Drawing us in with an intricate, cinematic guitar soundscape featuring cerebral ad-lib vocalizations, LEEDY opens Haunted with intrigue and the lyrics, “Got me second guessing on your confidence, I′ve lost my touch, aching, holding onto this, my grip starts slipping, common sense is missing, now we’re all a mess, can′t come back from this…”
We are immediately enthralled by the vulnerability and poetic prowess that LEEDY exudes with the prose. In essence, Haunted is about being caught in a toxic relationship that feels intense and addictive. This is a really relatable feeling that many of us have experienced.
Even though LEEDY knows it is unhealthy, she is struggling with inner conflict and questioning her own judgment whilst being pulled back in by desire and emotional attachment. Naturally, the attraction is too strong to resist, and the sentiment of feeling “haunted” shows us that the relationship lingers in her mind and emotions, making it hard to escape.
We love the dark psychedelic notions that manifest, and the down-pitched vocal moments which add a cerebral energy to the track, in line with the concept of the song. The track evolves with a theme of self-realization as LEEDY becomes more aware of the damage, but still wants it and loves it. She describes a push-and-pull dynamic where her feelings are manipulated, leaving her drained and confused, but in the end, this toxic love is for her.
LEEDY confesses, “This song tells the story of the highs and lows, ebbs and flows of being involved with someone you know too well is terrible for your health, yet you can’t seem to stay away from them. It plays into the secrecy and taboo of it all; linking up behind closed doors, the intoxicating thrill of the chase and the crash that comes when everything inevitably falls apart again. It is an inner dialogue exploring the nuance of this toxic situation, that this person is totally engulfed and haunted by their attraction to this other person while acknowledging the damage being done.”
Haunted really serves as a cultural commentary on the zeitgeist, and could be applied to more than just a romantic connection, it feels like a metaphor for what many of us go through with other addictions and the cognitive dissonance that we face as a collective.
There is a cinematic allure to the song, which would be perfect for a multitude of sync placements, notably a TV show like Euphoria on HBO, or maybe a scene in Beauty in Black on Netflix, which aligns with the wider theme of the track. LEEDY cites Billie Eilish, SZA and Kehlani as sonic influences and peers, but it is clear that she is manifesting a universe unto her own design.
We love Haunted, and have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS and TRIPPY playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of LEEDY, including Green, arden, and Into You.