A Very Indie Christmas Playlist

In my family, it’s tradition to wait until we’re driving home from Thanksgiving dinner to listen to Christmas music. As soon as we’re buckled in and on the road, we’re cranking up the classics—Bing Crosby, Elvis, Michael Bublé (and much to my mom’s dismay, Mariah Carey, whom my youngest sister tries to match pitch with). These are songs we’ve grown up listening to through the holidays, and don’t get me wrong, they’re great (why else would we listen to them year after year, right?), but I’m a rebel. And I like to put a twist on things to make them my own.

These 29 songs sound like Christmas, just a little different. They’ve been recreated and reimagined by newer artists. Because why stick to the so-called classics when there are so many great indie Christmas covers and originals out there? Why not slow-jam to “Jingle Bells” and rock out to “12 Days Of Christmas?” Why not get a little “Christmas Tipsy” and sing about how “Santa Stole My Girlfriend?” This playlist is a not-so-traditional collection of tunes you’ll recognize and tunes you’ve probably never heard of (but will love!). Here’s to making new traditions. Cheers!

Jingle Bells – Sugar & The Hi Lows
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Andrew Belle
Ho Ho Hopefully – The Maine
Christmas Tipsy – honeyhoney
Very Merry Christmas – Dave Barnes
The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Holley Maher
Santa Stole My Girlfriend – The Maine
Sleigh Ride – Walk Off The Earth
O Holy Night – Go Radio
Home For The Holiday – Sugar & The Hi Lows
Christmas With You – Artist Vs Poet
Kiss Me Like It’s Christmas – This Century
Blue Christmas – She & Him
A Holly Jolly Christmas – The Henningsens
Yule Shoot Your Eye Out – Fall Out Boy
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Dave Barnes
Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass – All Time Low
We Wish You A Merry Christmas – The Vamps
Winterlove – Parachute
White Christmas – The Henningsens
Run Rudolph Run – Hanson
Please Come Home For Christmas – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Carol Of The Bells – the bird and the bee
Merry Christmas Darling – Christina Perri
Santa Stole My Lady – Fitz And The Tantrums
Mr. Winter – The Maine
12 Days of Christmas – Relient K
Forget December – Something Corporate

Want more indie Christmas tunes? Check out this playlist!