In late 2021, I interviewed a promising new band out of California called BlakLight. They were enjoying magnificent response to their debut album—especially its COVID-era single “Isolation”—and preparing to release the follow-up, Into the Void. Their music felt infectious, timely, and remarkably polished for such a new act.
Five years later, BlakLight has added a third member, is preparing to release their fourth studio album, and could easily be counted among the best synthpop bands in the world. In many ways, BlakLight and Synthpop Fanatic have grown up together. We both emerged during the pandemic, found our footing in uncertain times, and built loyal followings. They’re the band I check in with most often, the one I’ve championed the hardest.
The future looks bright for BlakLight. On December 5, they’ll release The Haunting of Us, one of the most anticipated synthpop albums of the year. They’re also about to embark on their first European tour, heading to a part of the world where dark synthpop thrives. To help fund the trip, they’ve launched an intricate Kickstarter campaign with nearly 50 reward tiers. You can support them here.
I caught up with BlakLight to talk about the new album, the tour, and their creative evolution. Here’s what they told me.
BlakLight’s first album captured the isolation of the COVID years, then the second explored the uncertainty and paranoia of post-COVID. What feeling or era does The Haunting of Us capture?
Adam Collier: The world still feels off. It’s a continuation of the first two albums and about what remains after everything falls apart. We lost time, connection, and pieces of ourselves. That doesn’t disappear just because the world reopens. The haunting is human—it’s the weight of memory, the love that didn’t survive distance, the grief no one talks about anymore. This album doesn’t try to escape that darkness. It sits with it, learns from it, and finds a way to keep feeling in a world that went numb.
Brian Belknap: The Haunting of Us explores themes of loss. Overall, it’s a much darker album than our previous releases—with very little light at the end of the lyrical tunnel.
Omar Quiñones: The Haunting of Us is an evolution of sound between all of our collective talents and strengths. Together as a band, we have learned from each other what the vision and message we are trying to convey. With exposure to many bands we have supported over the last several years, we are taking snippets of what I think works well and tweaking them to our style.
You made your debut in a year and followed up quickly with Into the Void. This time, it took four years. How did that longer timeline shape the album?
Adam: The earlier projects came out of pure momentum—we were creating and releasing. The four years added more depth and intention to the sound and the lyrics.
Brian: Once life returned to normal after lockdown, finding time to write and record became more challenging. Our original plan was to compile all our standalone singles (“A Stranger Calls,” “Blinded By The Sun,” “Innocence Lost,” “Coma,” “Wicked Face,” and “Prey”) with a few new tracks. But as time went on, we decided to start fresh. All of the album’s lyrics—except for “Blind Vision”—were written earlier this year.
Omar: I think taking our time has been a good thing for us. Coming into the band a little later, Adam and Brian had already done a very good job growing BlakLight as a brand. Taking the time necessary to create soundscapes that the band hadn’t really touched on before. The new material is still definitely BlakLight, we just embraced more complex thinking about each approach to the individual tracks and ran with it. So far we are very happy with what we are achieving.
You’re on your third proper album. Omar has joined the band. How has your creative process evolved?
Adam: Omar’s contributions—backing vocals, extra musical layers—bring a new dimension to the songs. Ideas grow in ways I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. His energy and creativity push the band into spaces that add more layers and dynamics.
Brian: In many ways, our process hasn’t changed: Adam still records instrumentals and sends them to me for lyrics and vocal melodies. Omar originally joined as a live member, but we quickly realized what a great addition he is in the studio. He’s added killer backing vocals, synth parts, and even takes lead vocals on a new track, “Under the Surface.”
Omar: When I first met Brian and Adam, I felt that there was an instant connection. Though I had my own project (Vain Machine), the one that was missing for me was collaborating with others. One of the things I love about the band is that we come from different bands and backgrounds, which I think has helped us work in a capacity that is comfortable, yet getting down to business when it’s needed. One of the things I love is singing. It’s a very emotional part of me when I share my voice with the world. Brian and I complement each other well. I’ve been bringing some elements to the tracks to build on the sound that Adam starts with, and that brings it all together.
