Joy to the world! It’s the return of our favourite festive tradition, the Joyzine Advent Calendar, back for its 22nd consecutive edition, which as far as we’re aware makes it the longest running on the net.
As always, every track is completely free to download and we don’t require you to sign up for a mailing list (though you can if you want to) or hand over your personal data – it’s our way of saying thank you to everyone who’s visited the site during 2025 and to hopefully bring a few more listeners to some very deserving artists.
However, if you do enjoy the tracks we would love you to consider making a donation to our chosen cause, which this year is HOPE not hate, and their stirling work researching, campaigning, and supporting communities to build HOPE and oppose far-right extremism. You can make a donation here.
London-based, Italian-born artist DRIFT., the moniker of musician and producer Nathalie Bruno, has worked with labels such as Tapete and Avant! Records across a series of releases since 2015. The most recent album was written for, and inspired by, the disappeared artist Rosi Crucci, with DRIFT. describing it as a “canvas to rewire the vision of the future as colourful and old, ceremonial and rust-beaten.”
With Clash describing the music as “immersive, fragmented glo-fi pop…,” DRIFT. is currently playing live shows and developing new material, with Max Oscarnold and Finn Kidd bringing a powerful edge to the performances.
We caught up with Nathalie for a festive q&a session:
What made you choose this track for the festive download this year?
I’ve been playing this song live for a while now and It didn’t make the album that I’ve just finished so rather than let it rot away on my hard drive I’ve gifted it to you.
What’s been an important or special moment for the band this year?
Evolving from a two piece to a full (ish) band has been a lot of fun live, looking for a bassist – hit me up!
Working on and finishing the album has been a very special experience, super happy with this one.
Can you tell us something interesting about how the track was written or recorded, or something that surprised you when you were making it? Or perhaps a detail that people may miss on first listen?
The lyrics were originally written and spoken in Russian.
What’s coming up next for you that Joyzine readers should look out for?
The new record that should be out sometime next year.
How do you usually celebrate the holidays? Any traditions? Or how do you use the downtime of the winter months?
Usually there is no downtime and I make the most of the dreary weather and dark days to write or work on ideas.
This year however I shall be in South America where it’s the peak of summer and the days are long. We have a few shows out there so that will be fun.
Finally, what’s one thing you’re feeling hopeful about heading into the new year, or something you want to explore?
Looking forward to the album being released and working on videos to go with the songs, I’d like a video for every track!
Then after working on a new index album I will get on with album number 4
Stream and download ’19th Symphony’ below
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
Writer Paul F Cook is a huge fan of Annie Gardiner and recently wrote, “Annie Gardiner is a very protean artist who can shift genres faultlessly. I first heard her supporting Run Logan Run at Strange Brew in Bristol back in 2023 and she performed an alt-folk set to a hushed audience. But her most recent releases have encompassed an album Jungian Stomp under the moniker Excellent Birds inspired by the Yamaha’s PSR-90 synthesizer which owes more to Björk or Róisín Murphy than it does to the Waterson’s, followed by the ambient EP Digital Leaves inspired by plants and creating a Zen garden for the mind.“
Today’s track, ‘Things I Didn’t Know Were There’, is an exclusive track from her forthcoming album Sleeping Dogs, which is a return to the style of dreamlike folk that was on her outstanding debut album Bloodletting and Annie’s resonant voice skips and slides along with the incredible string arrangements and lush harmonies.
We caught up with Annie for a festive q&a session:
Tell us a little bit about your track please
This track is on my second solo album Sleeping Dogs, due out in Feb 6th 2026. It has been in my live set for a while and though a strange on in the set, it is probably the most normal on the album. I love this song… an ode to how good chemistry leads to good things in ways that seem abstract at the time !
What have you been up to in 2025?
I have been spending plenty of time in my studio working on music. I finished and released my first Ambient record under my other project Excellent Birds which is electronic. I have both come to terms with and committed to the release of this new Annie Gardiner solo album Sleeping Dogs. Its been very hard to make but finally it will be out 6th Feb 2026 and is out for pre-order now. In the meantime, while finishing these ones off, I have been working on several new ones for both solo and Excellent Birds. I am in the middle of planning the release schedule Crystal Fuzz Records 2026. When I’m not in the studio I have been helping early career artists make their music as a Senior Lecturer in Songwriting and now Electronic Music Production. I love this part time role as it always serves as fresh musical dialogue which benefits both me and students alike!
And what are your plans for next year?
I want to do some tour shows for Sleeping Dogs, so am slowly planning that. Also, several releases planned for Crystal Fuzz Records… just working out the best way… I need to release what I’ve made but also there is a good way to do it which isn’t overwhelm-inducing!
What have been your musical highlights of the year from other bands/artists?
My musical highlights are pretty out of step with what gets released and so on… as I tend to do concentrated listening moments as part of my practice in the studio. I discovered Green-House this year, and they are a go to now; watching Chris Corsano play at Cube Bristol; watching Extra Life play at Cube; Silver Waves‘ album launch at Croft was sublime…
Christmas: The most wonderful time of the year or a big bag of humbug?
I enjoy the break and the quiet of Christmas, though I am not a big celebrant… we have our things we do but its pretty quiet. I do think that the advertising is out of control now though!
Stream and download ‘Things I Didn’t Know Were There’ below
Make a donation to HOPE not hate
Annie Gardiner: Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Website
1: Piney Gir & Parenthesis Dot Dot Dot
2: Syd Howells
3: The Happy Hollow
4: Stephen Evens
5: Ombudsmen
6: The Scaramanga Six
7: Dextro + Rubber Oh
8: Craig Fortnam
9: Salt The Snail
10: Cerys Hafana
11: bis x Art Brut
12: Gemma Rogers
13: The Joyzine Christmas Band, Gift Box, Skink + Adam & Elvis
Check back tomorrow for another free festive download!
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