Christmas is a time for frantically packing in as much festive joy as humanly possible. It’s a lot, and we too are subject to the demands of the season. Sometimes you need to put all your gifts in one sleigh, put your feet up and start guzzling nog before the season ends.
For us, this is that moment. We’ve collected up all the holiday music we’ve been sent this year in one convenient place, all for your listening pleasure. Or, if you prefer, you can skip right to the playlist on Spotify.
Jenn Grant – Forever Christmas Eve
Instead of gracing us with just one Christmas single this year, Jenn Grants has released a full album of them. Alongside her original Christmas single, “Downtown Christmas Eve,” are Grant’s own versions of nine holiday classics. With her retro and soft style, Forever Christmas Eve has put a fresh tinsel-laden feel on many Christmas standards, landing it easily among the great canon of Holiday favourites.
Robbie Tucker – Peppermints
This year, Robbie Tucker released what might be the oddest Christmas album of all time. Peppermints sounds like a cast recording for a non-existent Christmas production just waiting to be created. It might be an unorthodox take on a holiday album but, for better or worse, Tucker promises it will be his only Christmas album. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether that’s a mistake or not.
Dylan Menzie – I Guess I’ll Cancel Christmas
In a fit of Holiday spirit, Dylan Menzie released a Christmas EP that balked the current industry standard of streaming in favour of a more classic approach. With the exception of one single, Menzie’s EP is available for purchase only, via his website, and all of the proceeds are going to HFC, a nonprofit agency dedicated to assisting individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. It also happens to be one of the best holiday albums we’ve heard in years, and it’s well worth your charitable donation.
The Stanfields – (I’ll Stay Home) With Bells On
The Stanfields’ “cover” of Dolly Parton’s classic “I’ll Be Home With Bells On” turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the season. Made their own with cheeky quarantine-themed commentary, this version of the country classic, aptly titled “(I’ll Stay Home) With Bells On,” is wrapped in Christmas cheer.
Matt Boudreau – Amoureux
Inspired by the lyrics of Joni Mitchell’s “River” and the instrumentals of Mac Demarco, “Amour” is one of Acadian artist Matt Boudreau’s first Christmas tracks and is packed with the coziness of winter. Slow-paced and relaxed, it invites you to immerse yourself in romantic love during the dark and cold winter months and to appreciate the warmth and light found inside.
Classified – The Bells Are Ringing
This year, Classified is keeping Christmas modern with his original release, “The Bells Are Ringing.” With a hip-hop beat and chorus sung by Breagh Isabel (formerly of Port Cities), the track is upbeat yet soft and contains just the right amount of twinkling bells to set the mood of the season.
Fortunate Ones – Hold Onto Christmas Day
The Fortunate Ones released a Christmas song specific to 2020. With an opening line that starts the song with a “This year was a bastard, what else can you say?” the tone was already set for “Hold Onto Christmas Day” way back in March. With their tongue-in-cheek lyrics about the woes of a year gone wrong, the duo point out how important it is to hold onto what’s important.
Matt Boudreau & Émilie Landry – Tempête saisonnière
Written and performed in collaboration by Matt Boudreau of Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick, and Émilie Landry of Campbellton, New Brunswick, “Tempête saisonnière” is a short and sweet new tune for the holidays. For its two minutes and thirty-six seconds, the track’s music wraps you in a warm embrace while the winter storm outside its boundaries rages on.
Quote the Raven – Lonely Christmas Eve
A track that could be the anthem for many this holiday season, Quote the Raven’s “Lonely Christmas Eve” highlights how dull the twinkling lights and holiday magic can feel when you cannot share it with those you love most. Taking a new variation on the theme of longtime classic “Blue Christmas,” this track and others like it will ring true more than ever this year and soothe those who will have to spend Christmas away from those they love.
