Hey my indie friend,

And Now is out today, and it’s all about collaboration! What a beautiful theme to celebrate, right?

The release of my new collab with Neon Vampire, the kind words from Nick Luddite, and the consistently brilliant work of our friends at Sonophagen, who never stop bringing people together around that simple, powerful idea: music and art as a shared space.

It truly moves me. And at the same time, it makes me reflect. Even when we try our best to unite, to “make it happen,” we’re still human, fragile, imperfect, real. Stephen from Berlos Band is taking a break, and that’s okay. Please take care, Stephen. We’re with you.

And today, we also say goodbye to Jimmy Cliff (81). Another legend leaves us.

Welcome to the 62nd edition of the Mitxoda Weekly. I hope it brings you inspiration, warmth, and maybe a spark of connection.

Love, Mitxoda

I might be going a bit far saying this, but yes, for me, it’s a kind of illumination in this artistic world. Collaborations have always existed, at every moment. I wish everyone could experience that feeling at least once. It’s pure magic. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but that doesn’t make it a mistake. People don’t always match. People don’t always align in their musicality.

I had the immense pleasure of singing on Neon Vampire’s latest track, “And Now,” and wow, goosebumps. It felt amazing. I wrote this song to capture the intensity of the question “what’s next?” after a break. And without Neon Vampire, these words might never have seen the light of day.

Out NOW

Nick Luddite recently shared: My first ever collaboration is in the can! It has been a real pleasure to work with J&M Band, who was introduced to me by my good friend, the excellent Mitxoda. Thanks, Mitxoda! ❤️

And here is the power of the internet and technology for creating communities and allowing things such as this to happen! As a young musician I would never have believed that one day I would be recording music with someone in another country who I have never physically met!!

Beautiful words, thank you, Nick!

Sonophagen, my very first international collab, is also incredibly active in sparking new collaborations. If you’re interested, you should absolutely fill out their collaboration form, it might be the start of something amazing:

https://form.jotform.com/250968660497877

And speaking of creative connections, I just came across a curious and inspiring post from Rollin Jewett:

And you, what’s the next collaboration you’re dreaming of? Or the one already taking shape? I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

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Parasomniac asked a great question about how we build a fanbase.

Here’s my honest take… what do you think?

For me, it starts with listening. Not just to the music people share, but to their words, their stories. A “fanbase” shouldn’t be a numbers game. I think you know me, dear readers. I try to stay empathetic, ask questions, interact when it feels right.

Of course, making music people enjoy matters. But what truly counts is the circle of good people around me, those who help, understand, give real feedback (positive and negative), and care.

I don’t waste energy on negative-minded people. I focus on those who respect what I do. Respect, this was the topic of my first 2025 weekly!

Out of 500 weekly readers over almost 63 weeks, 40 left… and I know why for more than 80% of them. I’m genuinely fine with that. It takes time to ask, connect, and strengthen the community.

I don’t even like the word “fanbase.” It’s an exchange, human, cultural, personal.

The quality of the feedback helps me grow, and knowing the people behind it means even more.

It’s priceless and I cherish these 14 months, with all of you, and the ones ahead even more. ❤️

Aliènor recently shared MusicHub’s new decision to ban predominantly AI-generated music, and I found the whole discussion incredibly insightful, not just for what it says about artists and AI, but also about how companies like MusicHub are trying to navigate this shifting landscape. Some, like Aliènor, welcome clearer rules even if detection remains tricky; others worry about false positives or about how we define creativity in 2025.

And then there’s the thoughtful perspective shared by Ghost of Rucker, who reminded us that tools have always shaped how we make art. As he put it, he’s been composing with FL Studio for over 20 years, long after hearing that “electronic music isn’t real talent,” and he sees AI musicians simply as another lane of expression, not a threat.

Whether someone plays guitar, programs beats, or prompts an AI, the impulse is the same: to create something honest in a world that’s already hard enough. Between platforms seeking fairness, artists defending craft, and creators embracing new tools, this moment isn’t about choosing sides, it’s about understanding how all these realities coexist and redefine what music can be.

What do you think of it?

Thanks for sharing this moment with me.

If there’s one thing this week reminded me of, it’s how deeply our paths intertwine, through the songs we shape, the people we uplift, and the stories we choose to tell together.

Wherever you are, keep creating, keep reaching out, and keep building those small bridges that make our indie world feel a little brighter.

With love,
🖤 Mitxoda

END 😆