Essential Advent Calendar

Pop essentials and a little bit more

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 10 – Ingrid Michaelson Duets With Jason Mraz On ‘Christmas Valentine’

December 10, 2019

Door 10 of our Essential Advent Calendar this year opens on Ingrid Michaelson, who duets with Jason Mraz on her new holiday single, ‘Christmas Valentine’. The singer songwriter has nine albums under her belt, and loves making music that people connect with – so it’s no wonder she loves Christmas music!

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 9 – Singing Star Jennifer Saran Releases New Single ‘(Don’t Let It Be) A Sad Ol’ Christmas’

December 9, 2019

Door number 9 of The Essential Advent Calendar reveals internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jennifer Saran, revving up holiday spirits with a smashing new single, ‘(Don’t Let It Be) a Sad Ol’ Christmas’. Hot on the heels of her breakthrough jazz EP, ‘Smoky Nights’, the track was released December 6 via Tarpan Records.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 8 – Why Don’t We Is ‘With You This Christmas’

December 8, 2019

It’s the 8th door of our Essential Advent Calendar, and we open it to see Why Don’t We with their eleventh new song of 2019, ‘With You This Christmas’ – available now via Atlantic Records.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 7 – Little Mix Premiere Festive Video For ‘One I’ve Been Missing’

December 7, 2019

It’s December 7 and we ask that you all grab your eggnog and raise your glasses as the globe’s biggest girl group, Little Mix, on the release of their first ever Christmas song!

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 6 – Katy Perry Shares Video For ‘Cozy Little Christmas’

December 6, 2019

It’s December 6 and Katy Perry shared her first music video for the holidays – ‘Cozy Little Christmas’.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 5 – Superbravo Release ‘La Nuit’ / ‘Chanson Pour Les Enfants L’Hiver’

December 5, 2019

It’s only December 5 but already we’re excited about Christmas Eve, which is is when the magic happens. In the night, Santa gets into his sleigh and he delivers all the presents, that are eagerly awaited by children all over the world. Paris trio Superbravo have recorded ‘La Nuit’ (The Night), with ‘Chanson Pour Les Enfants l’Hiver’ (‘Song For The Children Of The Winter’) on the B-side.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 4 – Swedish Acid Folk Duo Us & Them Release ‘When The Stars Are Brightly Shining’/‘Winter’

December 4, 2019

It’s December 4, and we remember that Christmas is a time to spend with family and to feel a bit nostalgic. These two aspects of Christmas come together on the single the Swedish acid folk duo Us And Them have recorded for the Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club, ‘When The Stars Are Brightly Shining’, and ‘Winter’.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 3 – Livingmore Ask Us To ‘Show Me Light And Love’ / ‘Winter Wonderland’

December 3, 2019

What’s behind door number 3? Why it’s Los Angeles rock band Livingmore, with their Christmas single. ‘Show Me The Light And Love’/‘Winter Wonderland’.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 2 – Mylo Rhodes – ‘I Love Christmas Almost As Much As I Love You’

December 2, 2019

Independent singer songwriter Mylo Rhodes has released what should become a Christmas standard, with his song, ‘I Love Christmas Almost As Much As I Love You’. Rhodes’ aim is to get the track into the top spot on the charts this Christmas, and with some positive press under his belt so far, it seems possible that this could happen.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 1 – A Very Cherry Christmas Volume 14

December 1, 2019

It seems impossible but here it is. December 1, which of course means we open the first door of the season on the Essentially Pop Advent Calendar. Number one is ‘A Very Cherry Christmas Volume 14’, from Cherryade Records. With 26 tracks on the compilation album we could pretty much get away with just featuring a track per day from this, but we won’t be lazy and we’ll give everyone a chance.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 21 – ‘I Believe In Father Christmas’ By Circuit3

December 21, 2018

Circuit3 has produced his synthy take on the Greg Lake classic ‘I Believe In Father Christmas’.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 20 – Netflix Original Series ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3 Festive Featurette