From Lana Del Rey to Sasami, these eight songs provide the right Halloween soundtrack.
Disturbing children’s laughter, the long-drawn squeak of a door or simply suspicious silence – there are some sounds you react to with a catch in your breath. In horror films, it is the sounds that warn us that something terrible could happen at any moment. But mysterious tracks can also be different: These eight songs will hopefully not leave you in a state of shock on your Halloween evening, but will instead tease out some spooky dance moves out of you.
1. Lana Del Rey – “Season of the Witch”
There’s always something nostalgic about Lana Del Rey’s voice. But instead of illustrating a heartbreaking love story, the singer takes us to a 1960s horror film with the song “Season of the Witch”. The beguiling hum and hypnotic sounds at the beginning of the track transport listeners to another time and scenery. Warm candlelight, a whirring record player and the musician dancing around the room, lost in thought. With the cover version of the song, which was originally written by the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan in 1966, Del Rey not only provided the soundtrack to the horror film “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”, but hopefully also set the right mood your Halloween party.
2. Dead Man’s Bones – “In The Room Where You Sleep”
Ken can also do it differently: Long before Ryan Gosling’s “Barbie” hit “I’m Just Ken” became a catchy tune for some moviegoers, the actor composed some pretty dark music. The album DEAD MAN’S BONES, which Gosling wrote together with Zach Shields out of their fascination with old horror and zombie films, was originally intended to serve as the soundtrack to a horror musical. Although nothing came of this idea, an album full of Halloween-worthy tracks was created. All songs on the 2009 album were recorded with the Silverlake Conservatory of Music children’s choir. “In The Room Where You Sleep” starts with an intrusive melody and the frightening lyrics “I saw something sitting on your bed” – only the knowledge that you’re listening to Ryan Gosling’s voice makes the track less scary.
“I saw something sitting on your bed / I saw something touching your head / And in the room where you sleep”
3. Sasami – “Skin A Rat”
If you’re looking for the full horror vibe, you should listen to Sasami’s song “Skin A Rat” – disturbing children’s vocals, followed by hard heavy metal tones. The lyrics, on the other hand, are full of metaphors that the American artist intensifies with her haunting voice – through her music she overcomes the pain of a toxic relationship that has ended. Sasami screams the lyrics “In a skin a rat mood / Cut ’em, crush ’em / Big, big boot” into the microphone over and over again towards the end of the song until the sounds finally fade away. The track appeared on her 2022 album SQUEEZE.
4. KiNG MALA – “cult leader”
With a seductive smile and manipulative siren eyes, KiNG MALA leads her cult. This has worked quite well so far, after all, their song “cult leader” has almost 18 million streams on Spotify. “I’m a cult leader, mind reader, heart eater / Fear feeder, say I’m your favorite preacher / If I wasn’t a narcissist, I wouldn’t like me either,” says the singer-songwriter in the chorus of the track is clear and therefore fulfills all the characteristics that a cult leader needs. Her seemingly power-hungry thinking is probably scarier than any horror clown.
“I’m a cult leader, mind reader, heart eater / Fear feeder, say I’m your favorite preacher / If I wasn’t a narcissist, I wouldn’t like me either”
5. Cage The Elephant – “Spiderhead”
Anyone who suffers from arachnophobia – i.e. has an excessive fear of spiders – should probably not imagine the song “Spiderhead” by Cage The Elephant. “Spiders in my head, spiders in my mind,” sings frontman Matthew Shultz on the track. He screams the lyrics in agony, as if the spiders crawling in his head are eating his mind, leaving him completely possessed. Of course, the lyric is just a metaphor for an unhealthy relationship – scary enough.
6. Alice Phoebe Lou – “Witches”
The single cover shows a white-blonde, young girl. She stands there barefoot with a large, dark witch’s hat, a gray flowered dress and a broom that almost towers over her in size. It’s Alice Phoebe Lou at a young age, illustrating her own song “Witches.” To the soft sound of the indie pop track, the Berlin-based artist sings: “I’m one of those witches, babe / Just don’t try to save me / Because I don’t wanna be saved”. The nostalgic melody is not frightening, but it is all the more beguiling, like a witch’s love potion.
“I’m one of those witches, babe / Just don’t try to save me / Cause I don’t wanna be saved”
7. Ethan Bortnick – “cut my fingers off”
Ethan Bortnick fears the people he loves most, a disappointed face and a wasted life. It is not the common evildoers who frighten us in the dark. But the thoughts in his song “cut my fingers off” drive the singer so crazy that he loses himself in self-sabotage and cuts off his fingers. Now he is alone with his thoughts because he can no longer reach for any help. After the chorus, the rapid – almost hectic – piano melody not only delivers a chilling representation of Bortnick’s inner life, but would certainly also make the ideal theme song for a mystery series.
8. Dominic Fike – “Vampires”
The vampire is probably the most common costume on Halloween. Put in a few fake teeth, paint them pale and smear some fake blood, and the disguise is ready. According to Dominic Fike, on October 31st, it’s better to take a closer look at what’s fake and what’s real. “Everyone at this party’s a vampire / This ain’t red wine / We’re all food for the bloodsuckers,” warns the American singer in his track “Vampire.” In the accompanying music video, Fike himself embodies the mythical creature – including strange “Twilight” film effects.
“Everyone at this party’s a vampire / This ain’t red wine / We’re all food for the bloodsuckers”