Hells Bells to Ring on Halloween
With Halloween creeping up on us, it is officially time to swap out your usual playlist for a rotation with a bit more bite. This playlist is packed with spooky melodies, unsettling lyricism, and a hint of unease–perfect to gear up for “Halloweekend”. Tune in to hear what is lurking in these tracks.
“Monster Mash” by Kate Davis
Currently signed to ANTI- Records, Kate Davis is a former conservatory-trained jazz musician who has masterfully transitioned into an indie-rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. “Monster Mash,” the first track on her 2023 sophomore album Fish Bowl, is an instant seasonal classic. Over a seemingly playful chorus, Davis creepily questions, “Is there anybody there / who wouldn't be scared of me,” showcasing her jarring and alluring songwriting style that permeates the rest of the project. With 12,500 monthly listeners on Spotify, now is the perfect time to dive deeper into her eclectic discography.
“Time for Slurp” by King Krule
This next track is the most popular on King Krule’s summer EP SHHHHHHH!, and for good reason. The song features an addictive and haunting bassline that carries you through this sub-2-minute song that is all too short. The lyrics are very simple–five verses of apologizing for his “...bad / communication / communication / communication,” to be exact–and the repetition adds a hypnotic element that helped earn it a spot on this playlist. “Time for Slurp” is a testament to King Krule’s ability to create a world where minimalism and depth go hand-in-hand. Be sure to check out the song’s black and white music video, the only one from the EP, directed by Archy Marshall himself.
“In The Room Where You Sleep” by Dead Man’s Bones
It is safe to say this playlist would be incomplete without an addition by the iconic 2000s rock duo consisting of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields. It is true. Before we had Ken, we had Dead Man’s Bones. This specific track on their self-titled album is so sinister it claimed a place in the soundtrack for the modern horror classic, The Conjuring (2013). “In The Room Where You Sleep” inflicts a chilling, unavoidable sense of dread with lyrics serving as a blunt warning that “you better run / you better hide.” Although it is unlikely that we would ever see a Dead Man’s Bones reunion, a girl can–and will–dream.
