Artist Marc Martel has had one heck of a storied career in music for someone who the average person still may not know by name. He was a co-vocalist of one of Christian rock's best secrets, the Canadian band Downhere. They developed a strong cult following while still remaining comparatively unknown.

In recent years, Marc became a viral sensation for his uncanny vocal resemblance to Queen's lead singer, the late Freddie Mercury. This success has opened so many doors for Marc. And it has been the cornerstone of his musical endeavors in the past decade. His devoted following has increased many times over. His loyal fans have ensured he has a constant stream of listeners awaiting his latest project.

Marc has kept a foot in the door of the Christian music industry through his annual Christmas projects. Perhaps few artists have released holiday music as steadily as Marc has: five Christmas EPs (and a massive Christmas compilation), plus a Christmas project from his time with Downhere. He’s recorded over 40 Christmas songs in just a little over a decade.

In this list of NRT essentials, we look at Marc's career, as well as one song from each of his Christmas projects. 
 

“How Many Kings” - Bethlehem Skyline

To top the list, let's look at Marc's Christmas original, “How Many Kings,” arguably Downhere’s most commercially successful and well-known song. This well-loved modern hymn, from the Christmas compilation project Bethlehem Skyline, has found itself used in many a Christmas service. Musing on how Jesus is the only king who gave up his throne for us, this ballad has become a timeless contribution to Christmas music.

Its beginnings were quite humble, fittingly. Long before the runaway success of pop superstar Lauren Daigle or the reliable powerhouse vocals of contemporary artist Jordan Feliz, Centricity Music was a fledgling music label representing a handful of unknown artists releasing more intimate projects.

In 2007, they had their artists collaborate on the aforementioned Bethlehem Skyline Christmas project. Composed entirely of reverent new recordings, the compilation was a refreshing under-the-radar treat for those lucky enough to discover it (It would be re-released twice as new artists were signed. It even spawned a sequel compilation.). 

“How Many Kings" was a surprisingly successful radio single, peaking in the top five of various Christian music charts. The success of this single even convinced Downhere to do something they’d be reluctant to do prior: record a Christmas album of their very own. 

Also check out: Downhere’s other contribution to this compilation was the anthemic “Glory To God In The Highest.” While more a project of Marc's co-vocalist Jason Germain, Marc's vocals become a highlight of the song’s lively chorus.

When Downhere finally gifted listeners with their own full-length Christmas project, fans knew it would comprise of both covers and originals. Of the new songs, “Gift Carol” is a definite standout. Carried by Marc, the song muses on the gift of God to all of mankind of his only begotten son.

Also check out: “Bring A Torch”. Downhere’s rendition of this classic hymn gives the chorus a new energetic lease on life. Typically expressed as a slow ballad, Downhere’s plays like an exuberant contemporary anthem, complete with Marc and Jason's signature dueling vocals.

“O Holy Night” - The Silent Night EP

At the dawn of Marc's solo journey, he dropped this Christmas classic quietly on Christmas Eve 2014. "O Holy Night" is usually a perfect choice for gifted vocalists–such as Marc–to show off their chops, but instead, the artist opts for a more restrained and reverent rendition. Perhaps for the better, the song shines in its simplicity. Since its release, Marc's rendition of "O Holy Night" has become an annual Christmas favorite.

In 2015, the following year, Marc released a rendition of “O Come Emmanuel.” And, in 2016, the year after, he built the first of his annual Christmas EPs using these two singles. While Marc's Christmas selections have become increasingly exploratory and dynamic in subsequent releases, it’s hard to deny that there was something to be said about the pure simplicity of these initial cuts.

Also check out: “Silent Night,” the EP's title track, is another telling example of the “less is more” mindset, with most of the bells and whistles stripped away, leaving Marc's vocals to shine and carry the track. A “boots walking through the snow” sound effect also adds an ambient flare that’s just the right touch for the track.
 

Marc’s second Christmas EP was the first to truly cement these releases as an annual tradition. This EP took a somewhat more anthemic approach to the covers than its predecessors. One of the EP’s most successful radio singles (top five on Christian music charts) was Marc’s cover of “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.”

This song also started another tradition of Marc inviting another vocalist to duet with him on a track. For this song, it was another Christian contemporary mainstay, Plumb. The two offered a fun and vibrant take on the classic song that connected well with listeners.

Also check out: “The First Noel” The EP’s title track also hit the top 10 on Christian radio, and with good reason. It’s a standout rendition of the song, complete with a new bridge in which Marc makes a swing for an epic sound.
 

Marc’s third EP offered another collection of varied Christmas favorites. "O Come All Ye Faithful" proved to be the EP standout, offering an upbeat take on the often hymn-like classic. Marc recorded the song with former Centricity labelmate contemporary artist Jason Gray.

Also check out: “Little Drummer Boy” While I think Marc’s version of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is a definite EP highlight, I have to mention his stirring cover of “Little Drummer Boy” that made my list of favorite renditions of that song. Check out that full list here.
 

Marc broke his annual release pattern in 2019, opting to release a compilation of his first three Christmas EPs instead of a new one. He did, however, include one new song on that compilation that would serve as a single. Upping the ante on his previous duets, Marc partnered with two of Christian music’s most legendary vocalists for his rendition of "Silver Bells": Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. Marc toured with them that year and the three collaborated on this cover of the Christmas standard. It connected well with listeners and became Martel’s first song to ever hit number one on a Christian music chart.

In their years as a band, the iconic rock band Queen only ever recorded one Christmas song, "Thank God It's Christmas." With Marc's increasing fame for being a Freddie Mercury mimic, and his increasing body of Christmas music, the demand for him to record this song kept building.

Marc dropped his version of Queen's Christmas song in the height of 2020 on this EP. The song thanking God for the arrival of Christmas was always a bit more spiritually minded than the standard secular Christmas ditty. Marc did the Queen hit justice. Not to mention it’s an enjoyable highlight of his Christmas music collection.

Also check out: “Light of the World” Marc’s cover of Lauren Daigle’s debut single also made some waves on Christian radio last year. This song was the first introduction many had to Lauren Daigle before she’d become one of the most successful Christian music artists of this generation. Marc offered a sweeping cinematic cover of her Christmas ballad that is not to be missed.
 

This year’s Christmas single by Marc Martel is one fan of classic Christmas music might know well. Contemporary singer Chris Rice penned a modern classic “Welcome to Our World.” But you might be more familiar with the various covers of it through the years, notably by Michael W. Smith. For his version, Marc partnered with Leigh Nash, lead vocalist of '90s band Sixpence None The Richer. In the fine tradition of high standards set by his previous singles, the song is a runaway success and a refreshing take on the ballad welcoming the infant Jesus to earth.