The Haunting of the Modern Indie Scene
Salt Lake City’s The Kilans have always been masters of the sing-along heartache, but their new single "Haunt Me" feels like a ghost story told in high-definition. Known for a raw, high-energy sound that blends the grit of Y2K indie-sleaze with the melodic warmth of surf-rock, the band has hit a new, more atmospheric stride with this release. It captures that specific, suffocating feeling of a memory that refuses to stay buried, trading in their usual sunshine-tinted riffs for something significantly more nocturnal and heavy.
"Haunt Me" doesn't just play; it settles in the room like a thick fog. The track moves with a deliberate, mid-tempo pulse that feels like a cautious heartbeat. Frontman Jack Ongman delivers a vocal performance that is both desperate and resigned, his voice fraying at the edges as he pleads with a memory to either stay or finally vanish.
The song is built on a foundation of clean yet dirty guitar tones. Jacob Shultz’s lead work provides a shimmering, delay-soaked counter-melody that dances around Ongman’s rhythm chords, creating a sense of vast, empty space.
The bridge is the song's emotional peak—a swell of crashing cymbals and distorted bass from Cooper Brezoff that mimics the feeling of a sudden panic attack before collapsing back into a hauntingly quiet final chorus.
It is neon-noir indie. It evokes the feeling of a late-night drive through a city that feels too big, where every streetlamp reflects a face you're trying to forget.
Since their viral breakout with "Why Is It Light Out?", The Kilans have been labeled the torchbearers of the Utah indie scene. However, "Haunt Me" signals a departure from the surf-rock comparisons that followed their early work. By leaning into a darker, more cinematic production style, they are distancing themselves from the beach-pop aesthetics of the West Coast and embracing a grittier, more Midwestern emotional weight.
Joining the Mom + Pop roster has clearly given the band room to experiment. Where their previous EP, In Transit, felt like a collection of high-energy live staples, "Haunt Me" is a studio-crafted evolution. It positions them alongside bands like The Backseat Lovers but adds a layer of gothic intensity that feels uniquely their own.
"Haunt Me" is a hauntingly beautiful reminder that the things we lose often take up the most space. It’s a track that lingers long after the final chord fades, cementing The Kilans as one of the most versatile voices in modern rock.
The Kilans are currently on the road and will be performing a special headline set at Oblivion in Los Angeles on February 14, 2026, followed by a hometown show at the Utah State Fairpark this May. You can grab tickets and stream the new single on their offical website.
