We all know and love ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’, ‘Last Christmas’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’, but when did we last see a new festive favourite join those all-time greats? 2025 sees a new seasonal smash join those ranks as newcomer Emily Fern teams up with the London Symphony Orchestra to introduce the future classic ‘Christmas Dream’.
It also features two very special guests in the shape of Happy Mondays / Black Grape legend Bez and Phil Hartnoll of electronica pioneers Orbital.
Press play on ‘Christmas Dream’ and you’ll unwrap a song that feels like an old friend from Christmases of the past. Emily Fern’s golden vocal captures the hope, optimism and nostalgia that makes this time of year so special, and her striking accomplishment showcases an artist who has everything it takes to step into the pop world. The stirring, evocative string and brass arrangement magnifies that timeless feel as Emily delivers a message fitting for any time, but particularly this Christmas: achieving peace on Earth is the only way to lead the next generation to a brighter future.
Emily says, “Recording Christmas Dream at Abbey Road with the London Symphony Orchestra felt like a dream, yet at the same time it felt completely natural. It was as if the song had found its home. At a time when the world feels divided, Christmas Dream is a reminder of what really matters. It is about hope, reflection and believing in the difference we can make, both for each other and for the world we are leaving behind.”
Bez says, “I really enjoyed going back to Abbey Road to record ‘Christmas Dream’ with Emily Fern, Phil, Adam and the LSO. It’s a beautiful song for Christmas and the times we live in, spreading peace and love around the world. I hope everyone gets behind it!”
The song was co-written by Emily with the pianist, composer and producer Adam Reece. Back in 1992 he composed ‘The Deep’ – 3Beat Records’ first white label, which topped the UK Buzz Charts. He was also a founding member of the Galway-based Medicine Man (signed to publishing house Gael Linn) and he holds a PhD in Music Therapy. Orchestration was provided by David Sims, who wrote and recorded the music for the current West End show ‘Emerald Storm’ and composed arranged parts of the score for ‘Immersive Gatsby’. He is the conductor and arranger for the international touring show ‘Ibiza In Symphony’ and is the musical director and arranger for the 12 Tenors, who went massively viral with 24 million views for their performance of ‘You Raise Me Up’.
It soon became clear that they had something special on their hands. The first time it was performed, the audience demanded it again as an encore, while plans to record with a brass quintet at Abbey Road’s cosy Gatehouse were soon upgraded to a day session with the 50-piece London Symphony Orchestra at the iconic and world famous Studio 2. Phil Hartnoll (synths) and Bez (maracas and triangle) soon came on board after hearing about the project via a mutual friend.
Adam Reece adds, “We weren’t planning on writing a Christmas song at all. One evening, after a long day in the studio working on other material, I played a few notes almost absentmindedly. Emily immediately said it sounded like a Christmas song. What began as a bit of fun turned into something unexpected. Within minutes the song seemed to write itself, as if it had been waiting for us all along.
At first, the plan was modest, but it became a huge project: Abbey Road, a fifty-piece orchestra, Bez on triangle, Phil Hartnoll on synth. There were anxious moments waiting for confirmation and navigating the logistics, but piece by piece, it all fell into place. It’s been humbling to work with such incredible talent and to feel how this song has taken on a life of its own. What began as a happy accident has grown into something larger than we ever imagined.”
The accompanying video captures the session in style. The London Symphony Orchestra bring their unparalleled musicianship, Emily Fern is clearly relishing every moment, and Bez’s final tap of the triangle wraps up what was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
The 23-year-old Emily Fern is a singer and songwriter from Guernsey and now one of the Channel Island’s most recognisable voices. She has been honing her craft and building a grassroots audience with both classic and contemporary approaches: performing live wherever an opportunity presents itself, and sharing her own takes on big hits from Adele, Dua Lipa and more. This is the next big step towards what’s next for her.
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