Tag: halloween

Give Yourself a Scare With These Suspenseful Audiobooks

October 24, 2024

Gather your tricks and treats because Halloween season is upon us. Spotify launched our first Spine-Chilling Audiobooks hub this month featuring the “Fear Index,” an all-new editorial meter that consists of three curated shelves for every level of fright. These include editor- and author-curated playlists from Ashley Flowers, Freida McFadden, Alaina Urquhart, Alyssa Cole, and Stephen Graham Jones.

If you’re ready to dive all the way into the Halloween vibes, a thriller or mystery audiobook is a great start. Here are a few titles selected by Spotify’s editors that are sure to make your blood run cold.

The Midnight Feast: A Novel 

By Lucy Foley
Narrated by Joe Eyre, Sarah Slimani, Roly Botha, Laurence Dobiesz, and Tuppence Middleton

Lucy Foley’s latest murder mystery thriller begins at the opening night of a luxury retreat called the Manor. The infinity pool sparkles and the cocktails are flowing, but under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. It’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party—with deadly results.

The Boyfriend: A Psychological Thriller 

By Freida McFadden
Narrated by Victoria Connolly and Adam Blanford

After a tough dating streak, Sydney Shaw finally thinks she’s hit the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Then the brutal murder of a young woman—the latest in a string of deaths across the coast—confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them. Now Sydney can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems.

 All Hallows: A Novel 

By Christopher Golden
Narrated by January LaVoy and Ron Butler 

 Christopher Golden is best known for his supernatural thrillers set in deadly, distant locales. But in this suburban drama, he brings the horror home. It’s Halloween night, 1984, in Coventry, Massachusetts, and mixed in with the trick-or-treaters are four children who do not belong. They seem terrified and beg the neighborhood kids to keep them safe from “The Cunning Man.” Strange things are happening, but with families falling apart and the neighborhood splintered by bitterness, who will save the children?

 The Only Good Indians 

By Stephen Graham Jones
Narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett

This New York Times bestselling novel is equal parts psychological horror and cutting social commentary on identity politics and the American Indian experience. The story follows the lives of four American Indian men and their families, all haunted by a disturbing, deadly event that took place in their youth. Years later, they find themselves tracked by an entity bent on revenge, totally helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

All Good People Here: A Novel 

By Ashley Flowers
Narrated by Brittany Pressley, Karissa Vacker, and Ashley Flowers

In this debut novel from the host of the true crime podcast Crime Junkie, a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor and the disappearance of another girl 20 years later. Twisty, chilling, and intense, the book asks: What are your neighbors capable of when they think no one is watching?

For more spooky picks, head to our Spine-Chilling Audiobooks hub.

Fuego’s New Haunted Playlist Turns Music Listening Into a One-of-a-Kind Game

October 26, 2023

Spotify's Fuego Haunted Playlist cover art with a spooky house comic style illustration with a front door that looks like a scary mouth

Halloween is just around the corner and we’re getting into the spirit with Fuego’s Haunted Playlist. This unique on-platform experience turns your listening session into a game where you can interact with our innovative Latin mixtapes in an all-new way. 

“Since its launch last year, Fuego’s mission has been to innovate and bring new listening experiences that feel unique and surprise our community of listeners,” said Antonio Vázquez, Spotify Head of U.S. Latin Editorial. “The inspiration for Haunted Playlist comes from the desire to introduce the “Choose Your Own Adventure” book format to the playlist world. It allows fans to become the protagonist in the story and unravel the mysteries hidden inside this playlist.”

All of the action unfolds inside Fuego’s spooky mansion, where you must navigate between rooms to discover a pair of secret mixtapes curated by a couple of surprise artists. For the visuals, we worked with Chinelo Creative Agency and Mexican illustrator Diego Lavalle, who created the ghostly characters and backdrops hovering throughout the playlists. We also partnered with Latin Grammy-winning producer-engineer Daniel “Vago” Galindo, who created various soundscapes inspired by popular Halloween themes.

To start your adventure, visit Fuego’s Haunted Playlist and click the link in the description to enter the mansion. Instead of the usual cover and tracklist, you’ll find a bespoke cover and 10 Halloween-themed sound clips. In the description, you’ll also find a series of links, each with a different prompt that will send you on a separate path. Where you head in the mansion depends on what you click.

