Douglas Dare On His Role In ANOTHER CHRISTMAS

The Christmas story offers something universal – a parable of hope and resistance, a narrative of renewal through the eyes of a baby.

Music Beyond Mainstream pick up on this, and shine a fresh light on it, with the incoming film ANOTHER CHRISTMAS, an ambitious take on festive themes.

Commissioned by Music Beyond The Mainstream, with co-commissioners Coventry City of Culture Trust and Barbican Centre, and presented in Coventry by Coventry City of Culture Trust, the film airs on December 16th at 8pm – set those alarm clocks!

Beautifully shot, Creative Director Laura Ducceschi – alongside Music Beyond Mainstream – sought out singular artists to create a unique, one-off stage show.

The aim was “to shine a light on those who don’t fit into traditional boxes” with ANOTHER CHRISTMAS featuring contributions from Mercury nominee ESKA, multi-instrumentalist Duke Garwood, Irish musician and actor Camille O’Sullivan, and with further input from Feargal Murray and Oliver Coates.

Erased Tapes aligned artist Douglas Dare contributes to ANOTHER CHRISTMAS, and his spine-tingling take on Wham! festive staple ‘Last Christmas’ emerges as a true highlight.

Ahead of this, Clash chatted with Douglas Dare about his Christmas memories, his involvement with the film, and what you can expect from ANOTHER CHRISTMAS.

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Whether it be a storyline, a character or simply just the concept, what drew you into Another Christmas?

I was drawn in because I fully related with the feeling of ‘otherness’ during Christmas.

I love Christmas for its music and campness but it represents a religious festival that I have no connection with and a time where I’d have to be with people who don’t necessarily understand or accept me. As a young adult these feelings were particularly strong and Another Christmas was an opportunity to finally express what most don’t want to hear but some need to hear.

The short film explores a range of different experiences throughout the holiday period. Is there a particular moment or theme in the film that you feel a particularly strong connection to?

I think the theme of solitude connects with me. I actually have a very large family and I’m surrounded by people constantly but just as in the film, you see the three of us perform singularly in a space and yet in other rooms people gather or even if you think about the fact there’s a crew behind the cameras – it’s just like Christmas for many of us; surrounded by a gaggle of people and noise and yet you can exist in that space feeling very singular. It’s not the same as loneliness, it doesn’t need to be sad, it’s an otherness.

Did you have a favourite present as a child? If so, what was it?

Wallace & Gromit A Grand Day Out on VHS. I would have been six years old, 1996. I woke my family early so we could open presents around 4am. My parents would have gone back to bed and I watched that VHS over and over and over. It’s still a favourite.

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How did you approach Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’? Are there elements you felt were necessary to keep, and in turn, ones you adapted to your own artistry?

I’ve always thought it would work well slowed down as it’s one of those songs where the lyrics contrast with the feel of the music. They’re actually pretty devasting and somewhat hidden by the sleigh bells and syncopated synth chords.

I had to keep most of the lyrics but I felt I could really play around with the tempo and the chords.I really leant in to the feel of a ballad, I know that suits my voice far more and I could commute the lyrics in a new way. 

There is an emphasis on the ‘Other’ within the short film, how did you incorporate this within your own work, if at all?

I think the otherness comes through naturally in my lyrics, it’s inherent I think. I don’t make a point of writing from a queer perspective but it’s there, naturally.

Was there any collaborative work between yourself and the other musicians throughout the film’s formation?

We came together in Feb 2020 to devise the whole thing from the ground up. It was an exciting way to work, having not met the other artists before and being able to come together exchanging what Christmas meant to us and how we felt we could present the otherness in it. I’ve only now gotten to see what everyone else did and I’m blown away with their performances. I hope we can do this live together someday, as was the original, pre-pandemic, plan.

How would you personally interpret the film’s message? How important do you feel it is to present a less commercialised/idealistic views on something like Christmas?

My interpretation is that it’s okay to be on your own, it’s okay to be in the dark, it’s okay to not be full of cheer. I think it’s very important to put more out there showing alternative Christmas experiences.

I think we all know they are there, and I think last year people were confronted with it more than they had before, but we should continue to show the other, I think it helps people enjoy their own version of the season.

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

I’ll be celebrating with my Dorset family in my brother’s first house but because he can’t cook, I will be doing everything. Gladly.

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ANOTHER CHRISTMAS premieres on December 16th at 8pm – find it on YouTube and Facebook.

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