It’s December, which round these parts means it’s time once again for The Joyzine Advent Calendar! This year we’re celebrating our 20th edition, so we’ve scoured the archives to mix in some calendar classics along with a few fresh festive cuts from our favourite artists.
As always every track on the calendar will be absolutely free to download, and we don’t force you to sign up for our mailing list (though you can if you want, here) or hand over all of your personal data. The calendar is our Christmas gift to the world (or at least the part of it that enjoys seasonal songs by obscure indie musicians), but if you’re also in the giving mood we’d love you to make a donation to our chosen cause, the excellent anti-racism charity HOPE not hate, which you can do here.
On with the free festive tunes!
With just one day to go on this year’s calendar it’s time to share some of our own festive spirit, with The Joyzine Christmas Band’s rendition of ‘Walking In The Air’ from Christmas telly classic The Snowman, which was originally recorded for our 2014 calendar. After editor Paul Maps’ Aled Jones impression led to a perforated eardrum for musical accomplice Danny Le Pelley (of Subliminal Girls), they decided to take a different approach, hence this slightly baggy, psychedelic version, which we’re rather fond of. You can download it free below.
Paul Maps caught up with himself for a ridiculously self important interview.
What have you been up to this year?
Celebrating 20 years of Joyzine! Since reaching our vicennial in August, we’ve released two compilation albums packed with exclusive tracks from some of our favourite bands in the form of limited edition birthday cards designed by Finn Kidd (Klaxons/Hatcham Social) and Mikey Georgeson (David Devant & His Spirit Wife) and his son Ralph – you can get your hands on the last few physical copies on Bandcamp (or buy a digital download if you prefer).
We also put on a series of birthday shows, including a weekender at The Old Library in New Cross (including a gorgeous Garden Stage), a co-promotion with long-standing faves The Fades at The Lexington and a storming final show at The Amersham Arms with our pals from Rocklands and God Is In The TV, which also featured Fonda 500’s last ever London show. It was emotional.
The year was rounded off, as always, with this calendar and I was delighted to be made an honourary LOUD WOMAN and asked to guest host a section of their excellent radio show and play some calendar tunes from female and non-binary artists – you can hear it here (it’s also got a fab interview with Shirley Manson from Garbage and Piney Gir and Roxys talking about their European tour with Noel Gallagher): Mixcloud / Spotify
What have you got planned for 2024?
In addition to continuing to shout about all of our favourite music, we’ll have one final compilation album in the 20th anniversary series, which is shaping up to be rather special. After that, the 20th anniversary celebrations will be done and I might try and get some sleep or something.
Tell us about your track
As with many people who had their childhood in the UK, I grew up watching The Snowman every Christmas, and attempting and failing to hit Aled Jones’ high notes during this song. With the help of musical genius Danny Le Pelley we crafted into something entirely different (and that I could actually sing), which I think turned out surprisingly well.
This year Joyzine has been celebrating our 20th birthday – what were you up to in 2003?
Funnily enough, I was starting to make this online zine. You might have heard of it.
Any new year’s resolutions?
2023 has been a year of looking backwards at all of the music we’ve shared some love for within these pages over the past couple of decades. I’m looking forward to looking forward again in 2024 and discovering new bands that we can then reminisce about in 2043.
Download ‘Walking In The Air‘
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
Catch up on all of this year’s Advent Calendar Tracks so far:
1: MJ Hibbett – I Got You What You Want For Christmas
2: Matt Edible & The Obtuse Angels – Advent Beard
3: Old Man May – Laden Sleigh
4: Michael M (SLIME CITY) – It’s Easy To Hate This Time of Year
5: The Fades – Last Christmas (On The Beach)
6: AK/DK – Auld Lang Syne
7: Modesty Blaise – I’ll Be Home for Christmas
8: The Awkward Silences – I’ll Be Getting a Divorce for Christmas
9: Dead Horse – Eating The Reindeer
10: Palm Ghosts – Always Christmas Time
11: Charley Stone – Merry Christmas Actually
12: Premium Leisure ft. Piney Gir – September Gurls
13: Fierce Panda Records present Wynona Bleach – (Don’t Know Why) I Wished You Merry Christmas
14: LOUD WOMEN present I, Doris – Merry Menopause
15: Damaged Goods Records – Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of The British Empire
16: Peter With Rosie – Shortest Day, Longest Night + And What Will Be Left of Them – Filthy Little Christmas
17: Here Are The Young Men & Uncle Peanut – Christmas In The Clink
18: PNKSLM Records present 7ebra – I Have a Lot to Say (Lucern Raze Remix)
19: myKey – Live & Learn + Glam Chops – Glue and Glitter + Don’t Be Glum, Be Glam
20: Fonda 500 – (Soon) The Snow
21: Who’s The Daddy Now? – A Daddy Christmas Eve
22: Hot Sauce Pony – Christmas In Prison + Stephen EvEns – A Little Solstice Hymn
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