TobyMac's music career spans decades, yet in all this time he has never made a Christmas album.

That's all changing this year with this first ever record for the festive season, Christmas in Diverse City.

But there's no warbling on this album as TobyMac puts his pop, rock and hip-hop slant on some Christmas favourites like "The First Noel", "Mary's Boy Child", "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Little Drummer Boy".

There are also some collaborations with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer and rising star Jamie Grace.

“I just tried to think outside the box,” commented TobyMac on the creative process behind the project.

“It’s difficult at first to imagine some of these songs with a modern beat, but

"I think Christmas is about celebration and come on, on the inside everyone wants to dance.

"It has a bit of everything - six songs are my artistry: an eclectic blend of Christmas classics and originals. The other seven tracks are my amazing band’s (Diverse City) individual artistic efforts. I love it.”

The album is out this week and releases just ahead of his Unplugged tour, giving fans a stripped down taste of his music like they've never heard before.