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Welcome to Mitxoda Weekly #49!
49 weeks in, and the flame still burns bright. This Weekly is proof that indie is connection, resilience, and stories worth passing on. From ISSA winners lighting up the global stage, to Morino’s long-awaited return, and the joy of birthdays and small victories, we celebrate together. Here’s to the noise we make when nobody else is listening.
Happy reading to you all ❤ !
Mitxoda
Let’s Celebrate!
🎤 ISSA Awards 2025: Our Indie Stars Shine Brighter
The International Singer‑Songwriters Association (ISSA) has just released its 2025 winners list, and the buzz is electric. Le Salon Indie de Mitxoda feels the pride of watching our own - some of our most beloved artists - take the world’s stage.
Artist / Group | Category | Award |
|---|---|---|
Michael Botte Band | USA Male Single of the Year | Bronze |
Jay El Dee | USA Female Songwriter of the Year | Silver |
Synthetik Blonde | International Band of the Year | Silver |
Andy Smith Music | International Male Single | Silver |
The Major Resolve | Band Single of the Year | Bronze |
And many many other award-winners and nominees, like Deedra Patrick, Raffaella Piccirillo, Ana & Gene, etc… I can’t list them all here, but BIG LOVE to all of them.
A massive shout‑out to Tamanie Dove for pulling together this stellar showcase and connecting indie dreamers worldwide. Check the full winner list on the ISSA site: issasongwriters.com/2025-issa-awards-winners.
Let’s give them a round of applause in the comments or everywhere you can! 🎉
🎧 Morino is Back: The Silence is Over
After a long pause that left us all holding our breath, Morino has re‑entered the indie sphere. His tracks are streaming again (well it really never stopped!), but his socials are now buzzing again. I first sounded the alarm back in October 2024 when he announced an indefinite hiatus. I remember the words:
“Morino’s pause is not a goodbye; it’s a chapter in his journey that may bring him back to music when the time is right”
His music has always carried a raw, introspective energy that made us feel seen. His return feels like a gift: a chance to rediscover the wonder of his soundscapes and perhaps witness the next evolution of his artistry. If you haven’t yet, give his catalog a spin or two: remember that “Blind Spot” and “Out Of The Blue” were always worth revisiting.
Welcome back, Dear Morino!
🎂 Cinco Dave’s Birthday Bash
It’s not just the award announcements and Morino’s comeback; Cinco Dave, the mastermind behind the OTAT247 console, just turned another year older. 🎈
Sitting beside his lovely wife, Lisa, he’s celebrated this milestone in the quiet moments of a week that’s turning into a mini‑festival. Keep an eye on the Salon Indie this Friday, a special surprise awaits in honor of this legend’s birthday. Stay tuned, folks, your indie universe is about to get a little brighter.
Longread: The Weekly Journey So Far
49 weeks ago, Mitxoda Weekly was just an idea.
A fragile one, at that.
A newsletter about indie music, full of heart, a little messy at times 😃 , but true to the community it wanted to serve. A place where we could talk about the tracks nobody talks about yet.
Fast forward: we’re at 370 active readers.
And here’s the part that blows my mind: an average open rate of 55%.
That means most of you are not just signing up; you’re actually reading. You’re clicking. You’re replying. You’re sharing. (#koeuraveclesmains ❤ )
Unsubscribes? Only 22 people left the train.
I can live with that. We’re not for everyone. But those who stay, stay for a reason.
A Goal Met
Back in January, I set myself a small, almost naive goal: reach 300 subscribers by June.
✅ Done.
We hit 300, and kept rolling forward.
What did it take?
Showing up every week, rain or shine.
Keeping it indie, personal, and real.
Believing that community matters more than marketing tricks.
The Next Horizon
Now, here’s the crazy part.
The next goal is 1000 subscribers by December.
Feasible? Maybe.
Ambitious? Definitely.
But here’s what I know:
Indie doesn’t scale like mainstream. We grow by trust, by word-of-mouth, by small fires spreading.
Every single one of you can help make it real. Share the Weekly. Talk about it. Forward it. Whisper it like a secret track only your friends should know.
If we make it to 1000, it won’t be because of algorithms. It’ll be because of people. Because of you. THANKS TO YOU.
Why It Matters
Numbers matter, yes. But not just to brag.
The bigger the Weekly grows, the more artists we can spotlight.
The more indie stories we can preserve.
The more we can resist the pressure to blend into the noise.
360 is proof of concept.
1000 will be proof of impact.
