Holiday Favourites #4

The holiday season is once again upon us and boy, do we have a variety of amazing Christmas themed tunes for you! The traditional tracks can get a little overwhelming at times, so it’s great to be able to check out some newcomers to the scene. If you want to brighten up your Xmas party this year, then why not consider using the playlist at the end?

By Jane Howkins

Review by D’Artagnan

D’Artagnan – Merry Christmas Darling

Cheltenham-based artist D’Artagnan brings a bit of Christmas cheer on new release, Merry Christmas Darling. It opens with a traditional xylophone, playing softly against a nice acoustic guitar arpeggio, creating quite a positive vibe. The chorus builds upon the main verse melody, adding more instruments and some luscious backing vocals, as D’Artagnan croons along in the forefront of the track. It’s nice to hear a bit of a love song injected into a holiday tune, making this a great track to share with your partner or spouse at this time of year!

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Rehya Stevens – Be My Baby By Christmas Night

American singer-songwriter Rehya Stevens brings another holiday love song to these pages, titled Be My Baby By Christmas Night. It’s got a typical Christmas sound, but the track is absolutely infectious, sure to be a holiday season classic in years to come! What’s really apparent here is how amazing Rehya’s vocals are – they simply soar here, especially as the bridge kicks in, showing an amazing amount of strength. The chorus also has a singalong quality, perfect for partying to during the winter season!

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Allison’s Invention – Time to Deck the Halls

Allison’s Invention is a music project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Allison Tartal, with Time to Deck the Halls being our introduction to her music. It’s quite a unique sounding song, seeing Allison turning the original carol on its head by adding quirky electronic sound into the music. The vocal effects are used really well in the background, adding a rhythmic quality to the tune, whilst also displaying Allison’s stunning voice off. Fans of the classic carol may find it a little experimental at first, but give it a try and we’re sure you’ll love Time to Deck the Halls!

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Alia – I’m Getting Off

I’m Getting Off is actually Alia’s debut single release – it’s also a cover of Steven Young’s (Mr Nobody) track, taking on a slightly different vibe to most of the other tracks here. Instead of the typical optimistic style of music you’d normally expect, it’s a melancholic tune, showing the darker side of the Christmas period. It may not be what people want to hear, but it’s an important message, and the music really helps to capture the lyrics well. It’s pretty minimalist at times, featuring a simple yet effective guitar arpeggio, alongside Alia’s powerful vocal lines. Why not try something different this year?

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The Kirk Pasich Project feat. Scout Durwood – Jingle Bell Rock

The Kirk Pasich Project have teamed up with Scout Durwood on a new Christmas record titled A Scout Durwood Christmas. It’s a great record all round, but their cover of Jungle Bell Rock was one of my favourites off the album. It’s not too different from the original as to put fans off, but the band have added more of a surf-rock vibe into the music, making for something utterly delightful. It’s a really playful song, featuring some wonderful guitar melodies and a pretty vocal line – I actually found I preferred this version to the original!

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Blueprint Moon – I Can’t Wait For This Christmas

Blueprint Moon describe their music as being ‘glitch-pop EDM’, although I Can’t Wait For This Christmas takes on a more traditional pop-rock sound. The bassline and guitars on the chorus have an infectious sound, reminding me of the classic rock music of the 50s. The vocals are really great too, crooning away in the background in a lovely manner, really getting the listener into the holiday spirit. It’s great to hear more rock and roll holiday songs, and I Can’t Wait For This Christmas certainly fits that theme!

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Ludlow Creek – This Baby Boy

We’ve featured Midwest band Ludlow Creek a few times – now they return with a new holiday tune, titled This Baby Boy. In true Ludlow Creek style, the track is an Americana/country/folk song, seeing the band adding a bit of Xmas sparkle into the mix. The verses are fairly minimalist, seeing a slew of lovely guitar melodies creep through the music, followed by the lead vocals. The chorus elevates things higher, introducing an anthemic set of backing vocals, making you want to sing along to This Baby Boy straight away!

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Sis PS – Why Not (It’s Christmas)

Sis PS is another act we’ve featured before, this time around releasing a new track just right for the holiday season! Why Not (It’s Christmas) has a classic Christmas song sound, with just the right amount of cheese to really make it sparkle! The chorus is the real stand out point of the tune, seeing the vocals rise up and truly soar into something beautiful. The lyrics are rather nice, perfect for getting you into the spirit of the season, describing the many activities most households go through at this time of year.

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