Twickenham-born singer-songwriter Liz Arcane released her new eight-track Christmas album, Supernatural Hibernation, on Bandcamp yesterday, Thursday, 19 December.

The album explores our conflicting feelings about this time of year, which can be quiet and loud, busy and boring, lonely and full of life.

Supernatural Hibernation, which consists of six songs all written by Arcane and two covers, is a testament to her talent, blemishing a mix of soul and soft rock, a mix which sweetly accompanies her distinctive voice and Fleetwood Mac-style harmonies.

Speaking about the album, Arcane said: "Supernatural Hibernation is what I call that feeling of wanting to cosily vanish during the festive season – just huddling up in those early evenings and staring out at the twinkling stars and taking a break from working life to begin anew in the next year."

Arcane is a London-based singer-songwriter who has a wealth of performance experience and a repertoire of original songs.

Arcane grew up in Twickenham (Credit: Liz Arcane)

With her raw and smoky voice, Arcane brings an enigmatic yet relaxing series of songs, perfect for the whole of winter and not just Christmas.

It's clear from listening to the lyrics of each of her original songs, that they depict Arcane's own experiences and feelings around the festive period, which will be relatable to many of us, but the song that resonates with me the most is 'It's Only Chemistry'.

'It's Only Chemistry' is about believing you have genuine feelings for a romantic partner, but then realising that the feelings you may have are actually more lust than love, something that many people will have experienced, especially during the infamous Cuffing Season.

With many of us wanting someone to stay inside and get all snuggly with during winter, it can be confusing as to whether we genuinely have romantic feelings for that significant other or if we just enjoy the comfort of having them around; 'It's Only Chemistry' depicts this very well.

Another song that resonates with me is the first track on the album, 'West of The Moon', a slow bluesy tune which enables Arcane to show off her excellent vocals, because it depicts that sombre feeling we all get as the days get colder and the nights arrive quicker.

"I just want to be west of the moon with nothing to do," Arcane sings, portraying that lethargic feeling we all feel both as we start to finish work for the festive period and after Christmas Day as we recover from the excitement and stress and prepare to return to work, eagerly hoping for summer to arrive soon.

The album's second track, 'Strange Changes', is one of the more sinister songs on the album (and there are a couple), which I personally believe would work really well either in a Christmas horror film or performed in a West End festive musical.

While the song still retains Arcane's bluesy jazz vibe, it is also a bit more theatrical; a testament to Arcane's previous musical theatre background.

"Just like the trees, I'm changing with the seasons, it won't be long till I'm blue," Arcane sings, representing the winter blues many of us feel at the start of the season.

'Revolving Love' is one of the more upbeat singles on the album and I found myself bobbing my head along to its catchy beat.

Despite Supernatural Hibernation being dubbed a Christmas album by Arcane, the majority of the songs don't actually mention Christmas, but the last song on the album, 'How many Moments', definitely brings some festive feels with its jingle introductory instrumental and music box-sounding end.

The two covers on the album 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', and 'The Christmas Song', featuring James Mason, are the only songs to directly mention Christmas and Arcane covers them beautifully.

I was particularly impressed with Arcane's cover of Sinatra's well-known song as her deep and bluesy voice matches the tune perfectly, plus it's great to hear a woman's voice singing the timeless bop.

I'd love to have heard Arcane duetting with Sinatra on this song.

Now if you're wondering why the song album is called Supernatural Hibernation, then 'Undiscovered Stars' will give you the answer as it refers to the magic of the festive season, as does the fact that all of the songs, which are slow and calming, want to make you hibernate until the summer and relax.

I could definitely imagine Arcane performing this album in a swanky jazz bar in New York.

Supernatural Hibernation is the perfect album to play in the background while enjoying your Christmas lunch or to play on those slow winter nights whilst you wind down after the big day, and I cannot fault her superb vocals one bit.

You can listen to Supernatural Hibernation here.