Spooky season is here, and what better way to celebrate than by listening to some eerie indie songs?
From queen of horror pop Billie Eilish to witchy, ethereal artist Florence + The Machine, there are tons of indie acts with spooky tracks for you to listen to at Halloween. We’ve put together a list of some great Halloween-themed indie tunes that mention everything from ghosts to witches.
Check out 12 spooky indie songs to listen to this Halloween.
Billie Eilish – “bad guy”
What screams spooky more than horror pop queen, Billie Eilish? With a heavy, booming bass line, eerie instrumentals, and Eilish’s silky, processed vocals, you’ll have this creepy track on repeat throughout the entire month of October.
Pavement – “The Hexx”
It’s hex season, indie lovers! You’re going to want to listen to Pavement’s “The Hexx” all October long, with eerie, ambient, warping instrumentals and wavering vocal lines as frontman Stephen Malkmussings lyrics like “Epileptic surgeons with their eyes x’ed out/ Attend to the torn up kid/ Salivate and reckon with all the sick things/ that you did.”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Heads Will Roll”
What’s a list of Halloween indie tracks without the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll?” The indie rockers knew they were making a spooky banger with this disco-infused synthpop track, as the accompanying video even features a werewolf dancing along to the tune.
Metric – “Monster Hospital”
This one’s for all the monsters out there this Halloween! This gritty track is perfect for the spooky season, with a driven guitar line, rowdy drum beat, and Emily Haines’ eerie vocals as she sings lyrics like, “Monster hospital, can you please release me?/ You hold my hands down, I’ve been bad.”
Bright Eyes – “Devil Town”
Bright Eyes’ cover of Daniel Johnston’s “Devil Town” makes it on this list with its monster-themed lyrics, mentioning everything from devils to vampires. The slightly twisted, upbeat acoustic track revolves around frontman Conor Oberst’s take on Johnston’s quirky lyricism, with lines like, “All my friends were vampires/ Didn’t know they were vampires/ Turns out I was a vampire myself.”
The National – “Anyone’s Ghost”
The National’s melancholic spooky hit “Anyone’s Ghost” is another great tune for Halloween, with ambient instrumentals, and Matt Berninger’s crooning vocals. Calling all ghosts and ghouls, this one’s for you!
Radiohead – “Burn the Witch”
Spooky season isn’t spooky season without witches! Radiohead’s “Burn the Witch” was practically made for Halloween, especially considering Thom Yorke’s unnerving, floaty vocal lines take the forefront on this track.
Sufjan Stevens – “They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!”
We had to have a tune on this list dedicated to the undead. Filled with strings and eerie chanting, this track tells the spooky tell of a demonic zombie. “They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!” is a perfect Halloween track, with lines like “We are awakened with the axe/ Night of the Living Dead at last/ They have begun to shake the dirt/ Wiping their shoulders from the earth.”
The Black Keys – “Howlin’ For You”
Celebrate Halloween with rocker duo The Black Keys. Let the werewolves shine when “Howlin’ For You” comes on, and wail along to this stomp rock track. With distorted, gritty guitar lines and a catchy chorus, you’ll be playing this song throughout the entire spooky season.
The White Stripes – “Little Ghost”
Listen to a little White Stripes this Halloween! The American rock duo really stray from their usual gritty rock anthems for a folky, blue-grass instrumental on “Little Ghost.” This rowdy track talks about an impossible love with a ghost, as the duo sing, “When I held her I was really holding air.”
Florence + The Machine – “Seven Devils”
This dramatic tune is perfect for Halloween, with a creepy, cyclical instrumental line and Florence Welch’s powerfully throaty vocals. “Seven Devils” is wonderfully spooky, with lyrics like, “Seven devils all around you/ Seven devils in my house/ See they were there when I woke up this morning/ I’ll be dead before the day is done.”
Dr. Dog – “Vampire”
Make sure to listen to a little Dr. Dog for your resident vampires. This track is perfect for the bloodsuckers in attendance at your local spooky party, with lines like “You’re a vampire baby/ No reflecting at all/ You never think what you do really hurts.”