You know those bands that instantly claw at your soul, pulling you down into the deep exploration of every release you’ve ever missed? That was The Haunt when I first heard them. It was an epiphany of “finally, this is everything that I’ve been looking for." The emptiness in my playlists felt suddenly complete by their potion of indie-pop meets post-punk.
Their first single of 2021 doesn’t disappoint, and will definitely be another addition to said playlists. Anastasia Grace’s vocals are wistfully dreamy as the song begins in a soft electric haze. It isn’t long before the guitar builds up into a bridge that’s reminiscent of the most celebrated emo bands of the 2000’s. Electronic beats collide with Anastasia’s voice as she viscerally sings “wish you f***ing stayed."
It’s likely the timelessly charming vocals that make this track feel more rock than it actually is. In reality, it’s probably the most pop-influenced release from The Haunt so far – and it suits them. Picture Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ (a song I absolutely adore) if you dressed it up in leather trousers and smudged eyeliner.
‘Wish You Stayed’ was written by a fifteen-year-old Anastasia, who managed to perfectly capture the heartbreak of someone you thought would always be in your life being suddenly gone from it. Since 2017, The Haunt have been producing consistently strong singles, but their more recent releases are ignited with confidence. They feel finally ready to put together an album that is cohesive and devilishly unique, and I can only hope that’s in the near future because their potential is scintillating.
'Wish you Stayed' can be streamed wherever you listen to music, and you can find The Haunt on Twitter and Instagram.
Caitlin Taff is a writer and Taylor Swift enthusiast from Sheffield, UK. Her love of writing was inspired by obsessing over Fall Out Boy's lyricism in her teens, and she spends most of her time in a nostalgic haze watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
You can find her on Instagram and Twitter @caitlintxff.