Sixpence None the Richer, which called it quits in 2004, is re-entering the music world with its first new full-length album in six years. Fans of Leigh Nash and the band may find it surprising that, after such a long hiatus, the first project is a Christmas album, The Dawn of Grace (0-67003-08152-8, Nettwerk Music Group/Provident-Integrity), which released Oct. 14.

“We’ve got to re-introduce ourselves, and we’ve never really done a holiday record before,” Nash said. “Once we got into the swing of (making the album), we enjoyed ourselves so much. … We also didn’t have to...

worry about having a big single, so it’s been a good start for us.”

Before disbanding four years ago, Sixpence had been together about a dozen years. Led by Nash and her lilting melodic vocals, the pop group was nominated for a GRAMMY Award and had managed to write several mainstream hits, including “Kiss Me” (1999).

Members pursued their own projects—Nash released a solo album in 2006—but the band was ready to reunite last November and is now happy to be back together.  “I was proud of (my solo album), but I didn’t want to do another one,” Nash said. “I didn’t have the gumption or drive to do that, and I really missed (guitarist) Matt (Slocum).”

Nash missed Slocum’s penchant for coming up with “beautiful melodies,” which she said he does on this album. Nash said the new record also features “mesmerizing” vocal and drum loops, but it’s mostly standard carols with a few exceptions, including two original songs written by the band and one lesser-known 16th-century Spanish carol, “Riu Riu Chiu,” which is Nash’s favorite song on the album.

“It’s really haunting, and the words are really beautiful,” she said.

To order The Dawn of Grace, visit www.provident-integrity.com, or call 800-333-9000.

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