Yesterday was another multi-band bonanza with six tracks from artists on the Dedstrange Records roster, namely Plattenbau, Data Animal, Jealous, Lunacy, A Place To Bury Strangers and Wah Together – get all of the tracks here. Today we’ve an alternative take on a festive favourite.
As always, the tracks are completely free to download and there’s no need to sign up to any mailing lists to access the songs (though if you’d like to you can join ours here), but if you’re enjoying the tunes we’d love you to make a donation to the wonderful charity Help Musicians, who offer health and welfare support to musicians at all stages of their lives.
Let’s find out who’s bringing the tunes today…
We all know what Christmas is supposed to look like – snow dusted rooftops, carol singers in the streets, happy families gathered together enjoying a slap up turkey dinner, presents piled high around the Christmas tree, Wham on the stereo, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, etc, etc, etc. It’s been piped into our living rooms throughout our lives, but it’s not the reality for many people.
Today at 8pm, Music Beyond Mainstream release Another Christmas, a film featuring musical performances by Mercury-nominated vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer ESKA, singer-songwriter and composer Douglas Dare, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Duke Garwood, Irish musician, singer and actor Camille O’Sullivan, as well as further musical input from Feargal Murray and Oliver Coates. Creative Director Laura Ducceschi explains that the project aims to “shine a light on those who don’t fit into traditional boxes.”
The project, co-commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust and Barbican Centre and presented in Coventry by Coventry City of Culture Trust, is explained further by Music Beyond Mainstream; “Christmas is a complicated time of year. The warm, fuzzy, greeting card version of it does not necessarily align with people’s real life experiences and emotions. Regardless of background, upbringing, or socio-economic status, the festive period is somewhat inescapable and means something different to everyone. In the media, it’s marketed as a time of plenty and excess with a pressure to consume and conform to societal expectations. Being bombarded with this one-way narrative leaves droves of people feeling isolated and excluded.“
The film features new interpretations of Christmas classics along with exclusive new material, interspersed with stories of people’s real-life Christmas experiences. “Despite the initial idea being rooted in rebellion,” explain the organisers, “ultimately this project is one driven and united by love, compassion, thoughtfulness and peace – just not wrapped up in mawkish sentimentality to flog chocolate.“
On today’s calendar window we’re delighted to bring you ESKA and Duke Garwood’s sensational version of primary school nativity favourite ‘Silent Night’.
“This is sort of billed as a non-Christmassy Christmas but actually it’s even more Christmassy as a result by trying to focus on the reality of it,” says ESKA. “Not everyone’s sleeping in heavenly peace right now but we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and we wish heavenly peace on people whatever they’re going through.”
Download ‘Silent Night‘
Watch Another Christmas in full on Music Beyond Mainstream’s Youtube Channel
Find out more about ESKA on her offical website
about Duke Garwood here
and about Music Beyond Mainstream here
If you enjoy today’s tracks, please consider making a donation to Help Musicians
Come back tomorrow for more exclusive tracks + check out the tracks from previous windows, all of which are still available to download:
#1: Piney Gir – Everybody Knows It’s Christmas
#2: Lost Map Records: Gordon McIntyre – You and Me and The Ghosts of Christmas Past
#3: Hey You Guys! – I’m Sorry
Peter With Rosie – The Oxen
Peter Richard Adams – The Roaring Twenties
#4: Salt The Snail – Matador Print
#5: Dead Horse – Eating The Reindeer
#6: Blang Records: Sergeant Buzfuz – In The Bleak Midwinter
Paul Hawkins (Awkward Silences) – Christmas Doesn’t Love Me
Faux Fibbers – All The Nutters Come Out At Christmas
#7: The Scaramanga Six – Dog Form
#8: Hatcham Social – If You Go Down To The Woods Today (Three Cheers for Our Team)
#9: Alcopop! Records: Beach Riot – Modern Dinosaur
Frauds – Woke Life
Tokky Horror – Eden on Acid
#10: The Mining Co. – Last Stop for Tired Reindeer
#11: Sonic Tonic: Firestations – Long Year City
The Leaf Library – Tired Ghost
Shattercones – In The Bleak Midwinter
Maggie The Cat – The Cherry Tree Carol
Naomi In Blue – Colour of Blue
#12: Cruel Nature Records: Distant Animals – Hyperacusis
Omnibael – The Repetition
#13: The Fades – People In General
Silent Star – To Hell or Hackney (Too Late)
#14: Reckless Yes Records: Paper Birch – Summer Daze (Mild Peril Remix)
Nervous Twitch – You Ruined Christmas + Boredom & Distraction
Bitch Hunt – Shapeshifter
LIINES – Keep On Going
Duck – Santa Claus (ft. Charley Stone)
Hearts Beating In Time – Simone’s
The Crystal Furs – Drinking Alone On Christmas
French for Rabbits – Money or The Bag (Alternative Live Version)
Japan Review – Lose Them All
#15: Dedstrange Records: Plattenbau – Hollywood
Data Animal – Future Primitive
Jealous – K-Hole
Lunacy – Dust
A Place To Bury Strangers – Let’s See Each Other (Grimoose Remix)
Wah Together – Sayonara
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