As the year winds down, we’re barraged with soundtracks of the same old holiday standards blaring in retail spaces, TV ads and just about everywhere else. Thankfully, the catalog of music that evokes the spirit of the season runs many layers and genres deeper.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a collection of less-obvious tracks that celebrate the time of year when we try to wind down, spend time with friends and family, and listen to music that unites us. Queue up our holiday playlist, which features a cohesive blend of rap, indie, soul, rock, R&B, electronica and more, with songs ranging from Swae Lee’s “Christmas At Swae’s” and Orville Peck’s classic country-inspired “Happy Trails” to Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ “8 Days (Of Hannukah)” and Teddy Pendergrass’ soulful “Happy Kwanzaa.”
The melancholic and introspective holiday track from the Jack Antonoff indie-pop sextet channels the conflict of a troubled relationship clashing with the joyful overtone that hums along with holiday season.
Australian surf and garage rock duo cast sunburnt melodies, while reflecting on a long year and embracing the holiday season that comes when December finally arrives.
The late, lovely Sharon Jones left us with lots to be thankful for, including this soulful shoutout to the Festival of Lights: “Talkin’ about that menorah!”
The acclaimed English-born American musician is “Wonderin’ if you’ll ever call” on his delicate and melancholic track with “Christmas at the end of the world.”
Orville Peck, “Happy Trails”
Trailblazing country crooner leans into classic holiday song aesthetics on this cozy and whimsical seasonal offering.
Tors, “Another Christmas Missing You”
Buzzing Devon, UK trio Tors delivers their first ever Christmas song, a reflective piano-based ballad.
Charlotte Adigéry, Bolis Pupul, “HOHO”
The innovative electronic pairing that delivered the acclaimed ‘Topical Dancer’ album in 2022 reworks their “Haha,” in the form of a Santa-inspired offering, appropriately titled “HOHO”
Phoenix, “Alone on Christmas Day”
Christmas songs are all about good cheer, except when they’re chasing that other annual holiday feeling: existential sadness. As expressed here with help from special guest Bill Murray.
Beach Bunny, “Christmas Caller”
The Chicago indie-pop band delivers an upbeat holiday original buoyed by an infectious riff and chorus.
Swae Lee, “Christmas At Swae’s”
That certain someone was on his wishlist, but she wasn’t under his tree when Christmas came around. Let’s hope Swae’s holidays have been brighter since 2018, when he released this single.
Jhené Aiko, “Wrap Me Up”
In the grand tradition of Mariah’s perennial classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” on this 2021 single Jhené gave us… herself.
Lil Nas X, “Holiday”
In the video for this 2020 track, Lil Nas X played a futuristic Santa in his workshop; he’s known to come bearing sonic gifts from the future
Jacquees, “Christmas Party”
“It’s cold outside, bring it in,” croons Georgia’s smoothest voice on the lead track from his 2019 Christmas record. The party’s back at his crib.
Smino, “Sleigh” feat. Monte Booker & Masego
The album is called ‘High 4 Da Highladays,’ which gives us a little hint about what the St. Louis-born, Chicago-bred rapper might like to find under his tree.
Tkay Maidza, “Nights In December”
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in Australia, Tkay says this festive track was inspired by a new relationship and a long, “really beautiful” stay in NYC during wintertime.
Sharon Van Etten, “Blue Christmas”
The prolific indie-folk artist takes on Elvis Presley’s classic “Blue Christmas,” with a modern, sparsely melancholic arrangement.
My Morning Jacket, “Christmas Must Be Tonight”
Louisville, Kentucky rock luminaries combine their country and indie rock aesthetics on this illuminating Christmas offering.
U.S. Girls, “Santa Stay Home” feat. Rich Morel
Meghan Remy made her case for a less greedy, more meaningful Christmas on this 2020 single. The North Pole is melting, for crying out loud.
Metronomy, “Red River Rock”
British indietronica outfit turn up the holiday cheer with a surf-inspired instrumental groove
Local Natives, “Desert Snow”
Southern California indie outfit Local Natives channel desert imagery through the prism of a holiday road trip from Los Angeles.
Gucci Mane, “12 Days of Christmas”
Yes, it’s a takeoff of the old holiday singalong (“On the eighth day of Christmas, I got into a beef”). But the hook is the haunting melody from “Carol of the Bells.”
