Danish singer-songwriter steph embraces bad decisions and old flames on ‘October 31st’, a soulful indie-pop tale of one particularly unhealthy Halloween tradition. Its protagonist returns to her toxic ex every October 31st, reasoning that if the streets are filled with ghosts, perhaps there’s room to resurrect one more thing that should have stayed dead. “I’m very inspired by how, as humans, we keep throwing ourselves headfirst into relationships and into life, even when the chances of getting hurt are so incredibly high,” steph explains.
Slightly eerie, vintage-tinged piano chords open the track, joined by acoustic guitar and gentle percussion that gives the song a slow, waltz-like sway. There’s plenty happening beneath the surface, yet the arrangement remains spacious, allowing steph’s warm, soulful vocal to lead. Delicate in places, her voice rises into genuinely soaring territory as distorted guitars gradually creep into the mix, before the song strips back once again towards its close.
Despite its self-destructive story, ‘October 31st’ feels inviting rather than bleak. Warm, melancholic and wonderfully autumnal, it conjures fallen leaves, darkening evenings and the irresistible temptation to revisit something you already know is bad for you. Sometimes old ghosts are particularly difficult to leave buried.
