Aura Davis is back with another powerful performance on her latest single, “Haunt Me.” The track is another in a string of songs that have been quickly establishing the Swiss singer-songwriter’s distinct sound – dark, emotive, and haunting.
Davis’ music is not grand or extravagant or indulgent; in fact it is very simple and elementary, yet it is perfect. On “Haunt Me,” the guitar/bass/drums don’t give you much but somehow it is still more than enough. The rhythm section is so eerily ghost-like in its unrelenting consistency, creating the perfect foundation for Aura’s tired, tortured voice to linger. The band never creeps above a murmur, giving Aura total control over the song’s dynamics and letting her scream, cry, and mumble at will with dramatic effect. This track in particular is a masterclass in tension and release, with the first 90% of the song offering no hints of any sort of resolution. The sonic payoff comes after the bridge with the entire band going all in as if to purge any leftover anguish still pent up deep down. It’s finally the moment we’ve been waiting for, and it is cathartic.
The song is about a breakup that comes as a surprise, leaving the singer lost, confused, and wondering what could have gone wrong. In fact, she’s still in denial about the whole thing: “You said it in a simple way, I still hear you/Said you had to go away, but I still feel you.” One of Aura’s gifts is taking her words off the page and transforming them into a melody that feels so true and natural, and which couldn’t come from any other artist but her. She has such a deep connection to her music and lyrics and that magical bond is palpable when you listen to her sing.
Aura Davis really started gaining momentum at the end of 2021, and in 2022 she’s firing on all cylinders. It’s exciting to think how good she will be a year from now. She is becoming a special, singular artist with a unique sound of her own and the sky’s the limit.
Written by Tim Clark
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