Ben Caplan – O Holy Night
Ben Caplan is a mythical being; a champion storyteller that blurs the lines of theatre and music. While admittedly not a regular fan of Christmas music, Caplan’s version of “O Holy Night” makes us wish he’d go all Michael Buble and take up the mantel full time. His Baroque rumblings take this Christmas classic to previously unseen levels of epicness.
Tara MacLean & Adam Brazier – Song for a Winter’s Night
A song for more than just Christmas, Tara MacLean and Adam Brazier’s rendition of the Gordon Lightfoot classic “Song for a Winter’s Night” can be enjoyed all winter long. With soft harmonies and soft instrumentals, the track is heartfelt and reminds us of the value of having the warmth of those we love to carry us through the frigid months.
Meaghan Smith – Cold This Christmas
Known for her Christmas shows, Smith has followed up her previous holiday release (2011’s It Snowed) with an EP of originals. Cold This Christmas includes a very relatable and modern Christmas classic with Introvert at a Christmas Party standing out to close the set. It could serve additionally as a needed reminder why some among us dread social gatherings at this time of year.
The Tom Fun Orchestra – Fairytale of New York
The Cape Breton musical veterans take on The Pogue’s modern classic. With a similar make-up, The Tom Fun Orchestra proved to be well suited to the task, though opt for trumpet played over banjo rolls while leaving the accordion well in the back.
Keonté Beals – December
Fresh off the success of Keonté’s debut album, KING, the 24-year old music-mogul-in-the-making has leapt into the world of Christmas music. His December EP includes a trio of Christmas classics that he’s put his own spin on.
Urban Surf Kings – 11 String at Xmas
Urban Surf Kings hit up the classics of “Deck the Halls” and “Greensleeves” but these are anything but your wintertime staples. Instead, the band have created an homage to surf rock king Duane Eddy, and the result is some of the most uniquely festive holiday music, especially if you spend your winters fantasizing about being on a beach.
Julie Aubé – Ça c’est Noël
As her first solo release since her 2017 album Joie de vivre, “Ça c’est Noël” is Julie Aubé’s retro-meets-90s-nostalgia Christmas offering to lift the mood of 2020 and transport us back to brighter days. With its upbeat pacing, catchy lyrics and groovy sound, we think this track will stick around for the brighter and merrier Christmases yet to come.
Élide Robichaud – Quand arrive la fête de Noël
“Quand arrive la fête de Noël” by Acadian artist Élide Robichaud of Lavillette, New Brunswick, is soaked in Acadian Christmas spirit. Reminiscent of Christmases of years past, pilled with family, parties, late nights and celebration, the track is exceedingly catchy and singalongable. Set your chairs in a circle and get out your spoons, guitars and stomping feet for this one.
Little Known Artist – The Huron Carol
This collaboration showcases a lesser-known holiday hymn in an atmospheric and moving manner. The haunting dynamic between Beth Lane’s vocals and Little Known Artist, Dean Stairs’ arrangement could make Scrooge rethink his life choices.
Little Known Artist (feat. Beth Lane) – I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
This pop/jazz version of the Christmas Classic, “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day,” brings the groove to the holiday season. Arranged and performed by Little Known Artist, also known as Dean Stairs, the track features the powerful vocals of the 2020 winner of MusicNL’s Newfound Talent contest, Beth Lane.
Corey Isenor – Hard to Love the Holidays
Corey Isenor, one of our favourite idiosyncratic songwriters, excels at pinpointing the minutiae of experience. He’s the equivalent of a musical exit wound; however oddly quirky and specific the scenario, we come away with an exploded perspective that has become immensely relatable. His pair of holiday singles include a song about being away from our loved ones, as we all have this year, and another that questions the whole notion of Christmas music altogether.
Paige Penney – One Star
Newfoundland’s Paige Penney, 15-year-old singer-songwriter, has released a soft and sweet original Christmas track, highlighting how moments like the holidays make losses feel harsher than they do for the rest of the year. With wisdom beyond her years, Penney is making waves with her music, and “One Star” is no exception.
Did we miss anything? Let us know! Or check out our East Coast Christmas playlist on Spotify!