The holidays can be sentimental, sometimes sad, and always fleeting. When you need an imaginative pick me up, you can look to the single christmas lights by Valley. A proper modern indie pop holiday banger, christmas lights has more in common with Bon Iver than Bing Crosby. More in common with The 1975 than Classic Holiday Standards. It’s the perfect night cap at a popular local bar where hip people go. We dig the vibe, and the radio breakthrough potential is real.
Valley is featured on our Indie Holiday Playlist.
When &Tilly sings, we listen. She gave us everything we hoped for in a holiday release with her version of Deck The Halls (’Tis the Season). It’s both haunting and beautiful. It’s slightly curious and adapts the composition intriguingly. There’s a cinematic progressive detail that harkens to this seasons magical nature.
There’s something mystical about the holiday season, it’s at the root of the narrative. Flying reindeer, an immortal man who enters your house through the chimney. Every holiday song should be this metaphysical. We love it. Peep the video for extra enchanting.
&Tilly is featured on our Indie Holiday Playlist.
Tom A. Smith lends his voice to the festive canon on his recent single This Christmas Time. There’s an authenticity to this narrative. Like a songwriter who’s writing about what’s in front of him, and in this case it happens to be Christmas. The holiday takes over our lives for weeks, when you’re a creative it feels contrived to write about anything else.
Sometimes you’re not in the conventional version of the holiday spirit, but the season effects everyone differently. It’s still a spirit, just one that’s a little more broken. In that way Smith recalls releases by The Pogues. It’s a good one.
This Christmas Time is featured on our Indie Holiday Playlist.
Camryn Quinlan wonders if The Magic is Gone. The subject matter of her holiday song is a coming of age reflection. Anyone over the age of twenty has felt this at some point. The holiday evolves a bit when you’re older. For some of us, it hits younger.
Quinlan’s song could remind you of a loved one or a lover who isn’t with you this season. It’s relatable and versatile. Most importantly it reflects what’s matters most this season; each other (not presents!) Her performance is gorgeous too. The arrangement has a Norah Jones feel while she throws a little extra sweetness on that vibe with a talent show level vocal performance.
The Magic Is Gone is featured on our Indie Holiday Playlist.
There’s a song for everyone this holiday season. We even found All I Want For Christmas Is (anything but) You. This play on words title by Matt Hires is more than a cheeky eye catcher. Hires wrote an indie rock banger fit for a post dinner breakout. This is the one you blare with the inner circle after the confrontational guests have made their departure. A celebration where you get to break all the eggs shells you’ve been tip toeing on since last weekends first holiday soiree.
The emotion he brings to the vocal performances seals the deal. Fans of Counting Crows and Drive By Truckers will dig it. Honestly it’s fun for everyone one. Let’s festivus?
Matt Hires is featured on our Indie Holiday Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 