The Spooky Spotify Podcasts, Greenroom Live Events, and Songs Sure To Give You Goosebumps This Scary Season

October 21, 2021

On October 1, listeners were ready: There was a nearly 100% jump in Halloween-themed streaming on the first day of the spookiest month, compared to the day before. And with over 2.9 million user-generated Halloween playlists to choose from, it’s fair to say the sounds of spooky season can be found on Spotify. So whether you’re streaming the cult classics, finding new spooky songs, or looking for a podcast to give you goosebumps, there’s something for everyone on Spotify. 

Spirited Halloween streaming 

This October, we’ve noticed that all-time Halloween classics are back in action, with streams significantly spiking when compared to the previous month. “Monster Mash,” for example, was up by 350%, and “This is Halloween” from The Nightmare Before Christmas was up by 280%. However, there are also some new “tricks” on the block: More recent popular songs added to Halloween playlists include “Stranger Things” by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein; “bad guy” by Billie Eilish; “Black Magic” by Little Mix; “Season of the Witch” by Lana Del Rey; “Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max; and “Get Ghost” by A$AP Ferg, Mark Ronson and Passion Pit. 

And finally, when it comes to true crime and horror podcast content, the western states of the U.S.—including Wyoming, Montana and Utah—were among the top in the country to stream scary-themed podcasts (relative to their overall podcast listening).

Our howlin’ Halloween hub

Not sure where to start? We’ve brought back our Halloween hub, with a spiderweb of curated content to get you into the spirit. In addition to the essential Halloween music on Headbanger Halloween, Trick or Treat, and Fright Fest, the hub will feature spooktacular podcast playlist curations from the likes of Benito Skinner, Stephanie Soo, Loey Lane and Snitchery, Ashley Flowers, and Last Podcast on the Left. Also head there if you’re looking for editorial podcast playlists like Spooky Stories, Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries, True Crime Scene, or Conspiracy Theories. 

The truest True Crime Scene hub

We’ve also refreshed our True Crime Scene hub to feature new podcast content, with new podcast playlists, frighteningly binge-worthy pop culture podcasts, true crime series, and more—including themed episodes from shows like Crime Movie Club. While you’re there, check out our Spooky Stories podcast playlist, where we’re counting down the 31 spookiest ghost stories, one per day, leading up to Halloween. 

Don’t ghost on Greenroom

Finally, Spotify Greenroom is also getting in the spooky season spirit with a week full of live, interactive programming celebrating Halloween, including conversations on everything from scary movies to conspiracy theories to real-life ghost encounters. In addition to Spotify Greenroom’s true crime shows Crime Movie Club and True Crime Rewind, check out the pop culture conspiracy-focused Popspiracy and the mystical Ask the Tarot, which are always perfectly poised to celebrate Halloween. Spotify Greenroom is available for download on iOS and Android devices. 

Can’t get enough spookiness? In honor of the season, here are some of the shows with special or themed Halloween episodes or Greenroom Live rooms. 

October 19: 

  • Crime Show, “A Ghost Story”
    • “Ghost Suspected of Causing Fire That Killed Two People” was the headline the day after. A parapsychologist goes to the scene of the crime to investigate.

October 25: 

  • Obsessed – Live Halloween podcast
    • Hosts Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone have a lot to talk about when it comes to all the things they’re “obsessed” with. This special Halloween episode with guest Kim Petras was taped in front of a live studio audience.
  • A Gay in the Life – Spotify Greenroom – 8pm ET/5pm PT
      • Hosts Garrett Clayton and Blake Knight discuss the portrayal of the “homosexual villian” in television and film and the significance of Halloween in the LGBTQIA community.
      • Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam talk about all of the unforgettable “horrific” moments from the “Real Housewives” and other Bravo fan-favorite franchises.
    • Comedian Jon Gabrus breaks down the highly anticipated releases of “Dune” and “The French Dispatch” as well as the best—and worst—horror movies of all time.

