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Hello and welcome to a fresh edition of the Mitxoda Weekly, your indie companion in this wide, wonderful world of music and stories.
This week we’ll wander, connect with friends, and maybe even cross paths with a skateboarding dragon (yes, really). And don’t forget: this Friday at 4pm Brussels time, tune in for a special INDIEpendence DAY edition of Le Salon Indie de Mitxoda.
Thanks for being here, sharing the ride, and keeping the indie fire alive.
With love,
Mitxoda
INDIEpendence DAY 2025 - Act 1: Münster, Germany
So, who was there?
Maïk (To Die in Beauty)
Nadine de Macedo
Christoph (Hollow Words)
Thomas, fellow musician
Christian (The Electric Blindfold)
Markus Gengvej
Joo Baldi
and myself, Mitxoda.
Back in May, in Weekly #35 (Myths, Mayhem & Drumsticks on Fire), I first mentioned the idea of INDIEpendence DAY. At the time, it was just a spark—something Maïk from To Die in Beauty dreamed up and asked me to promote.
Fast forward to this weekend: Saturday, September 6, 2025. The spark became a fire, and the first-ever INDIEpendence DAY happened in Münster, Germany.
The concept was simple, almost obvious: bring indie artists and indie friends together, share beers, share stories, share the kind of connection we usually only feel online. Since Maïk is German, he called on his local scene, and of course, I said yes.
A first for all of us.
An incredibly beautiful day with charming, friendly people!
Everyone who was there was really friendly and the best part was that we were all able to talk about our favorite hobby - and boy, did we talk about it a lot :)
More than avatars
Because yes, we “see” each other daily on socials. We comment on tracks, we share playlists, we know the songs by heart. But in person? That’s different. This weekend proved just how much it matters.
I drove 3h30 to reach Münster, where we were all staying at the German Red Cross hotel. From the very first moment, I felt this wave of fraternity. Christian welcomed me with local charm, and Maïk - our organizer-in-chief - set the tone. Then one by one, the others arrived, and every hello was full of warmth and simplicity.
We arrived as artists and left as friends.
I really enjoyed meeting the folks in real life. That's where community happens. I enjoyed talking about ideas and challenges.
This is what I’ve always hoped to create through Mitxoda: a space where you feel at ease, where judgment disappears, where trust grows naturally. That’s exactly how it was in Münster thanks to this epic crew!
And yes, most of the weekend’s conversations were in German. My spoken German is rusty, but I understood enough to follow, and when I replied in English, we all connected. It was effortless. It was human. And it was beautiful.
The first INDIEpendence DAY was much more than just a meeting: it was the beginning of something that still resonates within me. I had the privilege of meeting extraordinary people, with whom I not only shared a passion for music but also deep reflections on its future. We spoke about technology, software, new creative paths, and the challenges we face as independent artists in a rapidly changing world. It was a true moment of exchange, inspiration, and shared vision. A spark that makes me say with certainty: this is only the first step of a journey that will continue.
A weekend of smiles
I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw so many smiles over two days. Whether we were laughing at the neon-lit photo sessions (which felt like flashbacks to an old scout camp), or digging into deeper talks about doubts, fears, and the obstacles we all face as indie artists, it was all genuine.
And it wasn’t just fun. It was rich. We encouraged each other, swapped ideas, and shared new ways of doing things. Meeting everyone, not one person in particular, but the whole group, was the most inspiring part.
It made me realize once again: the indie world is impossible to define. But if there’s one word that unites it, it might be respect. my first Weekly of this year?
I feel it is a great privilege to have spent the INDIEpendence DAY 2025 with such fantastic colleagues (…)! What makes me just as happy, though, is that you are all such damn wonderful people!!! Is it because all musicians are like this? I don't know, but I hope so…! The evening was characterized by respect, empathy, and humor… absolutely no negative vibes - one could think it was like a family reunion?!
I am also very proud to have launched the INDIEpendence DAY together with you and hope to establish it for the future!!!
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!!
Love and respect!
