What is your new carol called?

It’s called Christmas in the Sun. It’s bright, joyful, very silly and full of everything we love (and laugh at) about celebrating Christmas in the middle of the summer.

Joe Twist. Photo © Daniel O’Brien

What went through your head when you were asked to write a new Christmas carol?

My first thought was, “Wow, what an honour . . . but also, where do you even start with Christmas?” Then I remembered – start with what’s true. And what’s true here is that it’s hot, the pavlova is sliding off the plate, and Santa is far too overdressed for a shopping centre. Once I leaned into that, the fun began.

What, for you, is intrinsic to an Aussie Christmas?

The glorious clash of it all – melting pavlova on a paper plate, carols blasting in a shopping centre while Santa slowly roasts, seafood and cold ham on the table, and everyone eventually ending up in the pool. One of our cheeky lyrics is “feastooned with pavlova”, which is a very tongue-in-cheek nod to the pomp and pageantry of traditional carols – but given a distinctly...