Tag: singer/songwriter

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Flunk – Xmas EP (2025)

Beatservice Records
Buy: Bandcamp

Norwegian electropop band Flunk has just dropped Xmas EP, a very chill new five-song release that gathers four beautiful, sparse covers (all of which have appeared in some form before) alongside one reworking of a previous song, “Sanctuary,” reimagined as a stripped-down Christmas version.

I’ll touch briefly on the covers, if only to point out that while Flunk is commonly known as an electronic band, three of the four tracks are accompanied only by solo acoustic guitar, with the remaining track featuring a lone electric guitar. The guitars exist mainly to frame the true centerpiece of these songs: vocalist Anja Øyen Vister’s beautiful—and yes, I have to say it—Björk-esque vocals.

“Sanctuary,” in its original form, is a lovely, chilled electropop track. Here, it’s pulled apart and rebuilt with gentle bells and subtle textures, the drums removed entirely, creating something far more ethereal than the original. I can easily imagine this track closing out someone’s holiday mix.

Bottom Line: Some gorgeous stuff here – surprised I hadn’t sniffed it out before!

LISTEN

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Ena Kinderlieder – Weihnachtslieder (2025)

a postage stamp with a holiday scene - a christmas tree on the left, a warmly lit house to the right, and santa and his sleigh flying above.

eleventwentyStudios
Buy: Bandcamp

Have you ever just sat there, watching the Bandcamp “Selling Right Now” feed? It is somewhat mesmerizing. Well, I did that, and I clicked on a few things that looked like Christmas records, and I ended up here, with Ena Kinderlieder’s Weihnachtslieder.

My current predicament is such: Earlier this season, I made a statement about how little I feature German-language Christmas music, and may have said it didn’t share the same musical qualities as say, French Christmas music does. I was called out by various festive friends and bloggers, and in retrospect, I was quite wrong. Indeed, German-speaking Christmas music has equal access to my love; I was just not thinking at the time.

What I was not imagining was that I would find a German-language Christmas EP that was made specifically for children… and that I would find it just plain wonderful. Ena Kinderlieder (aka Ena Children’s Songs) is a “singer, songwriter, and big sister,” and she began putting out music with a song for her little brother, and has followed with a series of songs throughout this past year, culminating with this holiday EP, Weihnachtslieder. Ena’s voice, along with her simple yet beautiful orchestration, is simply gorgeous. This is not what I expect from children’s music – I expect big, expressive voices, choruses that will rot your teeth and drive you mad. This is far from that… this is just really lovely.

Of note, the Bandcamp version has 8 songs, while the Spotify version is split up between a few releases.

Bottom Line: This is as lovely and listenable as children’s music will ever be. I can’t believe I’m writing about a children’s record… but I couldn’t let it pass. Give it a listen.

LISTEN

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Tim Baker – Full Rainbow of Light (2024/2025)

a window surrounded by snow.

End Times Music
Buy: Bandcamp | Vinyl

You may be familiar with the excellent Canadian indie rock band Hey Rosetta!, which unfortunately disbanded in 2017. Readers of this site may be most familiar with their holiday EP, A Cup of Kindness Yet. Though… I would have thought I would have written about that record at some point, but I haven’t. So, I suppose this might be new to you as well. Check it out below if you haven’t heard it before, it is quite good.

(If you haven’t noticed, my posts are more like a conversation than a good piece of writing, and I hope you don’t mind.)

I didn’t come here to talk about the Hey Rosetta EP, I actually popped onto the site to talk about the lead singer Tim Baker’s latest LP, Full Rainbow of Light, which was initially released in 2024. The record is filled with beautiful Christmas, New Year’s, and wintery-themed songs. Yes, this is one of those special records we all hope for, one containing nearly all originals. In his initial release, there are only two covers, one traditional and the other, the contemporary classic “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” Tim expanded the record for 2025 with Full Rainbow of Light Deluxe Edition, which features 3 additional songs, including a cover of Jackson Browne’s wonderful “The Rebel Jesus.” This whole record is pretty damn beautiful, and I’m sure a bunch of you will love it.

Bottom Line: Someone in our little Christmas community with a bit more energy and eloquence really needs to take a stab at a review. I know Stubby found it last year on the forum, but that’s the only mention I’ve caught yet…

LISTEN

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Aux Caroling – December/Headphones (2025)

An impressionist painting of the sky with a moon in it.

