Mitxoda Weekly #27: Stillness, Storms & Soundwaves

From sonic hugs to synth sirens, discover the artists, emotions, and stories shaping the indie world right now.

Author

Mitxoda
March 28, 2025

Hello Dear Friend!

Welcome to Mitxoda Weekly #27! Glad to have you here!

Take a break from the chaos. Just for a few minutes.

This week’s edition of our indie roundup is a mosaic of bold sounds, raw feelings, and moments that truly matter. From PLATRONiC’s futuristic fire to Mike Stollen’s analog soul, from Bandcamp’s artist-first model to Qobuz’s surprisingly fair payouts, we’re diving deep.

Come meet the storytellers behind the tracks. One song, one heartbeat at a time.

So let’s talk about it. Happy reading (until the end!), and as always, thanks for being part of this journey! 

Mitxoda

Au menu, this week:

Before We Start…

  • Happy Birthday to my one and only Nathalie, my love, my heart, my soul 😍. It's exactly today 😊 

❤️

  • Support Gengvej! Broken Claims / Gengvej just entered the LOHRO charts in Germany with “Beer.Not.Cold” at #7! It’s their first time thanks to votes. Let’s help them stay there! Vote here — takes 5 sec. 😘

  • Qobuz now shares its payout rates: €18.02 per 1,000 streams, that’s 6x more than Spotify! No ads, no free tier, just fair pay & Hi-Res sound.

    Could this be the most artist-friendly platform out there?

  • How does Bandcamp continue to be one of the most artist-friendly platforms in music? Forbes takes a closer look.

  • Histheory is making another histheoric project! You can be part of it. Here.

  • With war at Europe’s doorstep, systems cracking, and fear shaping our choices, Seconde Vie dares us to tear off the mask we’ve worn too long, and ask what kind of life is still worth living when the old one was built on illusions. Listen now and see what it awakens in you.

  • Big thanks to The Kaboom Room and Simon from Distance From Zero for sharing my articles, such as this one on AI Copyright Battle.

A Moment Out of Time: Mitxoda, Stillness and Sound

Close your eyes.
Forget the inbox. The noise. The scrolling. The should-do's.

Now imagine this:
You’re walking through a quiet forest just before dusk.
The leaves whisper above your head, golden with the last light of day.
And somewhere, distant but clear, a melody plays, like it’s always been there, waiting.

That’s what Mitxoda is, sometimes.
Not the rush of the world, but its opposite.
A soft shelter.
A sonic hug.
Where music sometimes simply holds you.

Maybe it's “Étoiles d’Asphalte.”
Maybe it's “Shattered Dreams”
Or maybe it’s something you haven’t discovered yet.

Whatever the track, this week, I invite you to let one song be your companion for just four minutes.
No multitasking.
No next.
Just now.

Put your headphones on.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
And let yourself drift.

Your moment of stillness starts here.

Six Months with Mike Stollen: From “Untitled Blue” to “Piece of Advice”

On the surface, Mike Stollen is a quiet craftsman. But if you dig even slightly below the surface, you’ll find something wild, something alive, like a bedroom volcano erupting into riffs and rhythms every single week. This 11th of April marks six months since Mike launched his first track under his name, and it’s the perfect moment to open the studio door and let you in on the process.

His latest track, still in the making as I write this, began as a fleeting chord progression. He’d picked up a blue pen and scribbled the words Untitled Blue (The Best For Last), and that’s how it started. A name born from the color of the moment.

From there, the usual dance: a few guitar parts laid down, stitched together like a puzzle you can only solve by sound. Mike is the "lazy one-take king", as he calls himself, someone who captures the essence of a part and moves on. There’s beauty in that urgency, in trusting instinct over polish.

Once the skeletal structure is there, he drops into EZ Drummer, searching for drum grooves that feel right. This time, he’s doubling the effort, adding layers of percussion on top. Then it’s bass. Then fills. Then breaks. Then back to MIDI. Then converting everything into audio. A dance of intuition and experimentation.

As of now, two hours in, the bones of the song are set. But the song is never really done :-), at least not to Mike. That’s part of the philosophy. His father was a painter, and he passed on the lesson that an oil painting is never truly finished unless you decide to let it go. It’s the same with music. There’s always something more you could tweak. But you have to know when to stop.

