HAUNTER
Photo credit: Heather Ann Phillips
Discovering Haunter’s music was a good surprise.
Their new single “Illuminate” is an anthem. Like Lucy said in this interview, I really hear this song appearing in a movie. It’s inspiring, and uplifting and powerful.
Lucy’s voice is fucking amazing, the production and the melodies are epic. Listening to this is bringing me hope in a time where everything seems uncertain. Thank you Haunter for creating this song.
“Illuminate” is out now. Go stream it now !! :)
Photo credit: Heather Ann Phillips
Introduce the band - what's your story?
Enoma: We are Haunter. A bunch of weirdos from the city with the spaceships (Houston, TX). Our story started with my old band falling apart and then writing a bunch of demos with my friends. Along the way, I met our co-writer and producer Tyler Smyth (Lights, I Prevail, Falling In Reverse) while he was on tour. Tyler and I became real good friends and he invited me out to LA to work with him. So I didn’t have a singer for the project and I met Lucy about a year prior and asked her to join me. She hadn’t even heard a single note of music from me but she was down immediately. I met Mark at a Dangerkids show because their Merch Manager and I were friends. Mark and I connected pretty much right away and Mike is my best friend. When we went to LA, I invited him out to just hang out and while we were recording, he kept coming up with great ideas so he joined during our first writing sessions.
Mark: Haunter is a group that came from all different backgrounds of music. All of the members have been in very different bands and I think all of us coming together to create something none of us were familiar with has really played in our favor.
How would you define Haunter, the band?
Mark: 3 emo kids and one metal head combine forces to create the most epic pop band ever.
Enoma: What Mark said was pretty much perfect.
"Illuminate" is your new single. What made you want to release this song as the first single of 2021?
Enoma: I think Illuminate is such a hopeful song. With how difficult 2020 was for pretty much everyone, we felt that it was time to break out something that was just simple and sweet. We could all use a little bit more of what this song brings into the world.
Lucy: Illuminate is this song about world domination through love and hope and hard work. We all need a little push this year, so what a better way to start the year than a song that says that you can do anything?
Mark: I feel 2021 is all about getting a fresh start and that’s how the song feels to us. It’s big, it delivers a strong message, we left a lot of room for Lucy to just let her vocals soar.
What's the story/inspiration behind this single?
Lucy: This song was inspired by love. Finding someone that truly complements your energy can be a huge motivator in life, this song is about when you find that person and feel like you can conquer absolutely anything with them by your side.
Enoma: This song was really inspired by the idea of falling in love. We wanted to write about how it feels in those quiet moments, when you look at your partner and this fire ignites in you. You feel like with them by your side you can accomplish anything. We were absolutely fascinated with those moments and wanted to capture it during those sessions.
Could you describe the songwriting/production behind this single? Who helped you create it? When did you start working on it?
Enoma: We wanted to capture lightning in a bottle with this song. We wanted to make you feel like when the chorus hits that the world sort of opens up. When the idea for the song came about I was listening to a lot of Imagine Dragons and really in love with how they incorporated these larger than life percussive elements to their songs. We paired those drums with some really spaced out, almost ethereal guitars and really made sure we left space for Lucy to do her thing. We wrote this song (and all our songs) with Tyler Smyth. He’s so vital to the amazing work we get to do. This song, I started on before Haunter was even a thing. In true Haunter fashion, we threw everything out and started fresh in the studio. Inspiration right on day one.
Mark: Like all of our songs we go into the studio with a fresh open mind. No rules, no pre-production, just feel it out. We felt that it was time to really build a track that would let Lucy's vocals soar. All of our songs are co-written with our friends and producer Tyler Smyth.
What did you feel when writing this song?
Lucy: When we were writing this, we all felt so light and airy and nostalgic of love that we have had all in the best way possible. We felt hopeful that people would see this song as a powerful inspiration to dream big, and believe in love.
Enoma: I think I felt sort of how big the song is. We were aiming to sort of take you to the mountaintop and I believe we pulled it off. Lucy’s vocals really soar on the last chorus and I get chills listening back to it.
What's your favorite thing about this song?
Lucy: I love the feeling I get when listening to this song, even after hearing it like 100 times. This feeling of being unstoppable next to someone is something everyone wants to have. Someone who is really your teammate that pushes you to be your best. I love this song can at least give people the hope that they can find their person, and try to conquer their dreams, even if their person is themselves.