October 26: 

  • We Said What We Said, “Horror Stories”
    • Join Trickey and Deadzel for a spooky episode about all things Halloween. Favorite scary movies! The supernatural! Costumes! Listen if you dare.
  • The Rewatchables 
    • Host Bill Simmons returns to Haddonfield, Illinois to revisit Michael Myers in the 1978 classic Halloween.
  • Campfire Stories – Spotify Greenroom Series Premiere – 11pm ET/8pm PT
    • Sabrina and Corinne of the Two Girls, One Ghost podcast make their Spotify Greenroom debut, sharing their own scary ghost stories before inviting the audience to share their own. 
  • Creepyhunters Premiere (Spanish language)
    • This new Spotify Original podcast from Mexico is a fiction story created by Julio Rojas, creator of the chart-topping Chilean podcast, Caso 63. Horror fans will be on the edge of their seats as a group of friends encounter a mysterious creature in a cenote (pool or cave) in the Yucatán Peninsula—and discover an even more mysterious organization. 

October 27: 

  • Not Past It, “Who Killed Harry Houdini?”
    • Harry Houdini escaped from handcuffs, sea monsters and torture cells, but his last great illusion defied even the spirits. On October 31, 1936, the famous escape artist was set to come back from the dead. But, as spooky as that sounds, the backstory to uncover America’s most notorious frauds of the day, is even more devilish.
  • Let’s Get Medical – Spotify Greenroom Series Premiere – 10pm ET/7pm PT
    • Twin doctors Desmond and Darien Sutton share their craziest stories from the year’s spookiest night in the ER.

October 31: 

    • Teenager Therapy Live – Spotify Greenroom – 9pm ET/6pm PT
      • Our “Teenager Therapy” hosts dive into all things Halloween … on Halloween! Get ready for costumes, parties, embarrassing memories, and maybe feelings surrounding fears and phobias.
    • A weekly podcast hosted by Ismael Méndez that tells of the urban legends, stories, and terrors that have given Mexico its cultural identity.

 

Still figuring out your costume? Try Stephanie Soo’s Spooky Vampires playlist on for size.

Scary is Nothing to Be Afraid of at Spotify’s Artist-Inspired NYC Costume Pop Up

October 29, 2019

This Halloween, step beyond trick-or-treating—and out of your comfort zone. Dare to listen to some of the artists who have endeavored to push culture forward in the pursuit of their art, whether via provocative on-stage performances, music videos, or their uncompromising style. 

At Spotify’s Stay Scary pop-up this past weekend, we celebrated artists who have done just that by inviting music fans to check out—and even take home—costumes inspired by artists like Billie Eilish, Freddie Mercury, Lil Nas X and Madonna at a thrilling immersive pop-up in New York’s Soho neighborhood.

The costume accessories included an Eilish crown adorned with spiders, similar to the one featured in the singer’s “you should see me in a crown” music video, and the Lil Nas X rhinestone-accented jacket patch seen in his “Old Town Road” music video.

Also available was Trippie Redd’s iconic fang grillz and as well as a replica of the live python Britney Spears famously draped around her shoulders during her 2001 MTV VMA’s performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.”

The First-Ever Halloween Podcast Playlist Creeps onto Spotify

October 28, 2019

Are you obsessed with paranormal activity and the occult? Or maybe it’s just the changing of the leaves and appearance of jack-o’-lanterns that puts you in the mood for scary stories? Wherever you fall, Spotify’s first-ever Halloween podcast playlist is here to help you embrace the spooky side of the holiday.

Curated by Max Cutler, founder and managing director of Parcast at Spotify, this playlist is guaranteed to leave you quaking in your boots. Explore ghastly tales from the Salem Witch Trials to urban legend, The Slenderman, and more as you prepare for All Hollows’ Eve.

“Halloween is the ultimate time of the year for skin crawling tales. Everyone has a favorite scary story and a horror movie classic that they come back to year after year, but now we’re giving Spotify users an exciting new way to experience their favorite haunting tales with a new podcast playlist created just for Halloween,” Cutler says. “Once you strip the visuals, listening to podcasts can become more intimate and we are all about crafting spooky audio stories for our listeners.”

Max Cutler, founder and managing director of Parcast at Spotify

And listeners just can’t get enough. In fact, spooky podcast listening increased by 138.5% between October 2018 and October 2019. Topping the list? Last Podcast on the Left, And That’s Why We Drink, Morbid: A True Crime Podcast, The NoSleep Podcast, and Lore. 

People also love to tune in to Parcast titles Today in True Crime and Serial Killers for their dose of spooky stories. Ready to send chills up your spine? Check out Spotify’s Halloween podcast playlist, below.