With a dazzling light show and dance choreography embedded in their aesthetics, half•alive reinvent the concept of a live music performance, making it truly remarkable to witness.

Mystical and eye-catching from start to finish, half•alive completely charmed the London crowd with their dreamy spectacle last week.

Setting a grandiose tone from the very first note, the trio slowly emerged out of the darkness to the sound of the solemn intro. With only a flashlight beam illuminating their silhouettes, the attention-grabbing maneuver worked as a trigger on the audience whose screams ricocheted off the walls in an instant.

Their unique blend of indie, electro-pop, dance-pop and alternative rock with elements from R&B, funk and soul has quickly garnered them critical acclaim and a fast-growing following, which reflects in the live form of the band.

Hinting at the conceptual elements of their aesthetics, the band kicked things off with ok ok?, the opener of their debut album Now, Not Yet, released in August this year, and concluded with its closing track creature, coming full circle in a stunning manner.

Rolling on fast-paced drums, RUNAWAY soared high with Josh’s velvety vocals and singalong choruses, whilst TrusT tantalised with groovy bass lines and sleek synths. Joined on stage by Samm Henshaw for their collab track Rest, the sulky beats had everyone swaying along to their dulcet vocal harmonies and funky rhythms. Acoustic ice cold. further added to the bliss that had been taking over the whole of Electric Brixton. The enthusiasm rocked even higher when the band went into spinning their breakthrough hit still feel. and 2017’s tracks The Fall and Aawake At Night.

Bathed in the kaleidoscopic neon glow, the visuals impressed as much as the music they played. Having enlisted the help of their dance choreographer and fellow dancers, it added vibrancy and texture to their performance with the audience fully participating in a surprising dance lesson. Bringing the string section along, a violin and a cello made for a stunning accompaniment to the already fascinating night.

“Thank you for your presence here tonight. This has been incredible”, Josh expressed before creature marked the grand finale of the show. Taking a last walk around the stage, subtly touching the three glowing balls (representative of each member of the band) as a way to say ‘goodbye’, the light dimmed together with the sound of the fading music.

With a sprinkle of magic on top, half•alive have appeared with an unmatched musical vision which materialise in front of our eyes every time they take to the stage. Seizing both listeners and viewers in a tight grip, their creativity and talent brings originality to the saturated scene, making us excited and eager to see what they come up with next.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka