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Tour Bus Playlist: Half Alive’s essential tracks
The Californian trio are currently touring across the UK celebrating their debut album release.
Having kicked off 2019 with the release of breakout single still feel, Californian trio Half Alive are now touring across the UK off the back of their well-received debut full-length Now, Not Yet.
The twelve track record, released in August, blends sun-kissed indie-pop with a range of poignant themes. still feel, reaching the Top 10 on the stateside alternative chart upon release, has almost 30 million views on YouTube and a further 50 million streams on Spotify.
Now, as they tour across the UK until 17 November 2019, Half Alive have picked their favourite tracks that soundtrack their time on the road.
Bon Iver – Hey, Ma
Brett Kramer: “For our tour we actually rerouted our bus in Toronto to be able to see the Bon Iver concert. I loved the song when it first came out but seeing it live really deepened my connection to it. It’s now one of the songs I put on when we do yoga before our shows.”
Hobo Johnson – Sorry, My Dear
Brett Kramer: “Our schedule moves so fast on tour that it is hard for me to process certain things. For example, how long I’ve been away from loved ones at home doesn’t quite hit me until I finally get home and see the changes of my absence for the past 5 plus weeks. Although I don’t resonate with the lyrical content exactly, the mood of the song puts me in a headspace that allows me to slow down and process things outside of tour life.”
Expression58 Worship – First Love
J Tyler: “First Love is a song I come back to frequently on this tour to help start my day. The message helps me find some peace and stillness in all the craziness of each day.”
Jordan Rakei – May
J Tyler: “May is a song I have come to a few times through tour in Europe when we are traveling for long drives. It’s minor harmonies and repetitive drum loop brings me to a headspace that is ample for enjoying the sights.”
Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
Josh Taylor: “I mean, come on. This song is just brilliant. This tour the song got mentioned somehow in the green room before the show and the five of us who were in the room one by one joined in harmony until the room shook with the chorus. I’ve since deduced that there’s no bad time to listen to it.”
Lane 8 – Little By Little
Josh Taylor: “Our photographer JAR was editing to this song after the show in Portland, OR. I quickly picked it up and was jamming it before the next show to get in the right energy.”
Leif Vollebekk – Never Be Back
Josh Taylor: “Been waiting for this record for awhile now, it just happened to be released during our European side of the Now, Not Yet tour, so my first listen was right before the show in Warsaw. The fans for that show ended up being very wild in such a fun way for the entirety of our set that I think I’ll forever connect the sweet soft grooves and tranquil flowing voice of Leif on this track with the contrasted high energy of that show in Poland.”
Half Alive tour across the UK on the following dates:
12 November 2019 – Electric Brixton, London
13 November 2019 – O2 Institute 3, Birmingham
14 November 2019 – Gorilla, Manchester
16 November 2019 – Green Room at The Academy, Dublin
17 November 2019 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
Remaining tickets for Half Alive in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.