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An Indie Christmas: Free Mix & Printable

Needing a new Christmas mix to get you through these last few days until Christmas?  How about some last-minute Christmas gifts?  I’ve got you covered.  Just check out this post that I shared yesterday on my sister’s blog.

I sort of take pride in my mix-making abilities.  As a wee lass, I used to craft mix tapes from songs on the radio, and later, when things got high-tech, I even burned mixes on CDs.  I know CDs have become old school now and that the new Macbook doesn’t even have a drive for them (sniff!).  Nevertheless, I still sit by candlelight in my homespun clothes (wink), burning mixes onto “compact discs” for family and friends as gifts and road trip companions.  Mix-making is one of my love languages.

And today, you (yes, YOU) will be the recipient of some of that love because I have mixed for you a collection of *new* Christmas music.  The mix includes 21 Christmas songs by indie artists such as Over the Rhine and Sufjan Stevens and Rosie Thomas and is all ready for your ears courtesy of 8tracks.  Just click the widget below to start the mix here and now!

Not only can you listen to this mix while wrapping gifts and baking cookies in the days to come, but…you can burn your own copy of the mix onto an old-fashioned CD fo’ FREE!

“Say what?  I didn’t think anything was free these days….”

Me, neither!  But let me ask this: have you heard of NoiseTrade?  My tech savvy Mom first turned me onto NoiseTrade in November, and I was able to download the entire Over the Rhine Christmas album for free.  It took me a few days before it finally dawned on me that ALL of the music on NoiseTrade is free.  Their motto: “Thousands of albums.  Completely free.  Completely legal.”

“But how is this legal?”

Good question.  I did a little research and learned that the artists themselves upload the music to NoiseTrade and offer it to their fans free of charge for a variety of reasons that you can read about here.  Mainly, it’s a way for artist to connect with new fans.  If you’re feeling thankful and would like to leave the artist a tip (as low as $1), you can leave one on NoiseTrade…but there really is no obligation.

As of today, all of the music in this playlist is still free and posted on NoiseTrade.  This likely won’t last forever or long after Christmas, so don’t waste any time downloading this fantastic music.

Track List for An Indie Christmas
Track List

Now, if you’re excited about creating your own copy of “An Indie Christmas,” here’s the how to:

  1. Download the free Christmas music by the following artists (each artist’s name is hyperlinked to take you right to their page on NoiseTrade): Rosie Thomas, Branches, Ben Rector, Zerbin, Paste Magazine, Fiction Family, Over the Rhine, Beta Radio, Blood:Water Mission.
  2. Drag and drop your newly downloaded music into iTunes.
  3. Create a new playlist in iTunes that mirrors the playlist I have created.  (Review the track list above.)
  4. Burn your CD, label it with a sharpie, put it in a case.
  5. And just because this is necessary to any good mix, CLICK HERE to download a free printable I created of a CD insert with a festive cover, liner notes, and the track list of the songs.  Print it in color, double-stick tape it together and call it a day.  Heck, call it a holiday!
  6. Optional: repeat steps 4&5 if you’d like to create instantly awesome and inexpensive stocking stuffers for your friends and family.  Share the love!
Free Printable - CD Insert
Click here to print your CD insert over at the file-sharing site, “Box.”

May your days be merry, bright, and music-filled.

{Linking up here.}

This is Lauren, signing off.

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8 Comments

    1. Yay! Way to bring it back on my radar as well, Lisbeth! I’ve had it on repeat all night. Thanks for your text and comment tonight about it…and for so generously hosting me to guest post last Christmas! (We might have to consider a follow-up guest post swap if life isn’t too cray cray.)

  1. Lauren, This is awesome! Love listening to cool mixes. I checked out your sister’s blog and love it too! Thanks for the tutorial and the great website to get songs. Your blog rocks. Now that I’m retired (for one year) I’ll have more time to be creative and get into blogging on a more regular basis. Thanks again for dropping by for a visit. I always love seeing comments from you.

    1. So glad that you’re back, Sandy! And thanks for your sweet comments and for stopping by Lisbeth’s blog! It seems like you have been a busy bee beautifying your home in so many lovely ways. I look forward to staying in the loop on all of your fun projects and musings. Merry Christmas!

  2. This is such a beautiful gift! Thank you so much! Music makes the season EXTRA fun and FULL of wonder!! Thanks for all of your hard work and generosity!

    1. Looking forward to being in YOUR house very soon, which is always filled with music, especially around the holidays. Can’t wait to hear some of the ole classics: Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, An Animal’s Christmas….

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