Indie holiday songs, unlike their mainstream counterparts, are often an unpolished celebration of the quirky, the imperfect, and the raw. Maybe it’s an odd take on a Carol or a rousing ode to jingling bells sung by a motley choir. To truly understand what makes these songs stand out, we must first look at the world of indie music itself. Indie artists, who thrive on identities of authenticity, willingness to take risks and creative freedom, often take traditional holiday tropes and turn them upside down. For example, Dolph Chaney sings a rocking version of “Jingle Bells” to Van Halen’s Panama. These artists carve their own paths, making holiday tunes that feel like a moment of honesty amidst the well-worn path of commercial jingles and grand orchestras.

So, what does it take to craft a great indie holiday song?

The heart of it is emotion, not necessarily the big, grand gestures associated with festive anthems. It is not simply about snow, ice, and a blanket of white, Indie songs lean into subtlety, sometimes with a melancholic twist that contrasts with the usual holiday cheer. Picture a song with hushed vocals that almost sound like they’re being whispered just for you, with soft guitar strums or synths that pull at your heartstrings in a way that’s intimate, not loud. This feeling of quietude is what gives the song an unrelenting emotional weight. It’s not about being in your face; it’s about creating a space where the listener feels like they’re a part of something private, something personal. It’s a kind of vulnerability that mainstream holiday tunes often lack. Of course, there is also the sarcasm, picture of the Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” or The Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” as examples of mixing the dark with the season of light. The Killers twisting the convention of Santa Claus with “I Feel It In My Bones” is a delightful dark take on the rules imposed by that red suit-wearing perhaps not-so-jolly Kringle.

Just because a holiday song is quiet does not make it unimportant. Take a song like Sufjan Stevens’ “Christmas in the Room”. Here, Sufjan’s delicate falsetto paired with minimalistic instrumentation creates a sense of emotional distance, yet closeness at the same time. The song doesn’t scream “holiday” but gently reflects on love, loss, and the passing of time — which, when you think about it, is what the holidays are all about. This blend of melancholy and nostalgia is a defining feature of the best indie holiday tracks: they understand that the holiday season is often complex, not just filled with cheer, but tinged with reflections on the year gone by.

Another key element for an indie holiday is quirkiness. Indie music, after all, is about breaking norms, and holiday songs should reflect that characteristic. Where mainstream holiday music might rely on brass bands, bells, and bells (again, just in case you missed it), indie artists will look to different sound textures: distorted vocals, electronic flourishes, offbeat rhythms. They play with expectation. A holiday song that’s anything but “sugary sweet” — one that challenges conventions, and presents an alternate universe where the holidays aren’t just a simple happy ending, can be far more impactful.

The lyrical themes of indie holiday music also elevate it above typical holiday fare. Instead of the generic joy and family love, these songs may dive into topics like loneliness, isolation, or the bittersweet nature of reunions. Kathleen Edwards sings about simply surviving the holidays, which flies in the face of how we are “supposed” to feel during the holiday season. Come on, isn’t the relief when it’s all over demonstrate the truth in the lies we tell ourselves about forced cheerfulness.

Think of the way indie artist Phoebe Bridgers reinterprets festive themes — there’s always a sense of both humor and sadness woven through her lyrics. Embracing the positive and negative side of the human condition does not take a holiday during the holiday season.

Sure, there can be some room for reflection on personal growth, the complexities of relationships, and how the holidays can bring those things into sharp relief. This makes indie holiday songs so relatable, as they tap into the messy realities that many people face during the season. This realism is a much-needed counterpoint to the consumer-driven holiday cheer that often drowns out any feelings of uncertainty or sadness.

A final note on what makes a great indie holiday song is the power of uniqueness. A truly great indie holiday song sounds like nothing you’ve heard before. It doesn’t rely on the same old cliches or harmonic progressions. Instead, it experiments with sound, emotion, and form, creating something that feels new yet timeless. I know that sounds oxymoronic, and perhaps it is. It may not be a song you’ll hear on every department store playlist, but that’s precisely why it stands out.

We can imagine that what makes a great indie holiday song is its ability to feel — to evoke something real in pain, in joy, in anticipation, in being let down. Maybe a good holiday indie tune gives us a few minutes of genuine emotion, whether joy, melancholy, or nostalgia. It’s about being authentic and true to oneself, embracing imperfections, and telling a story that feels real, even within the fantastical world of holiday music, where we sing about flying reindeer, jolly old elves, snow creatures, and toys.