It was a strange exciting situation, meeting a bunch of random people from the web I´ve never seen in person before. But the atmosphere became like a sit in with my best old friends in less than 2 hours! Definitely something we need to do again!!!! I still have so much things in mind I would have loved to talk with the other participants. And some ideas for collaborations were born from this weekend....
What’s next
The energy was so strong that we’re already talking about a second edition next year. Bigger, more international: bringing in friends from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the UK, and beyond. Because if Münster proved anything, it’s that real-life connection is irreplaceable.
I listened to each artist's work, looked for photos, and read what we had written in the past. I had already worked with Electric BlindFold, To Die in Beauty, and the great Mitxoda. But we had never met.
After a three-hour drive, the moment finally arrived: a group of artists was already waiting for me in front of the hotel. From the very first moments, the conversation flowed.
Maïk (To Die In Beauty) handed out CDs. We laughed together, discussed our projects, and in the evening, we played our favorite songs over fries and nuggets.
In short, it was a perfectly normal evening among friends. What if I told you more?
Because everything is one more surprise. Thanks to Maïk for the idea and to everyone who made this weekend the most wonderful experience of my career.
So… what do you say? Would you like to join us next year? Reply to this email and let me know…!
(Just one click on the ad below, and you’ll extend this weekly for free. It only costs you one click…don’t miss it!) (and thank you!) 👇
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Morgenrøde: Rustic Rhythmic Reflections from the North Sea
“My music may be entirely egocentric. It is constantly about self-creation. Becoming who you are.”
Some artists emerge from the chaos of the city, others from the stillness of the countryside. Morgenrøde, the musical alias of Jens Christian Haar, comes from the wild coast of Løkken, Denmark, where the North Sea pounds the shore with relentless rhythm. That rhythm seeps into his music, and into the way he describes it: “rustic rhythmic reflections.”
Part DIY lo-fi sorcerer, part post-punk revival preacher, Morgenrøde creates songs that feel like they were carved out of driftwood, painted with saltwater, and then set on fire just to see what shapes the flames would make.
We sat down (virtually, of course) with this indie shapeshifter to talk about freedom, fuzz, dragons, döner kebabs, and why art is a way of becoming.
The art of becoming
For Morgenrøde, music is not a career or a product. It is a compass pointing inward, a process of self-creation. He doesn’t write to follow trends, but to break them down, one distorted guitar riff at a time. He calls it an attempt at becoming, shaping who you are by peeling away the layers of fear and shame that culture piles on top of us.
His songs often drift in haze and fuzz, echoes folding back on themselves like thoughts that come from everywhere and nowhere. Reverb becomes memory, distortion becomes defiance. Listening feels like walking along a windy beach with voices carried on the tide, impossible to locate, yet impossible to ignore.
Eudaimonia and the sound of revolt
His latest release, Eudaimonia, burns with the restless spirit of freedom. It isn’t polished or neatly packaged. It’s messy, urgent, and alive. Inspired by his young daughter’s shout of “let me be!”, the track surges like a child’s raw protest against conformity, and like a manifesto for Morgenrøde’s DIY lo-fi ethos.
He doesn’t picture an audience or an algorithm when he creates. He builds worlds that answer only to his inner pulse. Music as revolt, as play, as fire in the cave of a dragon.
Influences and future visions
Raised on the cracked brilliance of Neutral Milk Hotel, the sharp shadows of Interpol, and the chaotic beauty of Modest Mouse, Morgenrøde found in those bands the permission to be imperfect and yet powerful. That ethos shapes his path forward: a vinyl pressing on the horizon, and a second project conjured from his own alter-egos, spitting out indie punk with a “fuck it, who cares” attitude.
It’s not about growing bigger. It is aaaallll about growing freer.
“I run into a flow state and lose sense of time. Pure being. Engulfed in creation.”
Taste, fire, and myth
If his music were food, Morgenrøde insists it would be a döner kebab drenched in chili sauce: simple, messy, burning, but undeniably satisfying. A dish for people who sneak away from Michelin-star dinners to grab something real.