Mark: It's big! Sitting down and getting to listen to it you just get drawn into the song. You really feel like you're in the song with the people in the artwork.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
Enoma: So what I love about our artwork is that, I’ve been planning this sort of story with each single cover. If you look at this cover and the cover to our previous single “Risk It All”, you’ll notice our characters are the same. It all ties together for a larger visual narrative. It’s a bit wild, a steady stream of madness. Illuminate is just the latest chapter in that story. We took elements directly from the lyrics and worked with our friend Cameron Burns to bring it all together. He’s done all the cover art for our band and really understands what we want to bring to life.
Mark: The artwork is like a visual representation of the song. Going back to my last answer the song really brings you into the artwork and you feel like you’re walking with them.
What is your goal for this song?
Lucy: I want this song to be on a Disney movie. I feel like it fits the energy of a lot of big production movie soundtracks, and I truly believe so many people can relate to this song and love it. This song is for the people.
Mark: For the listener to connect with the song. For it to be enjoyed.
As artists, what are your biggest struggles?
Lucy: Staying sane in an industry that is all about perception.
Mark: I would say keeping up with the industry. It’s always changing, the listener is always changing, sometimes people grow out of your music and you’re faced with trying to find a fresh sound to appear to the new younger audience without compromising your sound.
Enoma: I think the hardest thing is more about really finding your people. It can sort of feel like you’re screaming in space sometimes. You create things you love, you work hard to promote them and sometimes it just doesn’t connect with people in the ways that you hope. That doesn’t mean the art was bad, maybe it wasn’t that wasn’t the right audience. It’s a lot of trial and error but what’s cool about all of this is you not only have the opportunity to find your audience, you have a chance to really find yourself. What is your story? What are you all about?
What's the best part about being in a band?
Lucy: Having a family behind you every step of the way in your life, that believes in everything you do.
Mark: Building lifelong connections and friends. Being an artist you really have to develop trust with your band. Writing music can be a very vulnerable setting.
Enoma: Knowing that you’re not alone. That whatever weirdness you have connects with other people in a similar fashion. I always say you have to be sort of crazy to want to be a musician. Being in a band is knowing that whatever is in your head and heart means something to the person next to you.
What do you think of today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Lucy: I don’t think I would change anything. The industry is ever-changing and ever evolving with technology, at this point we are just trying to be ahead of the game and wreck everything we do until someone notices.
Mark: It became very DIY. The internet has all the information you need and makes it possible to connect with anyone.
Enoma: I think it’s sort of the wild west again. Like a “hit” song can come from anywhere. Right now Tik Tok is the undisputed king of viral music hits. I love the industry for wanting to capitalize on finding talent in that way, but the thing I really dislike is how disposable it can make our art feel. It’s like the second you put a song out, people are already saying “Ok, cool. What else you got?” It can sort of make you feel like investing all this time and effort is never really rewarded. I wish we’d appreciate music a bit more.
What do you want to accomplish professionally and personally?
Lucy: I want my life to revolve around art at all times.
Mark: To get our label (Print Money Gang) as running label and be able to provide our knowledge and services to help other artist grow as well.
What biggest life lessons have you learned in 2020?
Lucy: We don’t love these hoes.
Mark: Staying at home can be very productive but I love being social.
Enoma: You have more time on your hands than you think. If you’re passionate about something, make the time. Learn how to balance your responsibilities and what you want to build. Promise you that if you give what you love the extra time you will be amazed at what will come out of it.
What are your goals for 2021?
Lucy: Don't love these hoes, still, and make dope music anyone can bob their head to.
Mark: To continue to release music and connect with more people.
Enoma: There’s so much I want us to do. First and foremost to keep releasing music. We have a lot to share on that front. Secondly to go back to LA (when it’s safer to do so) and write more songs with Tyler. Get the merchandise side of Print Money Gang a nice facelift. I need to make some more designs. Then I want to really look at having us do a live stream. We haven’t played a show live because we debuted last year but it’s something I have been dreaming about for a long time. I’d like to do something later on this year to shoot a live performance for our fans.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
Lucy: Be a beacon of light. Make art and live.
Mark: It's never too late to do what you want to do. Set yourself a goal and go after it.
Enoma: Your vision can’t be compromised. Build your tribe and get to work.
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