Fruition multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Mimi Naja has curated a Spotify playlist of some of her favorite alternative Christmas songs and uncommon renditions of Holiday classics that you likely won’t hear on your local Holiday station. So stoke the fire, spike the eggnog, and let’s dance.

Naja’s curated playlist features 21 often-overlooked holiday tunes from artists including Sharon Jones & The Dap KingsStevie WonderIke & Tina TurnerJoni Mitchell, Chuck Berry, and more. The playlist comes as Naja’s answer to all of the overplayed Christmas songs that tend to turn a lot of people off of holiday music after hearing the same songs on the radio, in the grocery store, and at office parties all month long.

“Sometimes I like to get sentimental with the sappy holiday/religious songs, say, if I’m singing along with my mom,” Naja tells Live For Live Music. “On the other hand, I’d prefer to get funky and soulful with it with this collection of mostly secular tunes. Mom will still get down.”

Listen to Mimi Naja’s “L4LM Xmas” playlist and check out a full tracklisting below:

Mimi Naja – L4LM Xmas Playlist

Mimi Naja’s Christmas Playlist

  1. “God Rest Ye Merry Gents” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
  2. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Bahamas
  3. “All The Gifts I Need” – JD McPherson
  4. “Winter Wonderland” – Ramsey Lewis Trio
  5. “Here Comes Santa Claus” – Ramsey Lewis Trio
  6. “Angels We Have Heard On High” – Erica Falls
  7. “What Christmas Means To Me” – Stevie Wonder
  8. “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday” – William Bell
  9. “Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I’ll Sing Along) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
  10. “Merry Christmas Baby” – Ike & Tina Turner
  11. “River” – Joni Mitchel
  12. “Santa Comes To Atlanta” – Shinyribs
  13. “Funky Little Drummer Boy” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
  14. “Hey! Merry Christmas!” – The Mavericks
  15. “Run Rudolph Run” – Chuck Berry
  16. “Linus & Lucy” – Anderson .Paak
  17. “Christmas in L.A.” – Vulfpeck
  18. “Get Down Santa” – The Jive Turkeys
  19. “Stone Soul Christmas” – Binky Griptite
  20. “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” – Chet Atkins
  21. “May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas” – Irma ThomasPreservation Hall Jazz Band
View Tracklisting

Catch Mimi Naja at Denver Comes Alive 2023 on Friday, January 13th and Saturday, January 14th at Denver, CO’s Mission Ballroom. Naja is due to perform alongside Bridget Law (Elephant Revival), Lindsay Lou, Megan Letts (Mama Magnolia), Emma Rose (Big Richard), and Michelle Pietrafitta (Banshee Tree) as bluegrass supergroup WinterWonderWomen.

Related: Maggie Rose Talks Walking Genre Divides Ahead Of Denver Comes Alive [Interview]

On Saturday, January 14th, funk and soul styles will lead the way as Lettuce, The Word (featuring Robert Randolph, John Medeski, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, and Kevin Lloyd), The Main Squeeze with Pulp FrictionSuper Sonic Shorties, and more take the Denver Comes Alive stage. Check out the full lineup below. Tickets are now on sale here.

denver comes alive, denver comes alive yonder, denver comes alive yonder mountain string band, yonder interview, yonder mountain string band interview

[Originally published December 2019]