The Christmas period may have been and gone already, but winter is still here – I can see the snow glistening on the hills from my house as I write this. The fifth iteration of my Holiday Favourites series was meant to come out before Christmas, but due to some personal issues, I’m publishing it now. However, this stunning collection of songs is still well worth a listen, with many of them being suitable for general listening throughout the year, meaning you should be able to find something to love here.
Let’s get started!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo of MAHUNA
Nashville Phil – Swerve Me Again (Radio Edit)
First up, we have a fun little song from Nashville Phil titled Swerve Me Again. This song immediately stood out to me, due to its retro rock and roll stylings, seeing Phil add his own magic touch to the holiday season. Interestingly, Phil appears to have changed the lyrics somewhat on the Radio Edit, taking out references to things such as prostitution and drug abuse, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had here. Swerve Me Again might only be two minutes long, but I guarantee you’ll be playing it on repeat after the first listen!
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Richy McLoughlin – We Three Kings
As you’ve probably guessed, We Three Kings is a reworking of the classic holiday tune, produced by electronic artist Richy McLoughlin. However, Richy adds his own unique touch into the mix, instead turning it into an 80s-infused tune full of new wave and electro elements. The synths never let up, bubbling away against the bassline and steady drum beat, as Richy sings over the top with a vocal style that reminds me a lot of the original post-punk movement. If the lyrics were different, it would be hard to place this as a Christmas song, which is actually a good thing to me, showing one artist not afraid to take chances!
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MAHUNA – Dream Winter’s Day
On his new release Dream Winter’s Day, MAHUNA has created something absolutely gorgeous. It seems pretty simple at first, featuring just a pretty set of piano chords and MAHUNA’s vocals for the most part, although a faint bassline can be heard in the background at times. However, the simplicity of the track really allows the lyrics and piano melodies to shine through, creating something rather pretty. He’s clearly a very skilled piano player, using his talents on Dream Winter’s Day to show the listener his ideal version of the winter season.
Social media: Website
Audra Watt – Peppermint Condition
We have another piano-based holiday song for you now, created by Nashville singer-songwriter Audra Watt. The piano is a little more subdued on Peppermint Condition, but whilst it does sound gorgeous here, Audra’s vocals are the clear focal point of the tune. There’s also a subtle rhythm section in the background, as well as some nice orchestral touches, but they never take too much away from Audra’s vocals. Instead, the track showcases her raw and honest approach to songwriting, which never seems to waver throughout this beautiful song.
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Sarah McGuinness – River
Regular readers should know the name Sarah McGuinness by now, as we’ve featured her music a few times here, particularly during the winter season. River is a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, and it’s clear from the first listen that Sarah has really managed to do it justice – I might actually prefer her version over the original! Somehow, Sarah has managed to make River sound even more beautiful, wrenching at your heartstrings as you listen to the track for the first time. Here, it’s just Sarah and her piano, using her talents to really do this killer cover justice.
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M. Haiux – Saint Joseph
M. Haiux is another new artist to these pages, debuting with a lovely new tune called Saint Joseph, taken from his new EP The Cold Nights of Late December. M. Haiux plays a form of folk music with a fingerpicked acoustic guitar style, creating a warm, cosy and festive atmosphere within this piece. Interestingly, Saint Joseph doesn’t feature any vocals at all, so despite the wintery atmosphere, it’s perfectly suited for listening at other times of the year, showing a song with great versatility, as well as soul!
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The Pulltops – On Christmas Day (I Saw Three Ships)
We have yet another cover song for you, this time seeing The Pulltops bring out their own version of On Christmas Day (I Saw Three Ships). The track still has the same melody as the original tune, but it’s done in a slightly heavier style, making it sound almost like a pop-punk/pop-rock Christmas banger. The palm-muted riffs are really addictive here, working surprisingly well with the melody and theme of the tune, with some lovely little bell effects also enticingly placed throughout the track.
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Lotta Wenglén – Another Christmas
Swedish singer-songwriter and musician Lotta Wenglén recorded and produced Another Christmas herself at Margit Music Studio in Sweden, showing an artist with numerous musical talents! It’s another stripped-down sounding holiday tune, once again featuring a blinding piano melody underneath her glorious vocal talents, alongside a simple sounding rhythm section. The stringed instruments are amazing to behold too, but they’re never overused, ensuring Lotta’s vocals always remain the stand-out point of the song, drawing you into her world immediately.
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Robert Hinrichs – It’s Hard to Let Go of the Holiday
Finally, we have It’s Hard to Let Go of the Holiday, created by musician Robert Hinrichs, hailing from the great state of Nebraska (where Robert recorded the track himself at home!) There’s something very retro about this tune, starting out with a glorious orchestral section that soon builds into a pretty crescendo, before the song kicks in proper. It sounds a little like an old jazz standard, although the tune is performed mostly on the piano, as the orchestra backs Robert’s vocals perfectly, letting his strong voice really shine through here!