New Releases

Welcome to New Music Friday, your one place to discover the biggest new song, album and DVD releases.

And this week, it's an extra special edition of New Releases - as we're looking at the new drops that could make or break a song's chances of becoming the all-important Official Christmas Number 1 next Friday.

WHAM! are celebrating 40 years of their absolute Christmas CLASSIC Last Christmas with a very special re-issue of the wistful synth-pop ballad, which has just dropped some super limited-edition vinyl variants.

The 12" vinyl single includes the standard version of Last Christmas that we all know and love, as well as there lesser-known 'Pudding Mix' of the song, along with its instrumental and never-before-released live cut of George Michael himself performing Last Christmas live in 2006. 

Last Christmas is, of course, last year's reigning Christmas Number 1 - could this very special physical drop help it go all the way again?

Not one to be counted out at this stage in the race, East 17's former 1994 Christmas Number 1 Stay Another Day! This is also getting a brand new re-release in honour of the chart-topping track's 30th anniversary, with all proceeds going from the re-issue (an ice-clear vinyl single) going to music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins. 

Finally...could Gok Wan (yes, that Gok Wan) be a last-minute contender for Christmas Number 1?! The TV presenter has, in recent years, forged a new career as a DJ, and this year has teamed up with the House Gospel Choir to release Deeper Love (A Tribute To Allison), in memory of his best friend, the late Allison Gordon-Parr. Proceeds from the track will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Meanwhile, in non-Christmas news fred again.. has joined up with vocalist Angie McMahon for new release Light, Dark, Light which samples McMahon's 2023 single Making It Through, which is perfect for those still wanting a rave over the Christmas break!

Olly Alexander continues to preview new tracks from his forthcoming debut solo album Polari, released tomorrow Archangel once again comes with production from UK wizard Danny L Harle (Charli xcx, Caroline Polachek, Carly Rae Jepsen), and fits nicely into the wonky-synth energy of previous cuts like Dizzy and Cupid's Bow. 

Other new releases this week come from viral US indie-pop band Laundry Day (Damn Shame), a foul-mouthed new club cut from ShyGirl (F*Me) and Irish singer-rapper Biig Pigg (Ponytail).

As for albums...

The Queen of Christmas is celebrating her 30th anniversary this week! Yes, it's been 30 years since Mariah Carey first issued her first festive collection, Merry Christmas, which represented something of a gamble at the time (Mariah was arguably at the peak of her popularity in 1994, and Christmas albums were normally seen as reserved for those a few years out of the spotlight), but it luckily included a little song called All I Want For Christmas Is You...

As Mariah aims for Christmas Number 1 this year, now is the perfect time to re-visit this very festive collection from the ultimate Christmas diva.

Nicki Minaj is also on the album release trail this week, she's issuing the sequel to Pink Friday 2, now known as The Hiatus. Expect more sleek yet bonkers bangers that represent both sides of Nicki's artistry; with feet both the worlds of hardcore rap and club-pop.

More projects being issued this week include STRAY KIDS' experimental EP HOP, Snoop Dogg & Dr Dre's team-up record Missionary and Britsh alt-pop outfit Saint Etinenne's eleventh album The Night.