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.

The post steph resurrects an old flame on ‘October 31st’ appeared first on She Makes Music.