Dec 19, 2024
Holiday Classics Reimagined in 'Home Alone (On The Night Before Christmas) Vol. 2'
Today we’re joined by Dimitri Vegas, Timmy Trumpet, and Luna Isa, who take us behind the scenes of "Home Alone (On The Night Before Christmas) Vol. 2," a hard dance reinterpretation of beloved holiday classics. The trio dive into the creative challenges of balancing the nostalgic warmth of iconic songs with high-energy beats that light up dance floors. They reflect on the collaborative magic of the album, their unique approaches to reworking tracks, and the importance of pushing genre boundaries. Packed with fresh spins on holiday staples, this album promises to electrify the festive season.
Hey guys, thanks for joining us to celebrate the release of the album Home Alone (On The Night Before Christmas) Vol. 2. This album breathes new life into beloved holiday songs with a hard dance twist. What was the biggest challenge in balancing the nostalgia of these classics with the high-energy sound fans expect from you?
Dimitri Vegas: Thanks for the interview. As you mentioned, this is Volume 2 in the series with a fresh tracklist of classics. The first album proved to be so popular with the fans that it was only right that we delved back into it with a follow-up release. Much like the first volume, the biggest challenge was finding that balance between respecting the magic of these originals and giving them a completely fresh spin. These songs mean so much to so many people, so we didn’t want to lose their essence while still amping them up into something unique. There’s definitely a lot of trial and error involved in figuring out what best represents these beloved holiday tracks.
Luna Isa: Thanks for having me! The hardest part was keeping the cozy, nostalgic vibe of a classic Christmas song while bringing the expected high-energy, driving beats. The process kinda felt like decorating a holiday classic with neon lights: the heart stays the same, but the vibe is electric.
How did being part of a collective album like Home Alone (On The Night Before Christmas) Vol. 2 influence your creative process?
Dimitri Vegas: When you are part of something quite unique like this project, it’s cool to see how everyone approaches these iconic tracks differently. Each artist brings their own style to the project, which is cool, and that brings so many new creative ways of work and inspirational ideas.
Dimitri Vegas: When you are part of something quite unique like this project, it’s cool to see how everyone approaches these iconic tracks differently. Each artist brings their own style to the project, which is cool, and that brings so many new creative ways of work and inspirational ideas.
Timmy Trumpet: I’ve been playing variations of Christmas songs and bootlegs for years, so I knew this would be an easy one to jump on board with. Dimitri’s awesome to work with, and every time we have a lot of fun. Christmas is all about celebrating and having fun, so the creative process was all focused on maximum energy, and living life to the fullest.
Luna Isa: First off, being part of this album with so many amazing artists is absolutely HUGE. It’s such an honor to collaborate with this level of talent. The goal was not only to stick to my usual sound, but to focus on how our track would fit into the album as a whole. It wasn’t just about making a banger—it was about contributing to this epic, cohesive holiday vibe we were all creating together.
Holiday classics are abundant, yet you chose specific ones to rework. What drew you to this track, and how did you decide to reimagine them with your unique sound?
Dimitri Vegas: These are arguably the most iconic Christmas songs of modern times, right? So why not attempt to reimagine it for a hard dance crowd and see what comes out the other end. We kept the parts that everyone loves and decided to ramp it up so it would hit differently, whether played at a festival, club or even your own home on Christmas day!
Dimitri Vegas: These are arguably the most iconic Christmas songs of modern times, right? So why not attempt to reimagine it for a hard dance crowd and see what comes out the other end. We kept the parts that everyone loves and decided to ramp it up so it would hit differently, whether played at a festival, club or even your own home on Christmas day!
Timmy Trumpet: I’ve been dropping versions of “All I Want for Christmas” in my sets every year for the past five years or so. As corny as it is, it’s just awesome. Everyone on the planet knows this song—it’s one of the most rinsed tracks ever. But when you’ve got a packed dance floor, everyone’s having a blast, hands in the air, not giving a flying fuck—it’s pure magic. That holiday spirit comes to life!
Luna Isa: My producer asked me if I wanted to jump on the track and I was down straight away. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” is just such an iconic track—it’s playful, it’s universal, and it already has a rhythmic quality that feels perfect for a dance reinterpretation.
Hard dance isn't traditionally associated with holiday music. How do you see albums like this pushing the boundaries of the industry, and why is it important to keep innovating within your genre?
