Photographed by Ian Shiff
Scott and Mark Hoying release a new children’s album and book that celebrate the beauty of chosen family, Filipino roots, and the joy of Christmas.
When Scott and Mark Hoying talk about family, their eyes light up. Whether they’re describing Mark’s sprawling Filipino clan in Seattle or their two dogs at home, there’s a warmth that exudes from them. It’s the same feeling that defines their newest creative projects: M.Y. F.A.M.I.L.Y., a children’s album filled with songs about love, belonging, and the spirit of the holidays, and Fa La La Family, their Christmas-themed picture book released last September 2 through Henry Holt/Macmillan.
“We wanted to create something that felt like the soundtrack to our childhood Christmas memories,” Scott says. “The type of joy you feel when you wake up on Christmas morning is so specific and beautiful. Now that we’re closer to starting a family, we wanted to put that joy into something we can share with others.”
The eight-track album, featuring collaborations with Grammy winners Meghan Trainor and Béla Fleck, includes playful imaginings of nursery classics with heartfelt originals. One of its most touching moments is “Mahal Kita,” which includes Mark’s parents singing in Filipino, an homage to his heritage. “It means everything to me to see my culture represented,” Mark says. “There’s even a page in the book based on my childhood home, with adobo, lumpia, and pancit on the table. Every time I see it, I feel so grateful.”
Both the album and book share the couple’s message of inclusion. Fa La La Family, illustrated by Steph Lew, features families of all kinds: queer couples, single parents, chosen families, and even a man and his cat. “We wanted to show that family isn’t just who you’re related to,” Mark explains. “It’s wherever love is.”
For Scott, who has spent over a decade spreading harmony as a member of Pentatonix, this project feels like an extension of his craft. “Writing a children’s book turned out to be a lot like writing a pop song,” he laughs. “It’s simple, rhythmic, and from the heart.” The book, like the album, is also deeply personal; it’s a love letter to their future children. “There’s a lyric that says, ‘You’re already loved, and you’re not even born,’” Scott shares. “That’s really what we want them to know.”
Their creative partnership extends beyond music and books; it’s a reflection of their shared life. “Creating together is the joy of our lives,” Scott says. “Our work and love are intertwined. It’s how we put more light into the world.”
That sense of light is precisely what they hope to offer young audiences in a digital world that can sometimes feel heavy. “The online space can be overwhelming,” Mark admits. “If we can give kids something joyful and safe, something that reminds them of love and family, that means everything.”
For now, the couple is looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas season with Fa La La Family out in the world, and perhaps one day, with their own children singing along to the songs they wrote. “A perfect Christmas for us?” Scott smiles. “Kids in pajamas, music playing, everyone dancing around the tree, maybe opening a Nintendo set.” Mark laughs. “And lots of adobo.”
