Lola Young performs Together In Electric Dreams on the 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert

Along with that first sip of mulled wine or nibble of a mince pie, you know the festive season is upon us when John Lewis unveils its Christmas advert.

For 12 years the department store has put out a sentimental and snowy reminder that it should be your one-stop shop for all your festive needs. You know the drill: accompanying the advert is a heart-tugging song, often a cover of a familiar classic that's been stripped-down for full emotional effect.

This year it's the turn of rising star Lola Young, who has covered Together In Electric Dreams (a 1984 hit by Phil Oakley and Giorgio Moroder) to soundtrack this year's extra-terrestrial visual. 

Lola Young follows in the footsteps of Celeste, who released original song A Little Love for last year's John Lewis Christmas ad.

Several songs recorded for the festive trailer go on to reach the Official Singles Chart Top 40, including Bastille's rendition of REO Speedwagon's Can't Fight This Feeling in 2019, and Aurora's Half The World Away in 2015. Two have gone all the way to Number 1: Lily Allen's cover of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know in 2013, and Gabrielle Aplin's haunting take on The Power Of Love in 2012.

20-year-old Lola hails from West London and was a student of the Brit School - an institution that has turned out stars including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis and Katie Melua. 

Lola released her first project Intro in 2019, showing off her sharp songwriting skills and warm, soulful voice. It's breakout hit was Blind Love, which has 1.82 million streams in the UK alone, according to Official Charts Company data. 

Last year she released the stripped-back, tender piano-led number None For You, which has quickly become one of her most popular songs.

As well as covering Electric Dreams, Lola has been working on new music with acclaimed producer Paul Epworth, whose credits include Adele, Lianne La Havas, and Florence + The Machine.