half•alive - Persona (Extended) (2025)

While it may seem evident from the title, half•alive’s new album Persona embodies a core element of music — humanity. The humans behind the band include lead singer Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer, and bassist J. Tyler Johnson, whose combined artistry proves to be enduringly genuine. The opening title track itself hints at the sonic stability and measured chaos to follow. With frenetic synths, the kind of chaos that exists in humanity is something half•alive manages to convey in subsequent songs like “Automatic.” After the thirty-two second title track (it’s short, but certainly not a skip), “Sophie’s House” follows after with a steady beat. It could easily be taken for granted, the kind of groovy foundation of drums and guitar that half•alive builds with each song. It quickly became clear to me that their dynamic range is a part of the sound; the contrast between verses and choruses is often sonically drastic, but doesn’t feel jarring either. It’s an album sure to captivate crowds, and casual listeners who simply can’t resist a good beat. To say the least, hearing this piece of art live would certainly be incredible.

In listening to Persona all the way through, the song I was most excited to replay was “Bleed It Out.” Not only did I get chills on the first listen, but the thoughtful lyrics and production may just be my favorite on the album. It’s a sound that feels somewhat reminiscent of 2010’s electronic pop, while still reinventing itself with distorted guitar and shouted refrains of “bleed it out!” Choruses like this one soar. It’s a kind of freeing appeal to listen to your heart, while still lyrically maintaining an ambiguity left up to the interpretation of the listener. “People” contemplates the idea of sonder (the realization that every human has their own lives and personal experiences), while synthesizers and vocal layers create a lush soundscape leading into the second chorus. It’s artfully crafted, and so clearly full of intentional lyrics and sound dynamics. I know it's a song I’ll be analyzing for some time to come.