Episode 79: Ghosts, Nightmares and a Light for Peter

Some doors are better left closed.

But this is the Salon Indie, and I’ve never been particularly good at following that kind of advice.

So for episode 79, we’re opening the door to a Halloween special: a room full of ghosts, nightmares, monsters, zombies and all the strange things independent artists have brought to life through music.

As I mentioned in the Mitxoda Weekly, the response to the Halloween invitation was wonderful. More than 50 tracks arrived, including around 20 sent or created especially for the occasion. Thank you to everyone who opened their own door and shared something with me.

A walk through the dark

We begin gently, with *Patience*. Then the lights start to flicker.

Tegan Hughes invites us to be haunted, The Stellar Anderson Project takes us into a nightmare, and hideclose introduces us to a little ghost. Before long, The Haptics, The Ineffectuals and Elektrik Ghosts have added a few more spirits to the room.

Things get a little more unsettling as we move through *Nightmare on Elm Street*, the whispers in Senni’s song, and a certain dislike of zombies expressed by Hollow Words. There are phantoms, wolves and creatures waiting in the shadows. The Sanctity of Crows takes us further, propelled by fear into the unknowable.

And then, somewhere along the way, we arrive at Maison Vide.

An empty house can be frightening. But it can also be a place full of memories, questions and echoes. I wanted to leave a little room for that feeling too.

From there, the journey continues: a first bite, an enchanted forest, a piano tribute, spiderwebs, Dorian Gray, more zombies and, of course, a Halloween monster. There’s blood, there are dinosaurs, and there are plenty of surprises before we reach the end.

For Peter Lancelotti

This episode is also dedicated to Peter Lancelotti.

Some time ago, Peter mentioned Mitxoda in his newsletter. It was a generous gesture, and one that meant a lot to me.

I’ve always been curious about the different sides of his creative world: the music, the theatre, and the older projects he has brought back into the light. When I first wrote about him, I called him an extraordinary soul.

Peter, this Salon is for you. Thank you for your support, and for the creativity you have shared.

Come inside

Halloween gives us an excuse to enjoy being a little frightened. But it’s also a chance to celebrate imagination: all those artists who turn an idea, a strange image or a feeling into something we can hear and share.

So settle in. Turn the lights down if you dare.

The door is open, the music is playing, and there’s a place for you in the Salon.

Happy Halloween.