And if a mythical creature discovered his album? He doesn’t hesitate: a black-winged dragon, a lone wolf of the sky. One that would scorch the kingdoms of foolish kings to the sound of Eudaimonia, ride the clouds to Amor Fati, and then rest easy in its cave, kebab in hand, reminiscing about fiery days gone by.
“Free. Or longing to feel free.”
Morgenrøde is not trying to save the world, but he is trying to free himself. And in that raw pursuit of self-expression, something resonates for the rest of us indie souls, because maybe freedom is contagious.
So next time you need to shake off the dust of the world, imagine a dragon surfing clouds above the Danish coast, kebab in hand, fuzz pedals blazing. That’s Morgenrøde.
Quick Indie News
Bandcamp is replacing PayPal with Stripe for payments, raising concerns that excluding PayPal will disadvantage buyers without credit cards and could spark backlash.
Crowsilver marked World Suicide Prevention Day by sharing that mental health care is essential, not a weakness, and by contrasting their past song Forgive Me with their upcoming track Remedy, a celebration of those who help us through dark times. More info.
Echomatica launched their latest single “Something” on YouTube and many other streaming platform.
Deedra Patrick is also releasing “700 Marines” on YouTube. Powerful.
And I can’t wait for the new collab’ between MX The American, Richie Warwick and Storm-Kingdom! More info soon!
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» Submit your latest songs here
» Share the latest hot indie news (email me back), and I’ll feature it in another edition!
🎧 JoDan Music – Black Castles
📅 2024-07-12 🇺🇸 United States | Rock (Soft/Classic) | Single (Indie) • ⏱️ 4:15 • Vocals
Austin-based duo Jo & Dan Wilburn fuse gritty hard rock grooves with smooth, classic-rock storytelling. “Black Castles” wanders through tangled forests and dreamlike towers with both edge and melody.
🎧 Gengvej – Só o sol
📅 2025-08-29 🇩🇪 Germany | Electronic/Dance | Single (Indie) • ⏱️ 2:58 • Vocals (Portuguese)
A sunny, chilled electronic cut with Portuguese lyrics, crafted for lazy beach days and golden-hour vibes, balancing warmth and groove.
🎧 Wicked Tears – Classic Sound
📅 2025-07-15 🇺🇸 USA | Rock | Album (Indie) • ⏱️ 4:21 • Vocals
Straight from the heartland of indie rock, Wicked Tears deliver a track steeped in their signature style, guitars soaring, rhythm steady, and a timeless sound that feels both familiar and fresh.
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.
Historical Fact: The Day Lady Gaga Served Fashion Raw
On September 12, 2010, Lady Gaga shocked the world by arriving at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles wearing a dress, hat, and boots entirely made of raw beef. Designed by Franc Fernandez and styled by Nicola Formichetti, the now-iconic “meat dress” instantly became one of the most talked-about fashion statements in pop culture history.
While many saw it as outrageous or even offensive, Gaga later explained that the outfit was a political statement: a protest against the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and a metaphor for fighting for one’s rights before they “rot away.” Animal rights groups like PETA condemned the outfit, while others praised Gaga for using fashion as performance art with a bold social message.
The meat dress has since been preserved by taxidermists and remains on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Keep the Historical Fact?
Nadine's Indie Treasures: Hollow Words
Selected with precision by Nadine de Macedo
Are you a fan of 80s synthpop? You should definitely check out the latest works of Hollow Words. Start your journey with "I Prefer Gold", be "Stylish Like The 80s" or ask yourself if it "Could Be Worse". Digging for gold, you will also figure out that this project has a root that you never expected.
💬 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: Carry the Indie Flame
Because every song we share, every story we tell, and every connection we make keeps this community alive. Münster reminded us that beyond screens, there are real people, real smiles, and real respect. So take that spirit with you, into your music, into your days, into the little moments that matter. The indie way is not about perfection, it’s about presence.
With love and gratitude,
🖤 Mitxoda
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END 😆