Mitxoda Weekly #30: Holding Space, Before We Light the Candle

Song of the Week :  A Diosa (Non potho reposare) by Vieri Cervelli Montel (released on October 11 2024)

Hello Dear Friend!

Welcome to Mitxoda Weekly #30! Glad to have you here!

Am I about to host a radio show… in French?
Very soon. Like, very very soon.
Stay tuned on all the socials, because something is coming.
And it’s gonna be… well, a vibe. Ahaha 😃 

This week’s edition is packed with raw honesty, sonic experiments, tributes, and treasures.
(And yep, scroll all the way down for the newest indie releases, because let’s be real: sometimes your inbox chops off the best part when I get too chatty. Guilty!)

And hey, if you’re enjoying this little indie journey, you can help fuel the next chapters of Mitxoda Weekly by dropping a bit of magic in the Ko-fi jar.
Every sip helps the stories flow 💌☕

Enjoy the read!

Mitxoda

Au menu, this week:

• Artist Spotlight: The English Assassin

• Long Play: Jasmin O'Davidson, Songs From Cork, Wri …

• Nadine's Indie Treasures: Devcord Solo Magic

• Quick Indie News

Before We Start…

• Next up: we celebrate ONE YEAR of Mitxoda.
  365 days already! 20 tracks released, thousands of messages and feedback. I feel incredibly lucky, … and I’m not stopping now.

  The indie spirit is such a powerful force. In it, you find beauty, rarity, tenderness, raw connection, hesitation, and joy. No better medicine for the heart and soul.

  One year in, and somehow, you’ve all helped me heal.
  But that story… I’ll save it for next week.

• Sandra Kim, who won Eurovision in 1986 for Belgium, paid a beautiful tribute to the late Émilie Dequenne, Palme d’Or winner at Cannes for her role in Rosetta.
  She performed a heartfelt version of her hit "J’aime la vie", joined by Alice on the Roof at the piano. A splendid homage to a beloved Belgian talent. Gone too soon.

Artist Spotlight: The English Assassin

Dear America (A Breakup Song)

Philip Solman, known as The English Assassin, is a UK-based indie songwriter who blends sharp lyrical insight with emotional power. His latest track, Dear America (A Breakup Song), might be his most important yet.

It’s a sad, angry love letter to a country, a breakup that hurts, but has to happen. And in a powerful act of artistic generosity, Philip has released the song under a Creative Commons BY 4.0 license. That means anyone can download, share, perform, or record it, no royalties, no barriers.

“I want to give this song the best chance to reach far and wide.”

Artists: if it speaks to you, cover it. Listeners: if it moves you, share it.
📥 Download the song, lyrics & chords

Long Play: Jasmin O'Davidson, Songs From Cork, Written In Time And Firelight

Some artists chase trends. Others build worlds.

Jasmin O'Davidson belongs to the second kind.

A vocalist, independent singer-songwriter, and multimedia artist based in her own little studio in County Cork, Ireland, Jasmin writes songs the way others might craft small films or paintings. Her music isn’t just about sound, it’s about memory, place, grief, joy, and always, I mean always, experimentation. "I get bored easily”, she admits. "Experimenting with new sounds and instruments is really fun. If anyone says you can’t do this, it won’t work, I will probably make it work”.

From House Fires To Celtic Echoes

That spirit of making things work, even when life gets messy, runs deep in Jasmin’s music.

One story says it all. For her alternative rock song In Circles, she dug an old Micro Korg synthesizer out of storage. It was first generation and its keys warped from surviving a house fire years ago. And yet, it still played!

That’s the core of Jasmin O'Davidson’s sound: modern, alternative, rooted in folk traditions but not limited by them. Expect the unexpected.

Genre? Labels feel almost secondary. If you need one: think Pop-Folk-Alternative with open doors to wherever curiosity leads next.

A Life Made Of Music And Art

Raised in a musical and artsy family, art was never a separate "career choice" for Jasmin. It was simply life.

In 2022, she took the leap to pursue it full-time, studying songwriting with RSA, and honing both her songwriting and visual art practice.

Her songs often circle one recurring theme: time, and how little of it we really have. "It’s all about life, death and the beautiful mess in between", she says.

Can You Still See Me, Grief, Truth, And Letting Songs Speak

Jasmin’s latest release, Can You Still See Me, is a grief song, written after the death of a friend. It’s vulnerable and real.

"I still feel all of that when singing the song live", she says. "I don’t want to go into too much detail so people can decide themselves how they feel when listening."

