Review: Karlie Bartholomew Finds Beauty in the Broken with 'Haunted House'

Americana artist Karlie Bartholomew delivers a beautifully intimate piece with her new single, "Haunted House." With a voice that feels like a soft confession and lyrics that pull at hidden corners of the heart, Karlie turns personal reflection into universal poetry.

Built around the stunning imagery of a mind haunted by lingering memories, "Haunted House" captures the complicated emotions of grief, regret, and hope. Lines like "All my yesterdays paint me with regret / Replaying all the things I should have said" hit with a gentle weight, making the song feel both timeless and achingly present.

There’s a homemade warmth to the production, recorded mostly by Karlie herself in her bedroom, with a beautiful touch of electric guitar contributed by her husband, Daniel Schimmel. Rather than feeling stripped down, the track feels intentionally raw, letting the emotion lead without being crowded by heavy instrumentation. The acoustic textures and airy arrangement create space for every word to land exactly where it should.

Listening to "Haunted House" feels a lot like stepping into the delicate emotional landscapes crafted by artists like Phoebe Bridgers, early Brandi Carlile, and Taylor Swift during her Folklore era. Much like Bridgers, Karlie has a gift for capturing the dream-like sadness and wrapping it in melodies that are haunting yet comforting.

Karlie's storytelling is vivid, with just a touch of mystery and restraint. She doesn’t dramatize her emotions; she trusts their rawness to speak for itself. She paints strong emotional pictures without spelling out every detail, allowing the listener to feel the weight and meaning for themselves.

Like the best songs from Folklore, "Haunted House" feels like opening an old letter you forgot you wrote: tender, bittersweet, and full of life’s unspoken moments. With her newest release, Karlie Bartholomew cements her place as one of Americana’s most compelling new voices, proving that sometimes the most powerful music comes from the quietest, most fragile truths. Vulnerable, elegant, and unforgettable, "Haunted House" is a stunning triumph and a must-listen for fans of poetic, soul-stirring songwriting.