Tyler, The Creator, Big Bag”
After Tyler contributed two songs to the 2018 “Grinch” remake, he released an EP further inspired by Christmas’s greenest convert.
Run The Jewels, “A Christmas Fucking Miracle”
El-P and Killer Mike celebrate the season with the gift of wisdom. “They can never take the energy inside you were born with,” El preaches.
DMX, “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”
Back in 2012, a video of DMX rapping “Rudolph” went viral. Five years later, he finally decided to make it official, recording his own gruff version of the childhood classic.
Ghostface Killah, “Ghostface X-mas”
The Wu-Tang icon leans into the Christmas season, painting a picture of holiday memories while toying with the idea of playing the role of Santa himself.
Bryson Tiller, “Presents” feat. Kiana Ledé
Like plenty of his peers and predecessors, the singer-rapper has one thing on his Christmas wishlist: He’d like to take that certain someone for a sleighride.
Fetty Wap, “Merry Xmas” feat. Monty
“I’m young and gifted,” Fetty claims on this 2015 holiday single. Still, there’s another gift he wants: the object of his desire.
Teddy Pendergrass, “Happy Kwanzaa”
The late R&B legend soulfully reminds us to unite and celebrate the holiday’s traditions and make it last throughout the year.
The Limiñanas with Pascal Comelade, “Silent Night”
French rock band the Limiñanas link up with fellow countryman Pascal Comelade for a spacey instrumental take the the holiday standard
Madi Diaz, “Kid On Christmas”
The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter yearns for a simpler time with his heartfelt and sparse track that was written when inspiration struck on a hot summer day in 2024, while craving the holidays.
The Linda Lindas, “Groovy Xmas”
Everyone’s favorite LA pop-punk band adds its own original to the long list of Christmas bops. “We hope you have a fun and super-duper groovy Christmas!”
Julian Casablancas, “Christmas Treat”
The Strokes are a last-call kind of band, but their frontman has clearly spent some Saturday nights at home. Here’s his cover of an “SNL” Xmas jingle from the Jimmy Fallon/Tracy Morgan days.
!!!, “And Anyway It's Christmas”
“I’ve seen nothing better than you in that sweater,” Nic Offer sweet-talks on his groove-pop band’s seasonal jingle. A perfectly ugly Christmas sweater, no doubt.
Best Coast, “Little Saint Nick”
The Los Angeles indie-fuzz duo do not need to look far for holiday inspiration, covering the Southern California posterboy’s “Little Saint Nick” Christmas classic by the Beach Boys.
A$AP Twelvyy, “12 Days Of X-Mas”
NYC rapper channels the spirit of the classic Christmas carol recalling holidays past, while running through a list of gifts meshed with some of the realities that loom no matter what time of year is upon us.
Yo La Tengo, “Eight Candles”
For years, the old heads of indie have performed an annual series of shows on the eight nights of Hannukah. In 2019, they commemorated their affection for the holiday with this original single.
The Shins, “Wonderful Christmastime”
The indie mainstays take on Paul McCartney’s Christmas classic, blending their lofi roots with a Spector-sized orchestration, complete with cheery back up singers.
Kacey Musgraves, “Glittery”
Modern country music icon teams with pop singer-songwriter Troye Sivan on this uplifting and stirring holiday duet.
Jessica Lea Mayfield, “Little Toy Trains”
Indie-folk singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield brings us on a journey through the Christmas experience through the perspective of observing a child’s unfettered excitement of the holiday season.
HAIM, “If It Be Your Will”
The iconic sister trio reinterpreted Leonard Cohen’s “If It Be Your Will,” for acclaimed music supervisor Randall Poster’s ‘Hanukkah+’ compilation.
Khruangbin, “Christmas Time Is Here”
Acclaimed Psychedelic rock trio takes on this Vince Guaraldi classic, honoring the song’s transition while injecting their signature ethereal touch.
LCD Soundsystem, “Christmas Will Break Your Heart”
When it was released in 2015, this track marked the beloved band’s first new release in five years. Capturing the delicious sadness of the season, James Murphy sings, reassuringly, “But still I’m coming home to you.”
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