The Essential Advent Calendar

Pop essentials and a little bit more

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 18

Essential Advent Calendar: December 17 – ‘CHRISTMASTIDE’ THE BRAND-NEW FESTIVE EP FROM TORI AMOS

December 17, 2020

Day 17 on the Essential Advent Calendar, and we have celebrated singer-songwriter Tori Amos, who released her brand new festive EP, ‘Christmastide’ on December 4, via Decca Records, a special collection of four original tracks to celebrate the holiday season with her fans.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 17

Essential Advent Calendar: December 16 – Greg Lake ‘I Believe In Father Christmas’ 4K Restored Version Of The Original Promo Video

December 16, 2020

It’s December 16 and behind today’s door is the classic, ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ by Greg Lake, which was re-released for Christmas 2020 thanks to the restoration of the original video to 4K. The featured audio in the video is the 2015 master of the original 1975 single version.

Essential Advent Calendar: December 15 – Lauren Calve’s Original Song “Christmas Is Where The Heart Is”

December 15, 2020

Americana storyteller, singer, and songwriter Lauren Calve released her original holiday track, “Christmas Is Where The Heart Is” back in November, but we’ve held off talking about it, because we felt it deserved a spot in our Essential Advent Calendar.

Essential Advent Calendar: December 14 – New Music from Independent: Melxdie (“mel-o-dy”), “YOU”

December 14, 2020

It’s the 14th door on our Essential Advent Calendar, December 14, and behind it we find Melxdie (“mel-o-dy”), an emerging pop singer currently bringing her new Christmas anthem ‘YOU’ to the global stage.

Essential Advent Calendar: December 13 – Chilly Gonzales, Jarvis Cocker & Feist reveal rendition of Purple Mountains’ ‘Snow Is Falling In Manhattan’. ‘A very chilly christmas’ out now

December 13, 2020

It’s December 13 on the Essential Advent Calendar and Chilly Gonzales has revealed a stunning rendition of Purple Mountains’, ‘Snow Is Falling In Manhattan’, ft. Jarvis Cocker & Feist, taken from his new album ‘A very chilly christmas’. From feudal oldies to newer holiday pop canon, ‘A very chilly christmas’ surveys a broad scope of seasonal repertoire and sentiment.

Essential Advent Calendar: December 12 – PENTATONIX RELEASE NEW HOLIDAY ALBUM ‘WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS’

December 12, 2020

We open the 12th door on The Essential Advent Calendar, to see three-time Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling artist Pentatonix releasing their sixth holiday album, ‘We Need A Little Christmas’.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 12

Essential Advent Calendar: December 11 – KELLY FINNIGAN (MONOPHONICS) DROPS NEW HOLIDAY LP “A JOYFUL SOUND”

December 11, 2020

It’s December 11, the 11th door is open on our Essential Advent Calendar, and Kelly Finnigan (singer/songwriter/producer of the soul band Monophonics) releases his new holiday-inspired soul album ‘A Joyful Sound’ via Colemine Records. All 11 of these new tracks were written or co-written by Kelly and hearken back to the golden age of soul, albeit with a positive holiday lean.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 11

Essential Advent Calendar: December 10 – Olivia Lane Ushers In the Holiday Spirit with ‘Feeling Like Christmas’

December 10, 2020

It’s December 10, and with it the 1oth door of our Essential Advent Calendar. The uncertainty of this chaotic year couldn’t keep Olivia Lane from “Feeling Like Christmas.” The sanguine, soulful country songwriter has released her first original holiday song, with an official music video.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 10

Essential Advent Calendar: December 9 – North Pole Punk Rock Supergroup THE MYRRHDERERS Release Debut EP ‘The Myrrhderers Sleigh Christmas’

December 9, 2020

It’s Day 9 of the Essential Advent Calendar, and we present to you The Myrrhderers (pronounced “The Murderers”), a punk supergroup featuring prominent members of the North Pole underground music scene.

The Essential Advent Calendar: December 9

Essential Advent Calendar: December 8 – Annie Lennox releases single “Dido’s Lament” taken from the 10th Anniversary re-issue of her “A Christmas Cornucopia” album

December 8, 2020

We’re up to the 8th day of our Essential Advent Calendar, and one of the most successful, iconic and revered artists in pop music history, Annie Lennox – with over 83 million albums sold – is in the spotlight once again.

Essential Advent Calendar: December 7 – Multi-Platinum Artist, Producer, And Singer-Songwriter Tyler Shaw Gets Into The Holiday Spirit With ‘Maybe This Christmas’, Via Sony Music

December 7, 2020

Multi-platinum artist, producer, and singer-songwriter Tyler Shaw comes bearing gifts on Day 7 of our Essential Advent Calendar, with a cover of the Christmas classic, ‘Maybe This Christmas’ – originally by fellow Canadian Ron Sexsmith – via Sony Music.