As the festive season approaches, the familiar sound of the same classic Christmas songs can begin to lose its sparkle. This year, it's time to refresh your holiday soundtrack with a curated selection of new music from 2025, designed for every stage of your celebrations.
Setting the Vibe for Festive House Parties
Let's be honest: once guests have enjoyed a few improvised cocktails, the requests for karaoke classics are inevitable. However, for the crucial early hours of your gathering, you need music that builds energy without overwhelming the conversation.
This year's essential house party mix features an electrifying blend of pop, dance, and rap from rising and established artists. The selection is crafted to keep the mood buoyant and the party flowing smoothly before the nostalgic sing-alongs begin.
Key tracks for your festive house party include:
- Jim Legxacy – Father
- Cardi B – Principal (ft Janet Jackson)
- Tate McRae – Tit for Tat
- PinkPantheress – Illegal
- Sammy Virji – Cops & Robbers (ft Skepta)
- Lady Gaga – Zombieboy
- MK – Dior (ft Chrystal)
Sophisticated Sounds for Dinner Parties and Kitchen Sessions
Not every festive gathering is a raucous affair. For more intimate dinner parties, avoiding the generic, soulless background music found on many streaming platforms is key. The ideal soundtrack should have character and depth, complementing the atmosphere without fading into insignificance.
The recommended dinner party playlist for 2025 spans hip-hop, alt-pop, indie, R&B, and jazz. It offers a rich tapestry of sound that provides a sophisticated backdrop for conversation and fine food.
Notable artists for your dinner party include:
- Banks – Delulu
- Olivia Dean – Man I Need
- Fontaines DC – It’s Amazing to Be Young
- Alex G – Afterlife
- Justin Bieber – Yukon
- Yaya Bey – Spin Cycle
Similarly, cooking for a crowd requires a specific musical tempo. You need something that maintains a steady rhythm without raising stress levels. A blend of blissful funk, classic soul, and heartfelt ballads from across the decades is the perfect recipe for a calm and collected kitchen.
The Morning After: Soothing the Festive Hangover
When the celebrations are over and the clean-up begins, a different kind of playlist is required. The morning after calls for gentle, restorative sounds to soothe the senses as you face the aftermath.
This selection focuses on the year's best in dream-pop and acoustic songwriting, designed to make everything feel a little better. It's the audio equivalent of a comforting blanket and a strong coffee.
Perfect tracks for a calm recovery include:
- Joanne Robertson – Always Were (ft Oliver Coates)
- Cate Le Bon – Mothers of Riches
- Loyle Carner – In My Mind
- Big Thief – Grandmother (ft Laraaji)
- Nilüfer Yanya – Treason
- Burial – Comafields
All these playlists, originally featured in the winter food special of the Guardian’s Feast supplement published on Saturday 22 November, can be easily transferred to popular streaming services like Apple Music and Tidal, ensuring your festive season has the perfect score.
