“Anxiety” doesn’t whisper about pain, it shouts it, throws it into a ska-fueled frenzy, and then dances all over it. In their first original release, Haus of Sound kicks the door wide open with a sonic declaration that’s part confession, part catharsis, and entirely electrifying.
Hailing from Everett, WA, this female-fronted band blurs the boundaries of indie rock, punk, ska, and cinematic electro-pop, churning them into something that feels like a deep breath during a panic attack, both overwhelming and desperately needed. It’s loud, it’s theatrical, and it doesn’t apologize for the chaos. It embraces it!
Lead vocalist Gabrielle Burton delivers a performance that doesn’t just sing anxiety, it survives it. From the very first line “I’m feeling claustrophobic”, her voice trembles and roars through each verse, clenching tight to vulnerability without ever letting it consume her. There’s an almost noble quality to her delivery, a rebel queen on a mission to reclaim mental space!
Musically, “Anxiety” is a pressure cooker. Bursting ska rhythms give it bounce, while gritty guitars and warping synths push everything toward the edge. The chorus punches through with desperate clarity:
“(Anxiety) / I wish that I could fucking breathe / This shallow breath is scaring me…”
Then comes the release:
“One day I will finally be free.”
It’s not polished perfection, it’s intentional chaos, mirroring the spirals that define anxious moments. The song doesn’t try to fix anything; it simply validates; and in doing so, it becomes its own kind of therapy.
Behind the scenes, the song carries extra weight. Written by Gabrielle while navigating both her own anxiety and her husband’s battle with stage 4 cancer, “Anxiety” doubles as a lifeline, a fierce insistence that art can still bloom in grief-stricken soil. There’s grit here, but there’s also color, humor, and defiant hope.
If this is the opening statement, then Haus of Sound isn’t just a new band, they’re a new force. With their debut album Campfire Stories on the horizon, expect more of this genre-bending, emotionally powerful storytelling. Fans of Paramore, Muse, and The Interrupters will find familiar fuel here, as Haus of Sound doesn’t follow footsteps, they ignite trails!
In “Anxiety,” they remind us of something vital: even when it feels impossible, there’s still rhythm in the panic. And one day, you will surely be free!
