SONAIRE on Christmas Magic Forever, Christmas WTF?! and the Two Sides of December

For readers meeting you for the first time, who is SONAIRE, and what’s the story behind the name?

SONAIRE: SONAIRE is an independent music project based in North Brabant, the Netherlands. I use the name as a single musical identity across different styles and moods, from uplifting dance-pop to more reflective songs. Rather than limiting it to one sound, I want people to recognize the emotion and energy behind each release.

Why two Christmas releases with such different personalities?

SONAIRE: Because December is never just one emotion. Christmas Magic Forever captures the side of Christmas that brings people together: warmth, romance, singalongs and the excitement of a celebration. Christmas WTF?! is the other side: family chaos, awkward surprises, overspending and laughing your way through the madness. They are very different albums, but both are about moments people recognize.

How did Christmas Magic Forever take shape?

SONAIRE: The creative focus was an album that could move naturally between the glow of Christmas lights and the energy of a party. Instead of staying with a single formula, the fifteen-song collection ranges from dance-friendly tracks such as “This Christmas, Everybody Dance!” to the warmth of “Kiss Me Under the Christmas Lights.” Each track offers a slightly different way into the festive season.

What does SONAIRE bring to a genre full of classics?

SONAIRE: Christmas music works when people want to return to it, not only because the calendar says it’s December. I wanted the collection to offer fresh moments of celebration, romantic warmth and humor without losing that instantly recognizable Christmas feeling. The contrast between big, catchy choruses and more intimate songs is a major part of the identity.

What fed into the humor of Christmas WTF?!

SONAIRE: Some of the funniest Christmas moments are the least picture-perfect: chaotic group chats, unexpected messages from an ex, family questions nobody asked for, financial pressure and parties that go in completely unexpected directions. Those everyday situations are the humor behind the album. The goal is a playful, mischievous soundtrack to the other side of the holidays.

What has shaped the sound of SONAIRE?

SONAIRE: The musical reference points are broad rather than limited to a single artist or scene: melodic pop, energetic dance music, big singalong choruses and the emotional pull of familiar holiday melodies. I enjoy switching between those moods while keeping the music accessible and memorable.

What’s next beyond Christmas?

SONAIRE: SONAIRE isn’t only a seasonal project. Releases such as Afterglow and Two Hearts One Beat show the wider pop direction as well. The aim is to keep exploring music built around strong melodies, different moods and the feeling that a song can become part of someone’s everyday memories.

Listen to Christmas Magic Forever and Christmas WTF?! on Spotify.

Artwork: Christmas Magic Forever album cover, supplied by SONAIRE. Interview answers by SONAIRE.