Christmas Anarchy in the University?

ANARCHY IN THE UNI ….

Students from across the UK who met up via the Facebook networking site are challenging the giants of the record industry for a place in the festive charts.

The project, called Anarchy Xmas, is the brainchild of Sheffield students Iz El-Bahnasy and Tom Langhorn, and their song ‘Smells Like Christmas Time’ features heavy metal drums and classical harp alongside a brass section and the obligatory sleighbells.

Nick Jones teaches in York University’s Philosophy Department, but in between guiding students through the problems of Plato and the mysteries of mind, he played saxophones on the recording.

Recently the coveted Christmas number 1 spot has been dominated by acts from TV reality shows, but Anarchy Xmas think the time has come for something different.

‘When I came across the Facebook group I thought it was a wonderful idea’ said Nick. ‘People are tired of manufactured pop, and this is very much a grassroots project by ordinary people operating outside the music industry’

The group has nearly 5000 supporters on the Facebook site, who voted on which song to record, and which charities to support. Sales will benefit Oxfam, NSPCC, Cancer Research UK, Shelter and Friends of the Earth.

Appropriately enough for a group with internet origins, Anarchy Xmas have branched out onto Myspace, set up their own website, and distributed a video documenting the making of Smells Like Christmas Time on Youtube.

Smells Like Christmas Time by Anarchy Xmas is released on 10 December, and will be available from all major download sites, and as a ringtone. Learn more about the project at www.anarchyxmas.com, and support it by signing up at the site.


NOTE FOR EDITORS:

More from Nick Jones nickandoscar@tiscali.co.uk

We have musicians from most regions available for interview or comment. Contact details from Nick, as above:

Find us on the web:
www.anarchyxmas.com (with mailing list and links to all other sites)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2235015750
http://www.myspace.com/anarchyxmas (with song streaming and video)