Mike does this every week. A song. From scratch. Until at least October. And if that doesn’t impress you (It does to me!!), wait until you hear his gear list: a humble MacBook Pro (2015), a Scarlett 2i2, some basic mics, and a mix of instruments that include a Takamine acoustic, a Cort CR300, a Fender Squier Strat, and a Yamaha PSR-E373 keyboard. Nothing flashy. All heart.

Vocals? They usually begin as sounds, mumbles, hummed ideas. Lyrics come later, sometimes in minutes, sometimes days. Friends (non-musicians) are the first to hear the mixes. No echo chambers, just honest feedback. When the mix is done, he masters via eMastered, slaps a cover on it, and releases.

And there’s history here too. The song he’s working on now? It actually goes back to 1998. One of his earliest songs, from the days of Filthy Children, a band that evolved into Switch, even landing on a Portuguese TV show in the early 2000s. That track still lives inside him, and you can feel that nostalgia melting into the present.

Fast forward to now: Mike is gearing up to release a brand new track titled “Piece Of Advice”. Exactly six months after his first official solo release.

What does it sound like?

Let me put it this way: if you ever loved the Pixies, this one might hit you hard. It’s got that mix of surfy melancholy and edge-of-chaos dynamics. Simple. Efficient. Wild.

For me, as Mitxoda, Mike’s process is pure indie spirit: passionate, persistent, imperfect in all the right ways. He doesn’t care for overproduction. He believes in capturing moments, not manufacturing them. And in a world of algorithm-chasing releases, his work feels like a breath of warm, analog air.

Here’s to the next six months, Mike.

May the blue pens never run out of ink.

✔️ Follow Mitxoda on Bandcamp or on any another platform 
✔️ Grab my songs on Bandcamp or go old-school with a physical copy of my EP Distant and Close here 

Artist Spotlight: PLATRONiC, Riding Synth Waves with Fire and Grace

Ever wondered what it feels like to ride an emotional tsunami and turn it into dancefloor energy? PLATRONiC has the answer! It comes wrapped in glittering synths and unapologetic truth. Their latest track, “How to Ride the Wave”, released on March 21, 2025, is a 132 bpm futurepop storm that fuses heartbreak with pure power.

Singer Kay was angry and disappointed. Instead of giving in, she did what all badass artists do: turned her frustration into fuel. The result? A song that became her own motivational anthem, supported by the sonic magic of producer Sami. This track is synth therapy. Enjoy and be brave, no matter how wild the wave gets.

And if you're wondering what kind of creature would embody this track, the band says: a siren, strong, beautiful, and totally in control. This mythical sea queen feeds on seaweed salad and ice flowers, and she whispers this strange but brilliant advice: “Be the jester, don’t be a fool.”

The duo imagines their musical world as a 90s arcade game, where Kay’s weapon of choice is a magic wand, powered up by none other than Aku-Aku from Crash Bandicoot. The soundtrack? Their own, on loop, obviously. The boss level? We’re picturing a chrome-plated emotional ghost armed with heartbreak lasers.

And yes, their fans are just as legendary. One listener in Germany described the energy of “How to Ride the Wave” like this:

"It’s like the world’s first working fusion reactor! The fire brigade had to arrive here with heavy suits and heavy equipment to prevent the transformation of our cassette player into a second sun."
PLATRONiC's music causes cosmic-level reactions 🥳 

Who are PLATRONiC?
This transnational sonic bridge between German melancholy and Finnish joy, started in 2020 with Kay (vocals, lyrics) and Sami aka Some-E (composition, production). With influences from ABBA, Depeche Mode, and VNV Nation, they defy genre borders and stay true to their mission: Music That Makes Your Heart Beat Faster.

They’ve been making waves across Europe with appearances in the German Alternative Charts (GEWC), nominations for Best Electro Act (Radio Wigwam UK), and glowing reviews in international music zines. And if you’re not already listening, this is your sign.

Historical Fact: The Loop He Left Behind

The #1 song in the US on March 26, 1999, was Believe by Cher. A vocoded anthem of resilience and rebirth, sung by a woman who had already outlived her eras, her lovers, and her fears.

That same day, in a parallel universe that bled into this one, someone’s father disappeared into the folds of time. Not with the thunder of a finale, but more like a sudden silence during a concert, when the lights are still flashing, the crowd still cheering, but the music has stopped.

