For us, music has always been about storytelling, because stories fuel our connection as human beings; so when we set out to make a Christmas album, we knew it would be about exploring the universal stories we all share.

For many, the Christmas story is a celebration of the essence of their faith that two millennia ago, God came to Earth in human form to redeem humanity. But there are other stories here, too, very human stories that resonate in the contemporary world regardless of religious belief. There is the story of a refugee family fleeing persecution, relying on the mercy and generosity of strangers; and the story of a child born in poverty and injustice who grows up to profoundly influence the world. There is the story of a young mother caught up in the mundane chores of child care, and the story of guests so wrapped up in celebrating that they forget who the party is for. There is the story of expectations unmet, the story of no...