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

Aux Caroling, the recording project of North Carolina’s Scott Deaver, is always singing about something he’s not singing about. From the amazing “Bulls vs. Lakers, Christmas 2011,” which framed complex familial relationships and the uncertainty of fate within the guise of talking about a basketball game on TV, to his most recent, and equally gorgeous, December/Headphones.

The first track, the A-side for those who wish to imagine this is a beautiful 7-inch record you are about to drop a needle to, was initially titled “A Long December to Remember Sales Event.” Just seeing that title made me kinda snort and smile. Now off he goes, singing about striking a luxury automotive deal. Then he slips into the chorus, which will subtly change through the song.

“Everything happens at once / that’s how you know it happened / nothing really feels that long / till your memories…”

Just gorgeous. But he dips back into those lines that are about “buying a car:”

“And it’s been a rough year / I think it’s safe to say / have not had one minute / to choose between nebula and cloudburst gray.”

There I go again with a snort, of sorts.

Scott excels in a kind of cheeky depth. He makes jokes that make it feel safe to contemplate your inner feelings of helplessness or inadequacy, or explore your family dynamic, or deal with the unknown.

The B-side is “Headphones,” a track that Scott initially intended to premiere on Jon Solomon’s 2024 25-Hour Holiday Marathon, and to never be played again. He meant for it to be heard in that one moment in time, and that was all. Thankfully, he’s reconsidered. This is simply a beautiful, touching love song. I don’t sense any subtext here; there is just a profound grateful love that the luckiest of us can relate to, in one way or another. “Found out I love you a lot / don’t think it will ever stop / don’t think it will ever stop / don’t think it will ever stop…………”

There are some bands that I like to celebrate here whose unique voice is unmistakable, and I count Aux Caroling among these. He has my ear, from now until he starts inevitably doing those stream-of-consciousness Mark Kozelek-type records. Then, I’m out.

(I couldn’t get too mushy there… Scott would have thrown in a line to take the edge off, and that was my feeble attempt to do the same.)

Bottom Line: Aux Caroling is essential Christmas listening.

LISTEN

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King Hüsky “December95” (2025)

A cartoon of a man sitting on a circular carpet listening to music.

Hype City Music
Buy: Bandcamp

I honestly had no idea what to expect from “December95” by King Hüsky. You find yourself on his Bandcamp page, and the bio cuts off after “guitarist of the critically acclaimed Norwegian heavy metal band Kvelertak,” so needless to say, I was anticipating something quite different than what I encountered. The song I heard was wonderful, and is by no means the Norwegian metal that I anticipated; I am not into metal – read my submissions page. This song happened to be aimed dead between my eyes. A kill shot.

King Hüsky is the solo work of Vidar Landa, who, besides being a guitarist in a metal band, is also in indie rock/power pop band Beachheads. “December95” sets a beautiful, snowy scene, snug in their home. While the Christmas lights and the VCR don’t work, the scene, the lyrics, and the melody are all uplifting in a way that I was truly touched by. I remain amazed. What an unexpected and extraordinary song.

Bottom Line: Stone-cold mixworthy.

LISTEN

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Straight White Teeth “Let Me Be Your Rudolph” (2025)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

I am sitting here in my inlaws’ sunroom, perusing the latest releases… my headphones are upstairs and my son is still right next to me. So, I just listened to the first track of Portland, Oregon’s Straight White Teeth‘s new 2-song single, and here we are. As the second single is called “I Think My Dad is Santa” and my son has yet to categorically declare his disbelief, I’m not going to risk that one here on the couch. What I did risk, and thankfully he did not pick up on, was this delightful, sexually suggestive leadoff track, “Let Me Be Your Rudolph.” There are some wonderful lines, which I too will let you listen to around your extended family. I’m not going to ruin ’em here.

Bottom Line: The cheeky jolt of energy I needed today.

LISTEN

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Grace Cummings (featuring Jim James ) “Times Like These” (2025)

A woman laying on a pillow, with the shot of her face, eyes closed, wearing a "Merry Christmas" headband.

