WATCH: The Haunt Unleash New Single “Hollywood”
WATCH: The Haunt Unleash New Single “Hollywood”
Words by Garrett Kearns
On the heels of their sophomore EP The Haunt unveil the new single “Hollywood.” Southern Florida’s rock sensation has done it again with a track that embodies the spirit of punk rebellion. The song is featured on the soundtrack for the new Hulu original film Plan B. This fresh new take on the teen comedy genre is the directorial debut of comedian and actress Natalie Morales [Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me]. Two friends — played by Kuhoo Verma and Victoria Moroles — race against a 24-hour window to reverse an unexpected pregnancy after a night of drinking.
Speaking about how the band came to be involved in the project, guitarist Max Haunt shared: “It kind of took its own form of late night, no sleep extreme deadline, punk chaos right from the start. But when your friend calls and says she needs a punk song for her upcoming, Hulu original film and the deadline is tomorrow, you stay up all night and make the fucking song. So that’s what we did.”
“Hollywood” continues The Haunt’s streak of infectious melodies reminiscent of the Strokes or Jet with the benefit of modern production. That is not to say the Florida quartette is afraid of a little grit in their rock and roll. Frontwoman Anastasia Haunt’s distorted vocals and the guitar-forward mix lends the song an edge of angst that begs to be cranked loud.
The repeated lyric during the chorus “Don’t you want to be with me?”, sung in a plaintive tone, suits the story of the film but also emphasizes her longing for an unnamed person. Themes of love and loneliness are at the core of The Haunt’s music, but “Hollywood” transforms it into a battle cry. The strained and imperfect vocals only enhance the urgency of the song that is further propelled by a forceful beat.
The band allows the audience to catch their breath by quieting down during the pre-chorus. The lighter texture of vocals, guitar, and more relaxed drumming gives the effect of having Anastasia speak in confidence to the listener, as if dancing with her. The dynamics then swing in the opposite direction by accelerating through the previously mentioned chorus at full throttle.
Max Haunt’s guitar feature fits the atmosphere of the song without being exaggerated. He keeps the riffs and solo simple while conveying enough feeling. “Hollywood” puts the guitarist to the forefront with his sister’s vocals, but he allows his instrument to take a backseat when necessary, to the song’s benefit. His solo in the single’s last section is function rather than flash, as it changes the texture enough to be distinctive but not distracting.