Let’s talk about the title: The Haunting of Us. I know you’ve had it for a few years now—why has that title stayed with you for so long? And who is us?
Adam: The title The Haunting of Us always felt bigger than one story. It’s about how we’re all haunted—not just by people we’ve lost, but by the versions of ourselves we’ve outgrown, by choices, by the world we’ve built and broken. “Us” isn’t just two people; it’s everyone. It stayed with me because it kept feeling relevant—every time I thought I’d moved past it, something in life or in the world reminded me that we’re still living with our ghosts.
Brian: Adam came up with the title years ago, though I’ve never asked if it holds any personal meaning for him. I did, however, write lyrics for the album track, which is one of the few songs not to include the title in the lyrics.
Omar: I think the title is fitting for the world we are living in today. With much uncertainty, this album feels like we are pouring our hearts out to connect with our fans and to exorcise some demons we all have. In some ways, it’s like peeling off layers of an onion to get to the core.
I want to hear from each one of you: What’s your favorite song from the album and why?
Adam: “Leave a Light On” is my favorite because it’s the song where the album’s themes hit their deepest point. It’s about being haunted by someone or something that’s gone, feeling the weight of absence, and yet still holding onto the tiniest trace of connection—that “light” that refuses to go out. Writing it was like standing in that shadow, acknowledging the loss, the silence, the emptiness, and finding a fragile truth in it. Musically and lyrically, it’s raw, intimate, and unflinching—it’s the track where the haunting feels most real.
Brian: My favorite track is the last one we wrote—and the first on the album—“Everything’s Gone Wrong.” We’d already locked in the ten songs for the album, but Adam sent me this one, suggesting it might be the opener. I hesitated at first—it’s moody and feels more at home on our instrumental album tHE pADDED rOOM. And in the streaming era, opening with a slow burner isn’t always the best move. But it perfectly sets the stage and captures the album’s tone. It’s also one of the few times (along with “Control”) where Adam sent partial lyrics and melodies, so it was a rare, even more collaborative moment.
Omar: That’s an easy one for me. Hands down, “Leave A Light On.” I think it came together beautifully, and I couldn’t stop listening to it once we were done. The vocal work is fantastic, every part of the song feels right.
You’re heading to Europe in 2026 for your first international tour. How did you choose the locations? How are you preparing? How are you feeling?
Brian: We’re thrilled to be playing a major German festival next year (details TBA) and working on several UK dates. According to the algorithm, we have more listeners in Germany than anywhere else—we can’t wait to finally play there!
Omar: For the most part, Brian handles the booking for the band. We have been lucky to play alongside bands we admire. I think the one thing that makes touring and playing shows is seeing other bands we are friends with. It’s like being a part of an extended family. It’s a very touching experience for me, so anytime we are playing in another city, it’s just cool hanging with people you know—not to mention seeing other bands perform live. Brian is a natural at being a frontman, and his energy on stage makes every show we do special. He’s definitely a dancer and loves to interact with people. This will be my first time in Germany, and it’s something we have been waiting for to have the opportunity to play. It’s literally a dream come true.
Your Kickstarter campaign to fund the tour is unlike any Kickstarter I’ve ever seen! Supporters can choose everything from patches and shirts to a cover song of their choice. If you could create one totally out-there reward for your Kickstarter—no budget constraints, no limits—what would it be?
Adam: If there were no limits, I’d create a fully immersive experience where a backer could step into the world of The Haunting of Us. Imagine a night where the album comes alive around you—every song unfolding in a room designed just for it, with lights, visuals, and even scents that match the mood of each track. You’d literally walk through the album. And at the end, you’d leave with a custom piece of art or music made just for you. Total sensory overload—the ultimate way to live inside the music.
Brian: It would be fun to bring a fan to Europe with us!
Omar: One of the things I’m working on is documenting how I record and the process behind the scenes. We work from different locations, so I think this is one of the best ways to see us in action and have fun with it. I know a lot of bands already do this, but having it also be interactive would be fun. It would give fans the opportunity to ask questions. I’m self-taught, and never took any lessons. If I had access to the bands I loved growing up with, I think that would have been extremely satisfying.
