Once he began creating Hiding in December of 2019 , Christmas decided to pivot back to independence and make this project “as DIY as possible.” Here are Michael Christmas’ 10 keys to maintaining success as an independent artist. Be yourself. “The cool thing about it is, I’m like this all the time. I don’t have to feel any pressure. The idea is I can go out and do my thing, and it’ll be enough because Mike Christmas is enough. That pressure comes from people who have to be something other than themselves all the time or for people who have created something bigger than themselves.