Former Oxted local, Alex Martin, who now lives in SE London, but grew up in Oxted and Limpsfield and attended Limpsfield Infants School has launched his first Christmas song today, “Please Come Back For Christmas”, through his company Big Bang Films. The catchy tune that has all you’d want from a Christmas song and more is sung by up and coming singer-songwriter, Isla Croll, who reached the semi finals of ITV’s The Voice Kids 2020.
‘Please Come Back For Christmas’ is new take on the tradition of all-time festive favourites such as Darlene Love’s ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. And much like those songs, the joy provided by Isla’s glorious vocals and the unmistakable sleigh bells is matched by an undercurrent of sadness of longing for a reunion with that special someone.
Already receiving great reviews, the song has been described as “an instant Christmas classic” and includes all the elements you’d hope to find in a catchy singalong Christmas tune with a heart-warming backstory and lovely animated video featuring an avatar based on Isla herself and her lost pup, Mungo, inspired by Alex’s own much-loved rescue dog.
Alex originally wrote the lyrics and music and arrangements for the song in around 2008, for no particular reason other than wasting time in between work assignments!
“The melody wasn’t originally destined to be a Christmas song,” said Alex, “but then once I started playing around with it and writing the lyrics, it kind of lent itself to a Christmas song and it sort of snowballed from there (haha).”
Alex was trying to find a singer through local schools, and couldn’t find anyone right…
“I’d looked around everywhere for local talent, but wasn’t having any luck with anyone who wasn’t already signed to a label… I decided to have a look at former contestants of TV shows, The Voice and Britains Got Talent and came across Isla and contacted her. She was up for the challenge and she’s absolutely perfect for the sound I was looking for. “
Isla first enjoyed a moment in the spotlight when she competed on ‘The Voice Kids’ in 2020 at just 15, where her jazzy performance of ‘Summertime’ inspired all four judges – will.i.am, Pixie Lott, Paloma Faith and Danny Jones of McFly – to turn their chairs in approval. After reaching the semi-final, she started an immensely promising solo career, which has seen her early soul/pop/jazz songs such as ‘Wondering’ and ‘Left In The Background’ earn the support of BBC Introducing.
The project was completed with Big Bang Films producing the animated video, realised by CEDGE Productions, while the song was mixed by Andy Dragazis of Blue States.
To all local musicians singers and songwriters: keep going, and don’t give up what you love, even if you’re just playing around as a hobby… because you never know when your time will come!
Link to download sites: https://hypeddit.com/islacroll/pleasecomebackforchristmas
