WATCH: The X Factor UK winner Louisa Johnson and Toby Gad capture childhood magic on Follow the Stars
The X Factor UK 2015 winner Louisa Johnson and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Toby Gad’s Follow the Stars is a nostalgic, piano-led Christmas ballad inspired by childhood memories and the innocence of the holiday season.
Louisa Johnson - who won The X Factor UK in 2015 - has shared her new festive ballad Follow the Stars, an intimate Christmas release co-written with Jack Edwards and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Toby Gad. The track appears on Gad’s forthcoming all-original holiday album Piano Diaries – Christmas.
Blending childhood nostalgia with soft spiritual longing, Follow The Stars centres on vivid memories of London’s Bow Bells, family laughter and singing Silent Night. Its sweeping chorus - “we found a flame of faith in our hearts, like the wise men who followed the stars” - anchors the song in classic Christmas storytelling while showcasing Johnson’s expressive vocals.
Louisa, 27, said: “This song is so special to me, all the warm memories of Christmas are captured in Follow The Stars. It brings me back to my childhood and re-experiencing the magic of that time of year. I wanted to explore the innocent memories of childhood and the magic it brings at Christmas time … I wanted to close my eyes and create an escape back into those precious moments.”
Toby, 57, added: “Louisa is an incredible talent and I just love her authentic and incredibly dynamic performance in this song. Our co-writer Jack Edwards started playing this wonderful piano arpeggio … Once I finally had it, I kept playing and evolving the theme, the melodies poured out of us. We spoke about growing up, how children still see the world with such innocence and how the same traditions and the same world now looks so different through grown eyes.”
Piano Diaries – Christmas features 12 original songs performed by an eclectic cast including Jordin Sparks, Victoria Justice, Loren Allred, Megan McKenna and Sam Ryder. Described as a modern seasonal songbook, the album pairs Gad’s signature piano-led arrangements with stories rooted in personal holiday memories.
The album is out now, and alongside streaming, there will be a limited‑edition vinyl edition available - adding a collectible element for fans and holiday buyers.
