You what time it is! It’s that spookiest of seasons: Halloween. As people get their costume ready and deck their halls with cobwebs, it’s time we get in the mood with some eerie music. As a theme for this Halloween, I’ve chosen to represent one of the most classic mythologies of horror: witches.

Witches are one of the most historically significant trope in our cultures: in centuries past, they were considered to be very real, but the idea was mostly used to stigmatize women who went against the societal norm. As time has gone one, witches have been portrayed as everything from disfigured crones to seductive temptresses. They’ve been soothsayers, healers, scientists, and demonic thralls.

Nowadays, our culture has come around to the witch. No longer cackling, green skinned sorcerers with pointy hats, witches are portrayed more to be powerful women who posses forbidden knowledge. There is a strong influence of paganism, and the influence of the natural world. Sometimes they are evil and steal children, other times they are simply misunderstood and want to be left alone. However it feels like the idea of the witch has come to embody a sense of defiant feminism. It’s as if, after being saddled with derogatory stereotypes for centuries, ladies the world over decided to embrace the darkness and own it. There is a gothic romance to witches: a remote location on a foggy night, autumn leaves blowing in the wind. Candles are lit in a circle, and ancient music plays a forgotten tune as the coven begins to dance

So, in honor of witches the world over, here’s a playlist. It features only women singers (naturally) and pulls from artists and songs that either directly relate to magical arts and a spooky spirit, or tap into that sort of nocturnal mystique only known by those who feel more comfortable at night. May it set the mood for any seance, ritual, or summoning you get up to this weekend.

Happy Halloween!