Dimitri Vegas: Very true, but part of the logic behind this project was to change that and to show just how versatile hard dance can be. With Volume 1 we really were coming at this whole concept blind, but going into Volume 2 we had a much better vision for recreating these classic hits into something totally new. The success of the first album gave a huge lift for this latest release because we knew there’s an audience for it, and a fanbase open to new ideas. Of course, mixing hard dance with holiday music isn’t something you hear every day, so we thought why not have some fun with this project. That’s why it’s so exciting because it’s a great way to bring the hard dance sound to new audiences.
Dimitri Vegas: Very true, but part of the logic behind this project was to change that and to show just how versatile hard dance can be. With Volume 1 we really were coming at this whole concept blind, but going into Volume 2 we had a much better vision for recreating these classic hits into something totally new. The success of the first album gave a huge lift for this latest release because we knew there’s an audience for it, and a fanbase open to new ideas. Of course, mixing hard dance with holiday music isn’t something you hear every day, so we thought why not have some fun with this project. That’s why it’s so exciting because it’s a great way to bring the hard dance sound to new audiences.
Timmy Trumpet: I don’t know if it’s necessarily pushing boundaries—there’s been a ton of Christmas albums done in other genres. But why not electronic music? It’s such a massive part of the festive season worldwide. It’s the ultimate genre to celebrate, party, and let loose with your mates. This project is just pure fun and energy, and it's awesome to be a part of it!
Luna Isa: Holiday music and hard dance? Total opposites, right? That’s exactly why it works. Albums like this show that there are no real rules in music anymore—there’s always room to flip the script, even on classics. It’s all about trying new things, not just to push the genre forward but to invite new listeners in.
Turning a well-loved classic into a hard dance anthem is no small feat. How did you approach keeping the soul of the original intact while still giving it a fresh, modern spin?
Dimitri Vegas: The easy answer is just to keep it simple. These classics invoke so many memories for millions of people around the world, so it’s important to keep the heart of the original song. Taking those instantly recognizable melodies and/or vocals and building them around something fresh is the starting point, and then just explore what new sounds and ideas work best with the magic of the track.
Dimitri Vegas: The easy answer is just to keep it simple. These classics invoke so many memories for millions of people around the world, so it’s important to keep the heart of the original song. Taking those instantly recognizable melodies and/or vocals and building them around something fresh is the starting point, and then just explore what new sounds and ideas work best with the magic of the track.
Timmy Trumpet: Love her or hate her, Mariah’s got the voice of a generation—it’s so powerful. “All I Want for Christmas” has to be one of her most iconic and replayed tracks. Honouring that vocal and creating the right space around it was the top priority. Everything else? It just had to hit hard, sound fresh and be absolutely banging.
Luna Isa: The goal was to bring together nostalgia and innovation. As I said before, I kept thinking of the creative process as adding neon lights to a holiday classic where the emotional core stays but the vibe feels electric. The dance beat brings new energy, but we also kept fun touches like bells and a children’s choir, which I created by altering my voice. It was a playful way to stay connected to the original spirit of the track.
What’s your personal favorite track on the album, and why?
Dimitri Vegas: Ah tough question because the album’s packed with fantastic tracks! But the Junkie Kid rework of “Hedwig's Theme” probably edges it as my personal favorite because it’s a ferocious, but also fun, party banger. We’re really happy with the outcome of this latest album, and alongside the popularity of the first Volume 1 release, it’s been an incredible project to be involved with from start to finish.
Dimitri Vegas: Ah tough question because the album’s packed with fantastic tracks! But the Junkie Kid rework of “Hedwig's Theme” probably edges it as my personal favorite because it’s a ferocious, but also fun, party banger. We’re really happy with the outcome of this latest album, and alongside the popularity of the first Volume 1 release, it’s been an incredible project to be involved with from start to finish.
Timmy Trumpet: “All I Want for Christmas” is the track. That’s why I teamed up with the man himself, Mr. Dimitri Vegas. It was a no-brainer. As soon as the idea came up, I was like, “Sign me up, this is the one we’re doing!”
Luna Isa: It’s so hard to pick a favorite—there are so many bangers on the album! However, the intro track “Carol of the Bells” hit me in a special way. The way it builds up is just epic (I love the electric guitars on it). It’s an amazing track to kick off the album! Plus, the song is super nostalgic for me—I used to play classical violin and was part of a CD recording of the original when I was younger.
You can stream or download "Home Alone (On The Night Before Christmas) Vol. 2," on your platform of choice today! https://orcd.co/homealonevol2
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