ATO
Buy: Bandcamp

I’m busy sitting here, waiting to eat. I mean, real busy, just sitting here. I don’t know how I am going to get through all this sitting. So, I’m taking a quick moment, because that is all I can spare from this sitting here, to make mention of this new single by Melbourne’s Grace Cummings, “Times Like These.” The song sure sounds sad, yet if Grace is meant to be believed, it is one meant to bring comfort… but boy, this song sounds sad. Grace told Rolling Stone Australia:

Times Like These’ is for somebody that needs some comfort and some love. The holidays boast joy and happiness and celebration and togetherness but it’s one of the most lonely times I can think of. My friendship with Jim James has helped me to see some beautiful things in the world, and to be grateful for what I have.

Grace’s voice sounds pretty damn incredible, and the harmony that My Morning Jacket’s Jim James brings to the song feels like a damn perfect match. As for the comfort this song is meant to bring… it will probably be a bit of a Rorschach test for how you’re really doing at the time you listen to it.

Bottom Line: Is this a dirge or a comfy blanket? We’ll see…

LISTEN

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Alex Maas “X MAAS (Take Me Away)” (2023)

Innovative Leisure
Buy: Bandcamp

Just as he was finishing up some work with his band The Black Angels, lead vocalist Alex Maas released a very interesting, downtempo holiday song, “X MAAS (Take Me Away).” I’ve been listening to it for a little while now, and I’m quite intrigued by the vibe of the song – his voice, the chiming melody, the lyrics that seesaw between fleeing and love. These elements mix and create a complex, disorienting, yet somehow soothing vibe. It sounds like Alex achieved his goal: “I’ve never written a Christmas song. Christmas has a very dark side that not many people take into account. The holidays are as painful as they are beautiful for most people. This song is for people who fall in love during Christmas and for those who want to escape completely from the holiday.”

Bottom Line: There’s something here. Not quite sure yet… but I’m listening…

LISTEN

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Devon “Staying Home…” (2021)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

It’s quickly coming up on November — that time when we all start to expect new songs to drop. There have been a few here and there, sneaking onto records (like the excellent Sister Ray track), but these October days are often full of old songs newly discovered. So, let’s flash back to 2021 — which feels like both yesterday and forever ago.

Devon hails from Gloucestershire, England, and back in 2021 he dropped a very COVID-era Christmas single, “Staying Home…” While you can certainly feel those days coming through in this song, the roots haven’t quite anchored it in time, never to leave. This is a song about mental health, compassion, and all those feelings of love and loss that get mixed up and spun around at Christmas.

This isn’t just a COVID Christmas song. Multiple listens, folks — it’s a grower.

Bottom Line: It’s sad, happy, thoughtful, loving, quiet, loud… and worth your time.

LISTEN

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Sister Ray “Christmas” (2025)

cover of Sister Ray's believer album, which is a blurry image of the singer on a green background.

Royal Mountain Records
Buy: Bandcamp | Apple Music

Canada man. I feel each year, one country runs up the score, and this year has me looking north. I keep tabs on Sister Ray, as I own her 2022 album, Communion, a beautiful and vivid breakup record with a fleeting mention of a Christmas tree on “Visions” (for you Christmas mixers with VERY lax rules).” Earlier this year, the musical project of Toronto’s Ella Coyes released a great new record, Believer. I absolutely add it to the listen pile, but when I see a track called “Christmas” on her new album, my ears are hers. I love her voice, and the orchestration with the droning bassoon baseline (that has to be a bassoon, either real or synthesized, right?). However, these lyrics are the star. Some lines made me smile, though the kind of smile I wasn’t quite sure of – a sort of feeling that the line might just be more cutting than you realize. There is a moment in every verse that both feels so loving and sorrowful at the same time, that I find myself spinning. I’ve been trying to sit with this song, figure it out on a deeper level before I write about it… but I got antsy. Maybe you all can help.

Snow’s light
For a cynic you sure love Christmas time.
I think I might believe in Jesus Christ
At least til things cool down
Carrying a New Testament around
Like a knife
Like a fence in the foreground
Protecting my house

I played that song just to hear you sing along
I love your voice
The way it sounds with mine
I keep your ribbons hanging from my ceiling
I would celebrate anything
Come into my house

In another life
I’m dressed in white
I’ve been your wife
What a beautiful child, what a beautiful sound
Your eyes, my mouth
Coming in from our house
Coming in from our house

Bottom Line: This is the kind of song that keeps you coming back.

LISTEN