Within the underground of the music industry, there are figures that are so enigmatic and mysterious that they become something out of myth. There is no better example of artists lurking behind the scenes in music like cryptids than Salem, the underground electronic duo that appears every few years in a set of grainy photos uploaded to their Instagram, like a sighting of Bigfoot, before disappearing again like they were never there.
So when Salem released their first album in six years, coinciding with a collaboration with Supreme, their return to the public eye shocked many. So who are these artists that are almost supernatural, haunting the mainstream with their influence for years, but when someone asks “have you heard of Salem?” almost no one says yes.
Red Dragon and Supreme Collab
Salem took to Instagram for the first time in almost four years to announce their collab with Supreme, releasing a teaser featuring shots of snakes slithering across piles of money. Alongside the release of Supreme’s Spring collection, Salem quietly released their first album in six years, Red Dragon. This album came as a surprise to fans, with no singles and no prior announcement. The album is a 31-song compilation, which gathers previously unreleased tracks from the band’s early days, and has a total run time of an hour and 41 minutes.
Who Are Salem?
So who are these artists who managed to secure a collab with Supreme despite not releasing an album for six years? Salem formed in 2006 by Jack Donoghue, John Holland, and Heather Marlatt in Chicago. The band’s subversive nature was apparent right from the start when they released their first EP in 2008 under the title Yes I Smoke Crack, showing the industry that they were perfectly fine with never touching the mainstream.
Salem pioneered the witch house genre, a genre which draws from and uses elements of the horror genre, from sampling soundbites from horror films, to distorted and dark basslines. Thegroup incorporates these elements into an already heavy blend of electronic sounds and Southern rap. All three members of Salem lend vocals to different tracks, and each member has a distinct style, which diversifies the range of sounds under the witch house umbrella, from Donoghue’s low-pitched rap to Marlatt’s wispy and ethereal vocals.
Salem’s Lasting Influence
Salem released their first album, King Night, in 2010, and shortly after, in 2012, they went inactive, but they had already cemented their influence. While Salem never garnered large-scale attention, they have influenced many figures who have reached greater heights and shaped hip-hop as a whole. Salem largely influenced Yung Lean, the Swedish rapper who has had a large influence on modern rap. Yung Lean has also influence pop due to his friendship with Charli XCX, and some have credited him for discovering Travis Scott. Donoghue even worked alongside Kanye West, producing tracks on Yeezus, where Salem’s influence is clear to many; however, Donoghue stated in 2020 that he had not been paid for his work.
The recent Supreme collection was not the first time Salem has influenced the fashion world. Back in 2025, Gucci used Salem’s track “Frost” in an advertisement for their Altitude campaign. This track features Marlatt’s vocals, and received her support via Instagram.
Donoghue in particular has also made many appearances in public for his wild dating history. Donoghue appeared alongside rock icon Courtney Love in 2011. More recently, Donoghue also made headlines for his relationship with Lana Del Rey in 2022. The pair went public after posting a photo together outside the Cook County Jail in Chicago, confirming the rumors.
Fires In Heaven and Marlatt’s Departure
In 2020, the band miraculously returned, releasing their first album since 2010, Fires In Heaven. Marlatt was absent from this album, and Marlatt took to Instagram to state that she was being forced out by Donoghue and Holland.
Marlatt’s departure from the band has drummed up some controversy, and now with the release of Red Dragon, it has resurfaced. Marlatt’s performed the vocals on a number of tracks, including “Withoutu,” a somber electronic cover of “When You’re Gone” by The Cranberries. Marlatt did not receive credit for her contribution to the album, and following the album’s release, she took to Instagram again in a post that seemed to reference the lack of inclusion in the project.
In a recent interview, Marlatt was asked if she has had contact with her other bandmates, and she stated that she chooses not to speak with them. Marlatt posts on Instagram fairly often, in stark contrast to the mysterious nature of the remaining members, and her focus has shifted away from music, instead focusing on her family and her farm in Michigan.
With the band’s return to the public eye, the question “Who are Salem?” has been circulating the internet once again. It is likely that, after this appearance, they will once again retreat into the shadows, but the music industry as a whole has felt their presence, as their influence still haunts music to this day.
