Now that I am dead, I can twist my head. That is the opening line, and if that does not tell you what kind of song this is, nothing will.
Skeleton Twist is a 1960s dance-craze novelty rock number, the kind of thing that would have been a smash at a sock hop, if the sock hop were held in a graveyard. Twangy surf guitar drenched in reverb, honky-tonk piano, handclaps, and a bone-rattle made of wood blocks and xylophone running all the way through. It is bright, goofy, high energy, and it is in a major key on purpose, so it pops against the darker songs later on the record.
Here is where the fresh-music idea gets fun. The old dance-craze songs are exactly the kind of Halloween record we have been recycling forever. So instead of playing that classic on repeat one more year, I wanted to make a brand new one that does what those songs did best, which is give kids something to physically do. There is a whole dance break in the middle where a caller shouts the moves and everybody answers back. Twist to the left, twist twist. Twist to the right, twist twist. Drop that jaw and clack it twice, now shake it out, all night.
The fun of finishing this one is a good window into how I work. In its earlier form, the song just stopped, right on the bridge, with no real ending. That felt like the DJ cutting the music before the last chorus. So we added a proper final chorus and an outro so it lands instead of just quitting, and we pulled the pre-chorus up front so it sets up both choruses the way it was clearly meant to. Then we built out that call-and-response dance break. Those changes turned a good idea into the most performable track on the whole album. A skeleton twist that kids can actually do with their bodies. That is the point.
Put it on and twist with your kids. Then follow me so the next song lands in your library on its own.
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While you are here, pre-save my upcoming album A Folklore Christmas on Spotify.
Why Pre-Saving A Folklore Christmas Means the World (And How It Helps You!)
If you’ve ever wondered why artists are always asking you to pre-save their upcoming music on Spotify, here’s the secret: it’s the single best way to make sure you don’t miss a beat, while giving independent music a massive boost!
Whether you’re excited for the spooky ghost stories or the tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago, here is what pre-saving actually does for you—and for the album:
- It drops right into your library on launch day: The moment A Folklore Christmas goes live, Spotify will automatically add it straight to your Liked Songs and library. You won’t have to search for it, set a reminder, or worry about missing release day.
- It feeds the Spotify algorithm: Algorithms pay close attention to pre-save numbers. A high pre-save count signals to Spotify that listeners are eager for these songs, which helps push our holiday tracks onto official curated playlists, radio feeds, and recommendation charts for brand new listeners.
- It helps independent music thrive: Every single pre-save gives independent artists a louder voice on major streaming platforms, helping us share these rich holiday traditions and old-world stories far and wide.
It only takes one click, but it makes a huge difference!
Pre-save A Folklore Christmas on Spotify here (or insert your pre-save link!)