📩 Stay tuned this Sunday, because a very special issue will come to you - stay close to your inbox this Sunday! 🖐
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✨ Latest Indie Radar - New Releases (Aug/Sept 2025)
The indie scene is alive and kicking with new voices and bold statements. From heartfelt tributes to defiant rock anthems, these recent tracks showcase the depth and diversity of indie music across the globe. Get ready to explore raw emotions, dance grooves, and sonic adventures.
🎧 Rhythm of One – Don't Cry For Me
📅 2025-08-01
🇺🇸 United States | Rock | Album
Original song by Steve Eaker (Rhythm of One) from the new album Dead Man's Diary.
▶️ Listen here
🎧 Steven Garcia – I Haven't Been Feeling Like Myself at All Lately
📅 2025-08-08
🇺🇸 United States | Alternative | Single
Upbeat Reggae Ska with a touch of Rock.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Social
🎧 WARDEN – HOUR GLASS
📅 2025-08-08
🇺🇸 United States | Rock | Album
This debut album was a bold choice in an era of singles. “Hour Glass” was the final track recorded, a powerful closer for a full statement.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Social
🎧 Silicon Kong – Falling from Grace (I'm a Beautiful Disaster)
📅 2025-08-12
🇺🇸 United States | Rock | Single
Part of The Glam-tastic Escape!, a positive track tinted with dark humor. Silicon Kong also stars in the upcoming rockumentary The Steel City Architect.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Social
🎧 Tretura – To Whom It May Concern
📅 2025-08-14
🇺🇸 United States | Rock | Single
A tribute to a fallen friend, navigating themes of trauma and letting go to survive.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Website
🎧 Pecy – Enjoy Time
📅 2025-08-16
🇺🇸 United States | Electronic/Dance | Single
A vibrant glimpse of Pecy’s upcoming album dropping later this year.
▶️ Listen here
🎧 Histheory – Stars on the Water
📅 2025-08-22
🇫🇷 France | 🎹 Instrumental | Single
A dreamy, piano-led ambient track bridging two concept albums.
▶️ Listen here
🎧 The Kind Machine – Hearts In Bloom
📅 2025-08-22
🇩🇪 Germany | Pop | Single
An optimistic, synth-rich track about falling in love and seeing things clearly.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Social
🎧 Ataraxia Music – Strangers On A Train
📅 2025-08-28
🇺🇸 United States | Electronic/Dance | EP
A curious and groovy blend of disco and rock, entirely instrumental. Unexpected turns and eerie textures make this a wild sonic ride, exactly what you'd expect from a strange train journey.
▶️ Listen here
🔗 Social
🎧 Neon Vampire feat. Vanessa Funke – Ultraviolet Hunger
📅 2025-09-05
🇺🇸 United States / 🇩🇪 Germany | Electronic/Dance | Single
Built from synth and drums, this track channels grief into haunting beauty through Vanessa’s voice.
🔗 Social
Historical Fact: The Farewell of a Queen
On August 28, 2018, the world came together in Detroit to say goodbye to one of the most powerful voices ever recorded: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Her funeral was not just a private farewell, but a public celebration of music, culture, and resilience.
Thousands gathered in her hometown, lining the streets, filling churches, and turning the city into a living stage for tributes. The service itself stretched into an all-day event, featuring not only family and friends but also presidents, celebrities, activists, and fellow artists. From heartfelt gospel to fiery eulogies, every word and note echoed the weight of Aretha’s influence.
Franklin’s legacy went far beyond her music. She gave voice to movements, civil rights, feminism, and the fight for dignity and respect in every corner of society. When she sang Respect in the 1960s, it became an anthem that resonated in protests, marches, and everyday lives, and it still resonates today.
Her final resting day in Detroit felt like the end of an era, but also a reminder: the Queen’s music is woven into the fabric of history, an immortal soundtrack of empowerment, love, and strength.
Voilà, that’s it for this little piece of history!
Keep the Historical Fact?
Nadine's Indie Treasures: The Lucidia Project
Picked with curiosity by Nadine de Macedo
Blending symphonic metal with elements of doom metal and alternative rock, The Lucidia Project seems to be the perfect band if you're into melancholic heavy music. I started to listen to them about a year ago when they published the Requiem EP, and now I'm happy to listen to some new bangers like "Prophecy" and "Lockdown".
💬 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!
Until Next Week: Another week, another heartbeat.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and keeping this little train rolling forward. The road to 1000 subscribers is lit by you, every whisper, every forward, every nod of trust. Stay close, keep the volume honest, and let the music guide us.
Until next Friday, carry the indie flame.
Stay Fun, Stay True.
Love on You,
🖤 Mitxoda
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