The Haunted Youth

The Haunted Youth

The Haunted Youth is a Belgian psych pop band/project based in Alken, active since 2020 and signed to Mayway Records. The line-up includes Joachim Liebens, Nick Caers, Stef Castro, Hanne Smets and Tom Stokx.

Style and background

The group works in dream pop, psychedelic and shoegaze, with an indie pop and indie rock edge. Its sound is built around lush, slow-moving arrangements and reflective lyrics.

Joachim Liebens and the project

The band is centred on Joachim Liebens, who writes the songs and uses the project to express personal feelings in both the music and the lyrics. He comes from Hasselt, Belgium.

Early recognition

The Haunted Youth gains attention in 2021 with the debut single “Teen Rebel”. Later singles including “Coming Home”, “Gone” and “Shadows” build on that profile. The band also attracts notice outside Belgium, including in Europe and the US, and receives praise from NME, KEXP and Consequence, alongside strong support on Spotify.

Influences

The project’s sound is compared with the shoegaze of Slowdive, the dream pop of Beach House and the more subdued indie rock of Current Joys.