There’s a lot of beauty in the simple things.
That’s something I gathered from listening to the acoustic guitar-driven indie-folk song, “Camera” by Haunted Summer. Soft, gentle, and relaxing, this song seems to reflect a love letter from a deep and personal relationship but could also be interpreted to exemplify a beautiful and wholesome friendship. But it’s more than just folky and chill; it’s also pretty psychedelic and dreamy, which is why this song is both calm and ethereal simultaneously, making a singular listen feel like you’re being wrapped in a warm hug.
“All I ever want is here with you // All I ever need is here with you”
The song’s lyrics are quite repetitive, but not in a bad way. Haunted Summer repeats some words and lines frequently and stylistically in such a way that it’s reminiscent of constant reassurance. “Camera” feels like a promise delivered by someone close and dear to you that everything is going to be okay, that they care about you, and that you don’t need to worry.
But it’s not like the song was thrown together sloppily. It’s carefully crafted to create this feel. Some of the best psychedelic songs are simple in lyricism, but complex in production, and that’s kind of what I was getting through each listen. The song’s layered, harmonizing vocals sort of fade into the instrumentals, so it’s like you’re being serenaded by a bunch of different things all at once. And while this sounds chaotic, I can assure that it’s not; in fact, this is like a chorus singing directly to you.
In a way, I guess it’s simple on the surface, but it’s really not when you think about it.
In fact, if you were to ask Haunted Summer how they’d describe their music, I bet they’d say the same thing. The band aims to create a number of different emotions and sounds that come together to create one intense experience. They describe themselves as “peaceful as the quaintest dwelling” (which in itself sounds like a warm hug) and “harmonically challenging,” both in the same sentence in their Spotify biography. It makes for a really unique sound.
The group’s next upcoming release, Whole, is set for June this year, and I’m hoping for some more songs like this one. With its merging of genres and styles, I expect more dream-poppy sounds with some really personal and emotional lyrics. And whether it’s got the most simple songs in the world or the most complex, produced, strategic ones, I’m sure I’ll love it either way.