If you listen closely, Believe is a seance with a disco ball. The Auto-Tune is a sort of veil. Cher sings not “Do you believe in life after love?” but “Do you believe there is sound after absence?”

And maybe, just maybe, March 26 is a secret bridge.

A strange place where synths carry echoes of goodbye, where glitter becomes ash, and a father, in his final breath, time-travels into a pop song, forever spinning in the infinite loop of a chorus that refuses to fade out.

Love you, Dad.

Playlist of the Week: Indie Pop Rock - A Gengvej Playlist 

Nadine's Indie Treasures: Inside the Dark Energy of A Beautiful Scar

If you're into punk, rock, metal, and a hint of industrial, Nadine de Macedo urges you to check out A Beautiful Scar, calling his sound "punchy, energetic and dark like a horror movie." She notes that Living in a Dying Age has stuck in her brain for months, while Vultures and Pulling At Your Feathers are also favorites. Dive deeper with his music videos and behind-the-scenes on YouTube.

💬 Introducing Nadine’s Indie Treasures a new chapter where Nadine de Macedo handpicks and spotlights exceptional artists. Subscribe to her Bandcamp to support her work, enjoy exclusive singles, and be part of her evolving story!

Quick Indie News

“More Than a Memory” was written about Jay El Dee’s dear friend who was taken too soon by a drunk driver. Touched. And Out Today.

Shout-out to Electric BlindFold for his powerful new single "AND DARKNESS DISAPPEARS", dropping March 28, 2025 on Bandcamp, featuring his first real female vocal (shout-out to his wife!) and a mission to fight the darkness!

Messphodil’s Red Festival is a vibrant electro track that captures the joyful spirit of the Fête de la Musique with pulsing synths, deep bass, and uplifting melodies. It’s made to get people dancing in the streets. Don’t miss the euphoric vibe! 

  • Déjà Vu by Riiver Brukes – Rock (Canada) – 21 March 2025. A soulful, rhythmic journey into life’s mysteries, coincidence, and the unexplained. Featuring the late Ben Vezina. 👉 Feel the déjà vu

  • Stressed by JoDan Music – Rock (USA) – 27 Dec 2024. A hard rock experience capturing that one unforgettable rough day.
    👉 Rock out your stress

  • Backyard Bonfire by JoDan Music again ;-) – 20 March 2025. A country-flavored rock tune about burning through the past with grace and hope.
    👉 Light up the bonfire

  • Everything’s Broken by Suckertrap – Alternative (Canada) – 23 March 2025. A powerful, haunting anthem dedicated to missing Indigenous women in Canada. All earnings go to Indigenous Women Rise Society.
    👉 Break the silence

  • Transhuman by The S P L I T – Metal (Czech Republic) – 25 March 2025. A cerebral, progressive rock epic questioning identity and reality itself.
    👉 Enter the unknown

  • Redemption For The Winner by SFSF – Rock (Germany) – 21 March 2025. A dark slow-rock track built around piano and digital textures. Deeply open to interpretation. My Coup de Coeur ❤️  👉 Claim your redemption

  • Caoineag by Nadine de Macedo – Electronic/Dance (Germany) – 28 March 2025. A mystical blend of Celtic folk and deep house, dark, epic, and cinematic.
    👉 Summon the spirit

  • No Cure by [Bibo And Beyond] – Alternative (Italy) – 19 March 2025. A raw and moody track. 👉 Listen on Bandcamp

  • Life Of Rama by Project Nineless – Metal (Austria) – 28 Feb 2025. A heavy goodbye. A blend of soft and hard elements with clean and dirty vocals.
    👉 Live the legend

  • That Dog by The Ruins – Rock (USA) – 27 March 2025. A dark descent into dementia through haunting riffs and shifting time signatures.
    👉 Chase the memory

If you'd like to introduce your latest release, just click here to submit all the details. I’d love to hear about it! 😇 Submit your track here.

Until Next Week: From Silence to Noise. Or Reverse.

In a world overflowing with noise, these artists remind us what truly resonates: honesty, courage, and connection. Whether it’s Gengvej climbing the charts, some Belgian guy inviting stillness, or a father time-traveling into a pop loop, every story this week holds a spark.

✨ Keep listening. Keep supporting. Keep believing in indie.

Love, Mitxoda

END 😆 

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