Christmas is upon us, and while many of us dig up our old festive playlists – newcomer Isla Croll provides us with a new tune to add to the roster. An instant Christmas classic, “Please Come Back For Christmas” gives listeners a fresh take on the tradition of festive-themed music. Drawing inspiration from tried-and-true favourites such as Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and Mariah Carey’s sensational hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Croll imbues this new track with that same mournful yearning for a reunion with that special someone.

The track’s melancholic sensibilities are further brought to the surface through a touching animated music video, which was produced by Big Bang Films. To set the scene, the story begins just a few days after Christmas – and a young girl is brought together with a dog named Mungo, who appears to have given up hope of ever being adopted. The two quickly become inseparable, and a whirlwind love affair ensues. But soon enough, Mungo goes missing. The seasons change, and there’s still no sign of him. Although, there might be one last trick under the young girl’s sleeve…

Written and produced by Alex Martin, it’s a monumental feat that “Please Come Back For Christmas” is his first ever professional release. Joining forces with the young talent Isla Croll – a match was made in heaven, allowing the track to ascend to its full potential. With the likes of BBC Introducing in Croll’s corner, at the tender age of 17 she’s set for the stars. Luckily for us, we were able to chat to the rising artist about her new release, Christmas traditions, and navigating the music industry at a young age.

To read our enlightening interview with Isla Croll, head below…

Hey Isla, how are you doing?

Good, thank you, and feeling excited.

Congrats on “Please Come Back For Christmas”. How did you find tackling the Christmas genre?

It’s exciting because I’ve wanted to do a Christmas song for a while. When this opportunity came a long I took it. In the studio they let me experiment with different sounds which was a lot of fun!

What Christmas music did you listen to growing up?

Mariah Carey, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé, Sia, Pentatonix and many more.

What would be your ideal Christmas?

A snowy Christmas as I haven’t had one for ages.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Yes, we have our big meal on Christmas Eve and then Christmas day is a very relaxed day of opening presents, watching films and eating.

What would you most like to find under the Christmas tree?

An offer to a Conservatoire.

The video is adorable! How did the animated story come about?

Alex the producer/writer came up with the idea for the video after the rescue dog he’d had for 8 years had to be put down. If you heard the song on its own you’d assume it’s about a boyfriend or girlfriend, but when you watch the video you realise it could be about anyone or anything you love.

Who was the inspiration for Mungo?

Alex’s dog was called Mungo – he came from a rescue centre and was troubled but very loving. Originally they were going to copy him, but he was black which doesn’t look so good on video. There were also some Irish Terriers that lived on his street that were ginger-coloured, with great faces, which makes for something different from the usual animated dogs you see.

You’ve been in the industry since a young age! How has your sound and approach changed since you first rose to the spotlight?

I am still evolving as an artist, and I love exploring different genres. But, I would say the biggest change has been from having music as a hobby to now being a recording artist, and deciding to study it further.

It’s been a big year for you! Are there any standout moments?

It’s been such a great year as I have continued to release music; my online profile and followers are growing and I have been performing live at different events. As for the standout moment, I have to say “Please Come Back For Christmas” has got to be one as it gives me my wish of releasing a Christmas song which is pretty special. The song being the soundtrack to the animation is just amazing and I’m so happy it’s out.

What’s next for you? Do you have any things you want to tick off in 2023?

I am auditioning for Conservatories to study for a BMus (Hons) Jazz. It’s a massive year for me all round. I will continue performing, writing and releasing more music, and I hope more exciting projects come my way.

To watch the music video for Isla Croll’s new single “Please Come Back For Christmas”, head below…