Celeste says she wrote the song for the John Lewis Christmas advert in just thirty minutes over Zoom.
The British soul singer, 26, west London, was the first artist to be commissioned by the retailer to produce a new track, titled A Little Love, as the soundtrack to its annual festive commercial.
Appearing on Lorraine today, the Brit Award-winning star explained that alongside her main collaborator Jamie Hartman, she penned the track in just half an hour, because she didn’t want to become ‘starstruck’ by the opportunity.
Celeste, pictured performing in London last year, says she wrote the song for the John Lewis Christmas advert in just thirty minutes over Zoom
Appearing on Lorraine today, the Brit Award-winning star explained that alongside her main collaborator Jamie Hartman, she penned the track in just half an hour
‘I think the day after we had a conversation about writing the song,’ she said. ‘I just wanted to write it as soon as possible so I didn’t get starstruck by the opportunity.
‘One of my main collaborators Jamie Hartman and I sat down over Zoom and wrote it in about half an hour, and spent a few days realising what the structure would be.’
Set in a Covid-free world, the John Lewis campaign shows light-hearted scenes of magical flying snowmen, supersized Christmas crackers and a hedgehog who dreams of being a pigeon.
The two-minute commercial shows how small acts of kindness can alleviate loneliness and bring joy to people who are quietly struggling.
The two-minute commercial (pictured) shows how small acts of kindness can alleviate loneliness and bring joy to people who are quietly struggling
Speaking of the advert, the singer went on: ‘I know that this year they wanted to create this sort of idea, if everyone gave one act of kindness and it didn’t have to be on a grand scale, it could be something personal and simple.
‘That’s something I could relate to and recognised happening in my own community this year, realising how much of a difference that made to me and the people around me, trying to be kind and generous in the smallest way to people.’
In previous years, artists including Ellie Goulding, Lily Allen and Dan Smith from the band Bastille have covered well-known songs, including The Power Of Love and Somewhere Only We Know, and in 2018 Sir Elton John performed his 1970 track Your Song.
Despite not yet having released an album, Celeste has already scooped a Brit Award and BBC Music’s Sound of 2020, with critics praising her voice, which has been compared to Amy Winehouse’s.
Celeste (pictured in 2019) has become the first musician chosen to write and record an original song for the John Lewis Christmas advert
While she has received several accolades, the pandemic has meant muted celebrations for the star, and while she hopes things can return to normal, she’s adapted to a more ‘basic’ way of creating music.
‘That’s definitely the hope’, she said, ‘It’s been such a strange year and everybody has been adjusting in the way they’ve learned as they go along and I’ve kind of done the same thing in my career.
‘It’s been interesting doing things a different way again, and getting back to basics like recording in my room and writing at home and i’ve really valued that’.
The star told host Lorraine Kelly (pictured) that while she hopes things can return to normal, she’s adapted to a more ‘basic’ way of creating music
Celeste’s (pictured in February 2020) best-known tracks include Strange, Lately and Father’s Son, and her delayed self-titled debut album is due in January 2021
Celeste moved to Dagenham in east London aged three before settling in Saltdean near Brighton – where she spent most of her adolescence.
The California-born singer – full name Celeste Epiphany Waite – started her career with just £100 in her pocket as she headed to London.
The singer’s best-known tracks include Strange, Lately and Father’s Son, and her delayed self-titled debut album is due in January 2021.
Speaking about the advert, Celeste has said: ‘I felt honoured to be asked to take part. I wanted to create something that felt classic but still true to who I am as a writer and performer.’