The Holiday Season has crept up on us, and it’s moving quickly! We didn’t want to waste any time getting some great Canadian Holiday music out to you!
Here is a look at this year’s newly released music that is sure to get you into the Christmas spirit. Add these songs to your tree-trimming playlists, get your holiday parties going, or simply enjoy with friends and your favorite festive drink.
See Part 1 & Part 2 of Canadian Beats Gigantic Holiday Music List.
Jojo Mason
CCMA Award-nominated country artist JoJo Mason shares his new holiday single “Don’t Hang The Mistletoe” via 604 Records. Infused with old-school groove melodies and lyrics that portray a picturesque holiday romance, the track will have listeners wanting to skip holiday festivities this year so that they can cozy up with this track all night long.
Want more holiday music from JoJo? Check out his previous release, “Snow Place Like Home.”
Connect with Jojo Mason:
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Piqsiq
Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik, also known as the visionary Inuit throat-singing sister duo PIQSIQ (“pilk-silk”), have shared another installment of their holiday tradition—re-imagining Christmas carols through an Inuit and de-colonial lens.
This year they take on “Ave Maria,” composed by Franz Schubert. He based it on Walter Scott’s 1810 poem, The Lady Of The Lake, which was written without any religious agenda. After Schubert composed “Ave Maria” in 1825, it was subsequently co-opted by the Catholic Church as a plea to the Virgin Mary—“Ave Maria” meaning “hail Mary” in Latin.
Connect with Piqsiq:
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Madison Olds
Award-Winning & Bell Media ‘Future Star’ Canadian Pop Artist Madison Olds has released her first Christmas EP and wants to meet you in magical and festive TINSELTOWN.
Madison digs into her love for Hallmark Christmas movies and time with family during the season and releases her first Christmas EP, TINSELTOWN, a collaboration with friends and a mix of holiday music that promises something for everyone.
Connect with Madison Olds:
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The Trews
The Trews have shared news of their festive new single “Xmas (Merry Christmas).”
When asked what initially inspired the track, Colin shared:
“Santa Claus commissioned us to write a new Christmas for the 2022 holiday season. I guess he was getting a little tired of that Paul McCartney one and wanted something new that, in his words ‘slaps.’ Needless to say, we were blown away by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and got to work immediately! We came up with “Xmas (Merry Christmas).” While Santa thought the title a little obvious, he felt we more than made up for it with performance and production value (shout out to producer Derek Hoffman). Santa added that Mrs. Claus loved the chorus, even adding it to her ‘Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Jams’ playlist, and the elves had been whistling it while they worked. I hope you guys love it as much as the gang up north. Merry Christmas from the Trews!”
Connect with The Trews
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Kinnie Star
Kinnie Starr recently released her climate change-inspired holiday tune, “One Beautiful Thing.”
Produced and written by Starr and Lin Gardiner (Julia Sound / Bae Baracus), as well as recorded at the stunning Sound Garden Retreat, “One Beautiful Thing” highlights the environmental impact of the holiday season.
“Environmentalism and the climate crisis are pressing into all corners of the psyche – and rightly so. The plastic industry benefits from forced gift giving around Christmas, because far too many things are wrapped in plastic,” explains Starr. “ I’ve always felt uncomfortable watching people overspend on conventional holidays, and watching piles of garbage accumulate afterwards. I want my music to help steer thinking towards better care of the land and waters that bears the brunt of over consumption. Celebrations can take place without consumerism at the helm!”
Connect with Kinnie Starr:
Website
Facebook
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Emily & Mike
Marianas Trench Bassist, Mike Ayley, and his wife Emily continue their new tradition by releasing their third Christmas single, “Wake Me Up On New Year’s Day.”
“Wake Me Up On New Year’s Day’ is the Christmas break-up song you never knew you needed. The holiday season can be romantic with a significant other, but what if you’ve just had your heart broken? The holidays aren’t happy for everyone. Some people wish they could skip it altogether and fast forward to January 1st. “Wake Me Up On New Year’s Day” is an upbeat anti- Christmas song for those who are not in the holiday spirit and are ready for the fresh start that the New Year brings! This is a song about getting through a break-up at Christmas, being strong and resourceful and pushing through, coming out stronger in the New Year.
Connect with Emily & Mike:
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Andrew Hyatt
Andrew Hyatt raises a toast to the ones he loves with his latest holiday single, “All We Need,” out now via 604 Records. Written in collaboration with writer, producer, and engineer Derek Hoffman, the sentimental track reflects on the highs, lows, and moments of love and loss throughout the year and encourages listeners to hold onto hope.
Want more holiday music from Andrew? Check out his previous singles, “Put A Bow On It” and “Santa Is A Good Old Boy.”
Connect with Andrew Hyatt:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Logan Richard
East Coast musician Logan Richard recently released his debut holiday recordings – an original called “It Could Be Christmas” and a new rendition of “This Christmas.”
The original single, “It Could Be Christmas,” floated around Logan for three years. He always really liked it and slowly picked away at it every holiday season with his good friend Rob MacPhee. One idea shared led to another idea…and back and forth they went until the final version felt right. The initial demo was recorded in his spare bedroom.
“I found a decent drum sample, and built the song around it,” says Logan.
He’ll celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Show on December 19th at PEI’s Trailside Music Hall with Brandon Howard Roy. Tickets are on sale now.
Connect with Logan Richard:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Becca Hess
BC’s Becca Hess has shared her holiday single, “Bring Me Love.”
“I wrote “Bring Me Love” and recorded it this summer, so Christmas definitely came early for me this year. I am so excited to share it with you all now that the holiday season is here!”
Connect with Becca Hess:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Fur Trade
Canadian indie rock band Fur Trade, consisting of Steve Bays and Parker Bossley of Hot Hot Heat, recently unveiled their single, “Christmas In A Cage,” via Light Organ Records.
See the video here. The band hopes you’ll let them know how the track makes you feel via their socials.