Van Hechter’s Favorite Things: The Holiday Interview

Van Hechter is having quite a season. His latest pop single, “Boy Problems,” is already getting radio airplay across the US and UK, with critics praising it as one of his strongest releases yet. With new singles lined up for 2026 and a busy performance schedule  weekly shows in Canada and monthly appearances in the US the artist is riding a joyful creative wave.

When I visited him at his Montreal condo, it was impossible not to notice: Van Hechter adores Christmas. The moment I walked in, I was greeted by warm lights, festive décor, and the star of the room his impeccably adorned Christmas tree, affectionately named Simeon Leblanc. “He returns every year with more ornaments,” Van laughed while handing me a glass of wine. Naturally, the interview quickly shifted from career talk to all things festive.

His Favorite Christmas Song

Van didn’t hesitate:
“The Chipmunk song by Alvin and the Chipmunks, the 1959 version.”
As for a runner-up? “My Favorite Things sung by The Supremes.”

Holiday Food He Can’t Get Enough Of

“I could eat turkey with stuffing, greens, mashed potatoes and cranberries every month,” he admitted. “As a kid I’d think about Christmas meals starting in August!”

Traditions He Holds Dear

There are two that matter most:

• A homemade dinner with his godchildren and their mother.

• Visiting his mother’s side of the family on January 1st — a tradition he’ll sadly miss this year while spending the Holidays in Manhattan.

What He’ll Cook This Year

Since his godchildren enjoy traditional meals prepared by their grandfather, Van likes to “go exotic.”
“This year we’re having Indian dishes!” he revealed, excitedly.

His Favorite Childhood Christmas Eve Memory

It’s a story filled with tenderness and nostalgia.
Van described how his grandmother would spend weeks preparing for Christmas Eve: cleaning, decorating, cooking. But just before guests arrived, she would slip into her room for a five-minute ritual — powdering her face, adding lipstick, and perfuming her dress with Fidgi by Guy Laroche.
“I was the only one allowed in,” he said softly. “It felt like watching a backstage moment. I understood she needed a second to herself because everything else was about pleasing others.”

Sweet Treats That Bring Him Back

“My mother’s Naimo bars. She made them from scratch with walnuts and cashews. She used very bitter dark chocolate on top it balanced the sweetness perfectly.”
After his mother passed away, his grandmother continued making them for him.
“That, by the way, triggered an eating disorder that lasted for decades,” he added with his iconic sense of humor.

What He Likes Least About Christmas

“Nothing,” he insisted. “There’s absolutely nothing I dislike about the Holidays.”
But Easter? That’s another story.
“Don’t get me started! Egg hunts, that traditional ham, Jesus of Nazareth and Ben-Hur reruns, everything pastel… I’d skip all of it if I could.”

Van Hechter’s new single “Boy Problems” is out now.
Watch the music video here
Follow him on Instagram:@vanhechter