Haunting Portraits is an Alternative Rock band out of Tampa, Florida, although when I asked them, they tended to lean towards the genre of “sad boy emo”. The band consists of Jaryd Rosenfeld (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Pat Thoenneissen (Guitar), Jack “Frantz” Rose (Bass/Vocals), and Jared Yerby (Drums). I first came across them when they reached out to me a little less than a year ago to check out their debut EP. I immediately fell in love with their sound and was pumped to be able to feature them on the blog. A few months later, I caught them at Amityville Music Hall and watched one of the most passionate, energetic sets I’ve seen! These guys are the real deal, and some of the most genuine people I’ve had the pleasure to meet, so of course when they reached out to me about covering their new music video for “Flamingo Dancing”, I had to say yes! This past week, I got the chance to interview Haunting Portraits and hear their take on the new music video!
Needless to say, the music video for “Flamingo Dancing” is awesome! Haunting Portraits released it a few days before Halloween. It is the perfect Horror/Comedic video for the season. The video starts off with the band sitting around a table together in a log cabin, attempting to remember their lines for the video. I loved this as the intro for the video because it gives the viewers a chance to see the fun/human side of the band. So often, people become infatuated with band’s without knowing a single thing about the members of it. I love that Haunting Portraits showed their sarcastic/humorous side, especially when Jaryd tells Jack that he sold his cell phone for “crack cocaine”!
Haunting Portraits told me they were going for an “80’s slasher” feel to the video and they hit the nail on the head. I immediately thought back to the Friday the 13th movies with Jason stalking his victims through the woods. As Jack leaves the cabin to search for his missing cellphone, he is immediately stabbed and killed. Something I have to note is the effects used during the video. The way they were able to make the blood and the injuries/murders look so realistic was pretty awesome. It’s not easy for an up-and-coming band to put out a video like this and have it turn out so well! The video continues on with the remaining members of the band each being murdered until no one is left alive but the murderer. A classic horror concept! In addition to this awesome video, “Flamingo Dancing” is a banger! If you know me, you know that I’m a sucker when it comes to songs that have heavier instrumentals and screaming vocals. The breakdown on this song makes me go nuts every time!
Last week I got the chance to sit down and chat with Haunting Portraits. Since they reside in Florida, we talked over Facebook Video Messenger (which I didn’t even know was a thing until the night of). What I anticipated being a short, maybe half hour conversation turned into almost two hours! That alone shows how personable and friendly these guys are. Not many bands would be willing to interview with a random dude from Long Island for two hours! The entire conversation felt natural and the guys had no problem joking around and acting like they were talking with someone they’ve known their entire lives. The topics ranged from music already released, future projects, voting, vaping, making a mess in the studio seconds after meeting with their producer, the wild shows they experienced on their first tour, etc.
Haunting Portraits had no problem telling me exactly how it’s been. When I asked what kind of attention the video has gotten since the release, they were quick to tell me how much their mom’s love the video. They also told me that the first comment they received on the video was from Bang Bros. Whether that was true or not, that is hilarious! Haunting Portraits went a little into the backstory of how “Flamingo Dancing”, as we know it from the EP, was created. Originally, the band didn’t include a lengthy breakdown like you currently hear on the track. The producer they worked with has an amazing ear for music, having experience working with all types of genres, both playing and producing. They played their version of “Flamingo Dancing” for him, and while he liked what he heard, he thought the heavy breakdown could be a stretched out a little longer. I am so happy he gave them that suggestion, because the breakdown on this song is killer!
I finally met Haunting Portraits in person last Winter/Spring while they were on tour to support their debut EP. While half way through the tour, the band had a night free and decided to book a show at Amityville Music Hall. I couldn’t believe this band from Tampa was coming to Amityville just to let us hear them play. I’m happy to say that Haunting Portraits labeled that as their best/favorite show on the tour. For the rest of the tour, it was very hit or miss. They were booked in venues that their genre of music had no business playing in, such as coffee shops and hookah bars, but they didn’t let that stop them! Despite playing for very little, or at times no people at all, Haunting Portraits came to the stage with the same high energy night after night. Hearing that there were nights that they played for no one at all took me by surprise. Now, when you hear what type of venues they were at, it comes as no surprise that people left the second the heavy bass line or a screaming vocal was hit. But all I wanted to know was how the hell did they still have enough confidence and drive to keep playing, even with no one watching. They said that they take each show almost like a band practice. Even though they weren’t playing for a sold out venue, they continued to play as if they were, gaining all the knowledge and experience they could. Thankfully, that tour gave Haunting Portraits the knowledge to know what kind of venues they should be playing and allowed them to tweak and perfect their set. Also, thank god they are no longer working with that tour manager who set them up for one of the most interesting/weird road trips they’ve probably ever been on.
When asked about the rest of their previously released music, as well as upcoming projects, the band said they like to take a more natural approach to the writing/recording process. While they do come in with material ready, a good amount of what ends up being recorded was decided while in the studio. I love that concept. People react differently to music, and to get a fresh ear and new ideas right then and there is so beneficial. Haunting Portraits is currently in the works of writing and recording new material. Their hope is to have a release by Summer/Fall and a supporting tour to follow! With inspiration that ranges from Microwave and Rozwell Kid to Movements, Underoath, and A Day to Remember, I cannot wait to see what the band has in store for us with this new project! Make sure you check out the music video for “Flamingo Dancing” and follow their social media to keep up to date with what’s happening! Check out music from Haunting Portrait’s debut EP, “Smile”, on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!