For Jasmin, songs aren’t about explaining everything. They’re spaces listeners can inhabit in their own way. "The Whiskey Clubs Reviews article about the song’s message was spot on", she adds.

Influences? Think Storytellers Before Genres

While Jasmin loves many artists, her connection to music is story-first. "I love songs for their stories more than focusing on artists if you know what I mean? I am buying singles more than albums".

That said, her list of favourites is gold:
The Coronas, Alt-J, Julie Fowlis, Lewis Capaldi, Foo Fighters, Creed, Seafret.

Vocally? Strong roots: Dolores O’Riordan, Alanis Morissette, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, and Fee McKenzie (who taught her to belt).

And perhaps most importantly, Jasmin works with what she calls "the most wonderful friends", including her fiancé (an incredible musician) and her SONYX project band from Cork.

Collaboration is part of her DNA.

"I regularly get collaboration requests, and I feel it really is beneficial to learn from others".

What’s Next From Cork?

Dreams? "One of my biggest dreams is to have one of my songs featured in a movie or TV series, where it can complement the storyline and the acting".

And hopefully more live shows and festivals, if possible, with this fantastic crew she’s so proud of: Rory O’Sullivan (her fiancé, guitar/bass), John O’Connor (drums), Mark St Ledger (their new bassist), and Jeroen Blancke (violin/mandolin).

But more than anything, Jasmin wants listeners to feel connected. (And honestly? I think you’re in exactly the right place 😆)

Off The Record

If Jasmin’s music had a flavour?
Jelly Beans with a hint of Trebor Mint. Sweet, unexpected, a little wild.

And if a mythical creature found her songs?
Probably a winged cow from Cork, curious, gentle, and quietly listening in the fields.

Jasmin O'Davidson turns songs into safe places, for joy, grief, and everything in between.

Start with Can You Still See Me.
Let the rest find you.

Playlist of the Week: Instrumental 

18 tracks, 1h 18min of music curated by Mitxoda

Nadine's Indie Treasures: Devcord Solo Magic

Curated with care by Nadine de Macedo

This week, Nadine brings us a real sonic enigma:
Listening to Devcord (Spillern, Austria), you’d never guess it’s a one-man project. The complexity of the arrangements, the mastery of guitar work, the shifting vocals and eclectic instrumentation. It’s all the work of a single artist. If you’re into bands like Porcupine Tree or Opeth, you’re in for a treat.

Continue the discussion with Nadine here!

💬 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

Black Marine latest single is out now with an interesting music video: Shadow (Official Music Video) 

• Product Of An Overstimulated Mind by Nick Luddite – Alternative (UK) – 11 April 2025. When clarity collapses and mental health unravels. 👉 Listen now

• Red Flags by SeverTheBond – Metal (USA) – 11 April 2025. Ambition vs reason in this explosive mech-powered chapter. 👉 Play Red Flags

• Fading Light by Nadine de Macedo & Michael Karns – Folk (Germany/USA) – 11 April 2025. A delicate song about unrequited love and gentle longing.
  👉 Fade into it

• Nocturnal by Nadine de Macedo – Dream House / Trance (Germany) – 18 April 2025. Dark and hypnotic first single from her new electronic LP.
  👉 Go Nocturnal

• Kuato by Glitch Kill – Metal (USA) – 13 April 2025. Brutal battle with your own mind, unleashed in full force. 👉 Unleash Kuato

• Backyard Bonfire by JoDan Music – Rock/Country vibe (USA) – 20 March 2025. A goodbye full of kindness, strength and smoky memories. 👉 Light the fire

• Everywhere The Wind Blows (Radio Edit) by The Sanctity Of Crows – Electronic/Prog (UK) – 24 April 2025. Ravey prog-electronica with zero guitars. Pure sonic flight. 👉 Pre-save on Ditto

• Final Comeback by Jey Lowfield – Hip-Hop/Rap (Finland) – 16 April 2025. A personal journey rising from the darkness to the light. 👉 Come back strong

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: We Will Celebrate

That’s it for now.
A moment of stillness before the candle is lit.

Next week, we celebrate one year of Mitxoda.
But this week, we remember why we started:
for music that matters. For voices you haven’t heard yet.
For the indie spirit that connects us all.

Keep listening. Keep sharing. Keep believing in weird, wonderful art.

Until next time,

Love, Mitxoda

👉 Enjoy this newsletter? Forward to a friend or hit reply to share your thoughts. I don't bite!

END 😆