Photo: Christos Markou

The band name half·alive is rather deceptive – there’s nothing “half” about what these guys do. The 3-piece group out of Long Beach, CA, combines hyperactive drum beats, funk-inspired bass grooves, and rhythmic-but-fluid vocals to create a refreshing reboot of modern indie rock. On the back of their landmark single “still feel.” in 2018, the trio has released “RUNAWAY” with an accompanying music video along with the announcement of their debut full-length album Now, Not Yet to be released in Aug. 2019.

“RUNAWAY” fits perfectly as a follow-up release to “still feel.” While the latter presents a dancing bassline that morphs into a heavy, synth-packed chorus, “RUNAWAY” maintains these elements of half·alive’s signature sound while presenting a composition that feels deliberately different from its predecessor. The landmark of this latest release is drummer Brett Kramer’s whirlwind beat of snare drum and cymbals, a feature which opens the track and maintains momentum throughout its duration. Over the erratic percussion, singer Josh Taylor reveals feelings of uncertainty, confessing, “All my life out in front of me, dreams of who I wanna be / Seeing every empty page / But I find that everything I am is everything I shouldn’t be / but I don’t need to run away.” The accompanying music video, directed by Carlos López Estrada (Billie Eilish, Father John Misty, Blindspotting), reflects this sentiment, depicting a room slowly shrinking around its occupant as she considers her decisions.

On top of the impending album release, half·alive will be embarking on an ambitious international tour that runs from the end of June through mid-November. The endeavor will feature sold-out headline shows in the US, Australia, and Europe, alongside a handful of festival appearances. If you happen to be attending Lollapalooza in 2019, be sure to check out half·alive at their Ones to Watch-produced after show on July 31; but in the meantime, take a moment to reflect with the video for “RUNAWAY.”