunting vocals from “Under The Christmas Tree” and Ezra Skull’s gorgeous guitar work from “Deeper Dreams.” I loved how their contributions came together - CiggiBurns’ crystalline voice capturing those quiet Christmas Eve moments when the world feels suspended between anticipation and reflection, paired with Ezra’s warm, contemplative guitar tones. But I kept hearing something more in it, imagining how AI could help me transform this collaboration into something that captured that bittersweet nostalgia of winter nights even more deeply.
I uploaded my recording as reference audio to Suno, asking the AI to help me reimagine the piece. The process felt like a true collaboration - the AI helped me slow everything down to this intimate 60 BPM pace and wrap it all in a warm, reverb-kissed atmosphere that felt like being inside a snow globe. What emerged was this delicate interplay where piano arpeggios dance around the vocal melody while a walking bassline keeps everything grounded, and the guitars provide these perfect counter-melodies that never compete but always complement.
Working with AI on this track showed me how technology can serve emotion rather than overshadow it, creating space for each element to breathe while building something completely new from these generous Creative Commons contributions. It’s exactly the kind of collaborative magic that makes ccMixter feel like home.
—- TECHNICAL DETAILS —-
This AI-assisted track was created on Suno.com.
Song: “Cold Starry Nights”
Featured Artists from original recording:

Under The Christmas Tree (CiggiBurns) - vocals/lyrics - https://ccmixter.org/people/CiggiBurns
Deeper Dreams Guitars (Ezra Skull) - guitar - https://ccmixter.org/people/Haskel

AI Platform: Suno.com
Process: audio uploaded as reference
Lyrics:
UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Verse
Cold starry nights
A white crescent moon
Sugar and spice
On a long wooden spoon

Verse
Snow flakes and snowballs
Ice skates and sleighs
Mulled wine and mince pies
Fires all ablaze

Verse
Round shining eyes
Pink little cheeks
“Is that present mine?”
But no child must peek

Chorus
Pine cones and candles, snow on the roof
The sound up above of a reindeer hoof
So many parcels, what can they be?
Under the skirts of a glittering tree

Verse
Piles of gifts (sung different)
Christmas bells ring
Lights in the trees
And carols to sing

Verse
Mugs of hot chocolate
A big swirl of cream
Small cold noses
Warmed by the steam

Verse
Millions of toys
On Santa’s sleigh
Flying round the world
Before Christmas Day

Chorus

Pine cones and candles, snow on the roof
The sound up above of a reindeer hoof
So many parcels, what can they be?
Under the skirts of a glittering tree

Bridge

Hush, hush little children
Run up to your beds
“Or you’ll spoil the magic”
The Christmas Elves said
Wait for the morning
Then open your eyes
Santa has left you a lovely surprise

Final Chorus
Be silent! Listen! Who’s on the roof?
Donner or Blitzen or Rudolph’s hoof?
The beautiful angel at the top of the tree
Blows a kiss that only Children can see