Episode 10: A Whisper of Freedom

July 4th. While fireworks crackle in the U.S. sky, other parts of the world echo with very different sounds. Fire. Water. Silence. Voices rising against the storm.

In the middle of all that noise, here’s Le Salon Indie de Mitxoda, back for its tenth episode. A quiet bubble, a shared space, where music has the right to exist without expectation or algorithm.

Yes, the mics had a little personality of their own this time. But let’s not dwell on that. What matters is what got through: the warmth, the wildness, the sincerity of each note, each voice, each story.

We opened with “Patience”, the Mitxoda signature to let the room settle. Then came MDK FLA with “Barbelo Blues”, gifting us an early calm like a cool breeze in the heatwave.

And then, the real journey began. (and probably some unnecessary whitespaces…)

Romeopathy with Tomorrow kicked off the ride, leading straight into the world premiere of Dance Now by the ever-playful REGIFTER. Things turned emotional with Jimena Arroyo’s Why Not Me, and then full blast with Moonlight Eclipse and their punchy Shattering Knees.

RedPrint, fresh out of the Netherlands, came back with 245, and as always, they deliver power with a poetic twist. Expect more from their upcoming album, I’ll be on the lookout with you.

We then slipped into more playful grooves: Cul De Sac Kings with their bluesy Mean Ole Woman, Brother Dynamite shining just right with Shine, and JoDan Music bringing a softer mood with Wishing Well.

Then, a special acoustic moment. Kevin Rees (UK/Japan) and Raffaella Piccirillo (Italy) gave us a delicate take on Untold Story. And yes, Raffaella’s radio show just kicked off its 14th season in Italy. That’s what real indie commitment looks like. A reminder that support has always existed, just quietly, far from the spotlight.

And then, two collaborations that felt like epics.

First: Deedra Patrick, Steve Klatt, and Chris Neufeld crafted the progressive marvel I’m Not Whispering. With keys reminiscent of Genesis or Dream Theater and Deedra’s precise vocal line, this was prog storytelling at its finest.

Next came Nachtmusik, born from a collective of visionaries: Elirah’s Cross (Sebastien Jean), Sonia Hutchinson, Leenhorn (Jeff Leenhouts), Kirk Anderson, and Jennifer Jean. Inspired by Wagner’s Ring Cycle, this was no mere track, it was a scene, a theatre, a rising from the earth. Sonia’s multi-layered voices guided us through myth and doom with grace.

Still with us? Then you felt the tension return with Sinead’s Hold On, a rock ballad from the French West that aches and burns, raw guitars, pounding drums, and secrets too heavy to keep. Their EP is on the way, and it’s going to hit hard.

Riiver Brukes offered a soulful pause with Friends in Black, right before we reached the climax of this journey: Mitxoda’s own Acte 5 – La Liberté, from the EP Prognosis, released the very next day, last year July 5 (2024).

And as the doors slowly close, one last track: The Sanctity Of Crows with Discovery. A perfect closer. A reminder that discovery doesn’t end when the episode does.

Thank you for listening. For being here. For making indie real.

Replay available here: