From soaring carols to festive classics like Elton John’s ‘Step Into Christmas’ to Justin Bieber’s seasonal bangers, you're likely familiar with the traditional holiday soundtrack. But, this Bridgemas, we want to introduce you to some tracks which shake up the Christmas canon and add an unexpected energy to the season!

‘Lonely This Christmas’ – LIINES

One common deterrent in Christmas music is their oft incessant positivity. If you naturally gravitate towards the pessimism of The Waitress’s ‘Christmas Wrapping’, fret not – there’s plenty more emo-esque Christmas tracks where that came from. Enter LIINES’ ‘Lonely This Christmas’, a grungy take on the classic by Mud. There’s something powerful in the tonal shift this rendition provides – Mud’s original is perfect for a bit of heartbroken wallowing (let’s hope that’s not needed!), whereas LIINES delivers the same lyrics with greater frustration and spite. In the inevitable instance of burnt potatoes or someone’s uncle saying something they shouldn’t, the catharsis of this track can comfort us all during the throes of Christmas chaos.

“In the inevitable instance of burnt potatoes, the catharsis of this track can comfort us during the throes of Christmas”

‘My Wishlist’ - Lil B

The self-proclaimed ‘based God’, Lil B is the pioneer of internet meme rap (and legend), and amid his ridiculously long discography lies a Christmas EP, Mm Christmas. His ‘wish list’ doesn’t echo the comedic bravado or the sun soaked fantasy I was sold as a kid in ‘California Boy’, full of beaches and nonchalance. Lil B admits that he had actually almost forgotten his own wishlist. Instead, he pleads for unity and genuine connection with the people and environment around him. The soft synths and mellow chords make for quite a nice listen. So based, Lil B.

‘Kidnap the Sandy Claws’ – Korn

Guilty as charged, I do indeed switch into festive listening habits almost as soon as Halloween has passed. However, Korn’s cover of the iconic track from The Nightmare Before Christmas acts as a perfect bridge between seasons. The track embodies the quintessential Korn sound, with eerily on beat drum kicks and deeply sinister industrial riffs. Yet, it’s simultaneously twinged with festive whimsy – Jonathan Davis integrates the original movie antics and bickering of Lock, Shock and Barrel with his own unique characterisation of this trio. This track may even have landed itself as one of my all-time favourite Korn numbers; in all its silliness, the alternation between various characters and attitudes gives it an engaging dynamism, perfect for a rejuvenating energy kick during the winter months.

‘Wish’ - horsegiirL

“It tackles the same seasonal themes as Mariah Carey or Ariana Grande, but in a way that’s far more exciting”

I wish more of my favourite artists who experiment with hardstyle made Christmas tunes, as it’s fun when an already chaotic period is made even more high energy. The track opens with a familiar, traditional Christmas jingle, but quickly evolves into pulsing beats. Unlike some of her other tracks, this song lets us hear more of horsegiirL’s voice, which matches the sense of yearning in the lyrics. It tackles the same seasonal themes as Mariah Carey or Ariana Grande, but in a way that’s far more exciting. The production balances festive whimsy with horsegiirL’s signature energetic flair, making it ideal for moving rather than singing along to the usual ballads.

‘12 Days of a Pop-Punk Christmas’ – Jarrod Alonge

There’s nothing realistic about the original gifts on ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ – who wants to deal with that many birds? Jarrod Alonge’s options are much more alt-kid friendly, especially for those of us not-so-secretly stuck in the mid-2010s. If you’re trying to get festive while simultaneously vying for a source of distraction from the cultural Christmas barrage, this track provides the best of both worlds. Delivering the original melody in the most stereotypical pop-punk whine imaginable is a cursed crossover; however, especially once Christmas starts to dominate conversation to intolerable levels, this cursed crossover is the distraction we all need.

Whether you'll be sticking with the classics or experimenting with new tracks this Bridgemas, we hope our list shows you there's always a way to spice up your holiday playlist. Now Happy Bridgemas to all, and to all a good night!