The Haunt

Discovering The Haunt:

Heartbreak and Guitar Riffs

Interview by Ken Morton - Photo by Jack Lue

The Haunt is an American rock band from South Florida consisting of siblings Anastasia Grace Haunt (lead vocals), and Maxamillion Haunt (vocals, guitar and production), alongside Nat Smallish on bass guitar, and Nick Lewert on drums. They’ve toured with the likes of The Hu and Palaye Royale, and recently released an EP entitled Social Intercourse. Current standout singles include Love You Better, Make Me King, and I’m Not Yours. The Haunt were in town to do a photo shoot with Jack Lue when Highwire Daze caught up with them to find out more on this amazing band on the rise...

How did you recent tour with The Hu go and what were some of the highlights?

Maxamillion Haunt: All of it. It was a ton of fun being able to – we were one of the first bands that were able to go out after the pandemic – and we were able to play these awesome rooms with The Hu, who have such an eclectic, beautiful audience. It was like a dream come true to be able to tour after those miserable two years. Anastasia Grace Haunt: We weren’t sure if their fans were going to like us because we’re so different from their music and their sound. But we really got a lot of people from those shows. Maxamillion: It was really like a process of trying to win over the audience, because obviously no one sounds like The Hu. And so, the audience is always skeptical about what happens before them, and so we were able to win them over every night and it was a ton of fun to be able to do that.

You also actually did a European tour where we played with Palaye Royal. What was that experience like?

Maxamillion: Amazing. We had never been to Europe. Before then, we had been to Iceland for a really short vacation. We had never been to mainland Europe. And we went – and European audiences are really, really involved. They just dance – they’re much more carefree I’d say than some of the American audiences. You have to win them over a little bit more. But the European audiences were amazing. Anastasia: The first show we ever played with them was in Europe, and the fans already knew songs and already knew us. Maxamillion: They were super into it immediately. They knew our music before we even showed up there and we had never been there. It was awesome! Anastasia: And I was also their age, so they kind of related to me a lot. I was 15 when we first went out with them, and their fan base is like all teenage girls.

What was it like recording and then touring in the middle of a pandemic? I imagine a lot of these songs were recorded during that time.

Maxamillion: We recorded the Social Intercourse album with Matt Good right before the pandemic happened. So, we were ready to record that album and to start releasing it independently, but we didn’t know that the pandemic was going to happen. So, we went into lockdown mode, and we didn’t know what we were going to do for a while – and eventually we were sitting on the album for almost a year until we decided that we are going to start putting it out – fuck it! Anastasia: And we have a whole new pandemic album that we wrote during the time. Maxamillion: Yeah, so we wrote and produced an entire new record through the pandemic. Anastasia: Our last two songs Make Me King and Hollywood were recorded during that time. Maxamillion: We didn’t do any shows or anything like that through the pandemic – we didn’t want to put ourselves or anybody else in danger. But as soon as we got the green light, and we were able to figure out a way to tour safely with The Hu – we didn’t interact with audiences, and everyone had to be vaccinated in almost all the cities – so we were able to tour in a safe way. And now I think everyone is finally coming to the point like it’s basically over – knock on wood! So hopefully all of those restriction can start to be lifted and people can start to really let loose at shows and have a good time.

Let’s talk about a few of the songs. Make Me King. What was the inspiration behind that song?

Maxamillion: She just told me one day like “I wish I was King.” Anastasia: Yeah. I’ve always wanted to be king.

And so, you wrote a song about it

Anastasia: Well basically, Nick wrote a guitar riff – I was heartbroken, so that’s all it took. Maxamillion: Time to be mean… Anastasia: Time to be mean and rock and roll! Nick Lewert: And that’s how all rock songs are created – by heartbreak and guitar riffs. (Much laughter)

And let’s talk about one more song. Love You Better. What was the inspiration behind that one? More heartbreak? (Laughter)

Anastasia: To me, and I wrote it – it’s just about not being able to love someone the way they love you – and that sucks – but that’s what it’s about. Being… Maxamillion: ...being in a little bit of a predicament. Anastasia: Yeah. Maybe not loving someone, but not being able to be what someone needs. They want you to be what they need – and you’re not what they need. I say “I’ll love you better when I’m dead” – because it’s true! Maxamillion: Over my dead body…

So, what is the best and worst part about having a brother and sister in a band together.

Anastasia: Well, I despise him. (Much laughter) No… Maxamillion: Obviously, I think it’s a good thing. I say this a lot, because you’re always going to argue with someone in a band, but there’s this thing when it’s your sibling. It doesn’t matter if you argue. Anastasia: They have to stay! (laughs)

Yup, they’re not going anywhere…

Maxamillion: That’s what it is. And as funny as that sounds, that’s why it works so well because we can scream and yell and get angry at each other, but you’re still going to go back to working on the song five minutes later. And it is what it is. We live in the same house Nick: You’re not just going to kick each other out.

And Nick, how did you get involved with this brother and sister and this band?

Nick: I stumbled into them when they were looking for a drummer. I was in between projects, and I was in the right place at the right time back in 2018. Back in the Fall of 2017 was when I met them, and in the Spring of 2018, I was in the right place at the right time – and they haven’t kicked me out yet. They knew I was a drummer, and I came to a couple shows and we became friends. Anastasia: Also, we have a bassist – she’s not here right now. She’s in Florida right now. And we love her a lot. Her name is Nat Smallish, and we love her a lot.

And in closing, if the music of The Haunt were a donut, what kind would it be and why?

Anastasia: (After much debate between Nick, Maxamillion, and Anastasia) I’ll tell you what it is. It’s a normal donut, vanilla frosting with Oreo crumbles on top. I think that’s all of us together Maxamillion: Can it be filled with Oreo cream? Anastasia: If that’s what you think we are. But I feel like that’s right. It’s a black and white aesthetic. So yeah…

https://thehauntband.wixsite.com/thehaunt

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