Sri Lankan–British singer, songwriter and vocalist GILSKA closes out her breakthrough year with a bold new release: a gleaming, high-voltage rework of the Christmas classic ‘Santa Baby’. Injecting the familiar festive tune with distorted synths, heavy percussion and hyperpop gloss, the rising artist transforms the standard into something sleek, loud and unmistakably her own.
The release caps an acclaimed run of singles throughout 2025, a year that saw Gilska solidify her status as one to watch. With national radio support and mounting praise across major publications, she’s emerged as one of the UK’s most intriguing new voices—equally comfortable in tender cinematic moments as she is in explosive electronic soundscapes.
On her new version of ‘Santa Baby’, Gilska draws inspiration from hyperpop innovators like Two Hollis, Charli XCX, PinkPantheress and Kim Petras. The result is a whirlwind of pixelated textures and glitch-cut vocal chops, fluttering between sweetness and chaos in a way that feels freshly futuristic.
“I wanted to take something classic and turn it completely on its head,” Gilska explains. “Santa Baby is iconic, but I felt it could shine in a new, chaotic, hyperpop world – full of distorted synths, glitchy vocals, and energy that makes it feel alive in 2025.”
Gilska’s fearlessness in experimentation stems from a diverse musical upbringing. From early classical training to club-influenced productions that nod to her Sri Lankan heritage, she has cultivated a genre-blurring sound grounded in both personal history and modern innovation. Her work carries echoes of her grandfather, a renowned Sri Lankan pop singer, whose legacy she channels through her emotional depth and melodic instincts.
With her hyperpop Santa Baby reimagining, Gilska arrives at the end of 2025 not just celebrating the season, but showcasing the scope of her boundary-pushing artistry. It’s festive, fearless and unmistakably Gilska – her latest step toward pop’s future.
