Recommended if you like: Deftones, Nirvana, Superheaven, Destroy Lonely, Sweet Spine
Standout tracks: “Ghosts,” “Slowing Down,” “Lost,” “Search,” “Blind”
Scarlet House is a young independent artist from Charlotte, North Carolina that made his musical debut in 2021. His sound beautifully blends R&B, grunge, and occasionally rap in a way that makes you want to wear out your record player. He has recently caught the attention of the world, earning tens of millions of streams and recognition from heavy hitters like including Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst and Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch.
Drawing inspiration from the brooding atmosphere of Deftones, The Cure, and Nirvana while weaving in contemporary rap adjacent influences from Lucki and Destroy Lonely, Scarlet House has cultivated a sound which doesn’t really sound like anyone else right now. After a breakout 2025 that included sold-out debut headline performances in New York and Los Angeles, a full North American headline tour through intimate venues, and a direct support slot for Jutes, he enters 2026 with growing momentum and even more on the horizon.
Homecoming (HERE), his 13-track album released in November 2024, is the perfect soundtrack to a gray and rainy afternoon. The songs flow together so naturally that even if you wanted to, skipping one would be a crime. Relatable themes of falling out of love, wanting to isolate or escape, and personal growth beautifully compliment the moody guitars and melodies. This album gives the same feeling of listening to an early 2000’s emo album, but with a grunge/R&B twist.
“Ghosts” is the clear standout on the album. It felt like he was singing through his pain of relationship loss in real time. While listening to “Search,” I thought my playlist accidentally switched to “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters, as the guitar melody is quite similar, but lyrically it packs an emotional gut punch. Hitting on the earlier mentioned theme of wanting to escape (in this case, his own mind), the line “always losing to myself” is something that stuck with me long after I turned the album off as it is so relatable.
Homecoming does a great job of drawing the listener in and making them feel every single emotion Scarlet House felt while writing and recording this album. It is quite a sad roller coaster, but one you will want to revisit over and over again.
Scarlet House is headed on the road soon to support Flawed Mangoes — dates below if you’re able to catch a show, we highly recommend!
