Aladean Kheroufi references the hits in more ways than one on "Holiday Cheer"
Edmonton by way of Algeria artist Aladean Kheroufi hates Christmas… mostly. That's why he stuffed his seasonal single "Holiday Cheer" with as many Christmas song references as possible, of course.
“All the unnecessary stress it brings to people’s lives I find rather pointless," says Aladean Kheroufi of Yuletide. "Plus I was raised Muslim. But still I was born and raised in the west so of course there’s no escaping the cruel, cold grip of Kris Kringle." It might be somewhat of a surprise, therefore, that he turned his talents to recording a Christmas tune.
"Holiday Cheer" takes influence from an unusual source: Stephen Stills’ '80s cover of Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”. As Kheroufi explains, “It’s got a great '80s back and forth waddle that had me hypnotized." He then set about trying to fit in as many other Christmas song titles as possible, including one of the true greats, Tom Waits' not-really-festive-in-any-way "Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis".
After years of acting as producer, arranger and sideman in various bands in Edmonton and Victoria, Kheroufi took himself to NYC to soak in the city, the culture and the soul. On his return to Canada he set about carving out music on his own terms, fusing today's modern condition and passing it through a soulful filter with a healthy respect for the past. He released a single, “Maybe She’d Stay”, in June and followed it with the Beauty Beyond Grief EP in July.
- Rahim Redcar covers SOPHIE's "It's OK To Cry"
- Banks announces her fifth studio album, Off With Her Head
- SPRINTS, Fat Dog, The Horrors and more join Dot To Dot's 20th anniversary celebrations
- Tyla, Doechii and JADE to join RAYE at All Points East 2025
- SXSW London offer 500+ passes to local charities and community groups in East London
- Oklou announces forthcoming debut album, choke enough
- Nala Sinephro, Arooj Aftab, Anna von Hausswolff are among the first artists for Rewire 2025
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday