The trio of lead singer Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer, and bassist J. Tyler Johnson formed “Half Alive” in Long Beach California in 2016. The band is popular for their 2018 breakthrough single “Still feel” which shook the American music industry together with its creatively choreographed music video.
Half Alive is still young in the American music industry, but that has not restricted the Indie-pop music band from releasing quality and inspirational songs with unique choreographed videos which have escalated their fanbase. The band has been active in the music scene for the past 7 years and currently has over 400 thousand YouTube subscribers.
Over the years, the band has released several songs that contain religious and psychological concepts. Some lyrics from their songs are usually ambiguous or subtle leaving listeners to give their individual interpretations of the song.
The numerous religious themes and Christian messages in their songs have always left listeners wondering if the band is a Christian band or not, especially with the release of “Creature” from the “Now, not Yet” album in 2019 which expressed deep beliefs in Christianity. This article will explore factors like; religious themes, messages, and expressions embedded in their songs. It will also examine the religious background and statements from members of the band to provide a suitable answer to this question.
Is Half Alive a Religious Band?
The trio of Taylor, Kramer, and Johnson have been very expressive of their religious backgrounds and beliefs. The band members have all confirmed that they come from Christian backgrounds and they believe in the Christian faith as also evident in their songs.
All members of the band have been identified as Christians. They all attend non-denominational churches. Singer Josh Taylor revealed that he met drummer Brett at a non-denominational church and invited him to join the band before bassist Johnson joined later in 2017. In his words “we all go to non-denominational churches, I believe that Christianity and science can peacefully coexist, so I guess we will believe that as God is our creator, he created science as well”.
They have made bold claims about their faith which has been very admirable to their fans. In several interviews, the trio has revealed that they believe in God and they get inspiration from religion, biblical messages, and faith-based messages to write their songs.
Many songs by Half Alive are considered religious because, in one way or the other, the band tries to weave faith-based messages and Christianity themes and beliefs into the songs. Some of their songs have been performed and played in churches and other religious gatherings.
Even the name of the band “Half Alive” passes a deep spiritual message. According to the lead singer of the group, the name was inspired by a film-theory college class that shared the tenet that “good and evil” are constantly twitching the human soul. In his words “one pushing you towards life(good), one dragging you towards death (evil) and leaving you half alive”. He mentioned that he got really interested in the message and decided to name the band “Half Alive”.
What kind of Music Band is Half Alive?
Half Alive is an American Indie-pop band currently signed by RCA records. Indie-pop is a genre of music that originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s. This genre of music is characterized by angst-free, less aggressive, and melodic vocals.
The band has also incorporated other styles and genres like; dance-pop, electronic rock, alternative rock, and electro-pop. These styles are characterized by strong and danceable beats, melodic and catchy lyrics, electronic instrumentation, and well-choreographed videos. The electro-pop involves the use of electronic and digital instruments for music production.
After the release of their single “Still Feel” in 2018 which brought them to the limelight, the band has consistently blessed listeners with soul-lifting, melodic, light-hearted, and thoughtful vocals laced around themes like; faith, religion, spirituality, tension, and anxiety, self-development, love and friendship, vulnerability and emotional intimacy, societal issues amongst others.
The band is also loved for its creatively choreographed music videos. The videos are usually funky with an aesthetic merge of colors and effects. In an interview with tmrw magazine, Josh Taylor revealed that dance seamlessly integrated itself into the character of the band and after their first successful experience with choreography, they adopted it full-time.
Half Alive now has 2 studio albums with the first released in 2019 and the most recent “Conditions of a Punk ” released in December 2022. The band also has 3 EPs and a number of singles.
Is Half Alive a Christian Band?
A Christian is a person who lives a Christ-like life. This means that their lifestyle reflects that of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Some may assume that frequent churchgoing depicts a Christian life, but this is wrong! A Christian believes in God, who is the father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and lives according to the teachings and beliefs of the Christian faith.
Similarly, the songs and practices of a Christian band must reflect the principles and beliefs of Christianity. Their songs must glorify the pillars of Christianity, and have biblical themes and messages. Members of the band must identify as Christians and this must be reflected in their lifestyles. These features can enable one to easily label them a Christian band.
Although some songs by Half Alive have a strong connection with Christianity, we can’t label the band a Christian band because they also have songs with other themes aside from Christianity. The trio sings about diverse relatable life experiences and psychological and societal issues.
Half Alive Christian Songs
With faith-based messages, religious themes, and biblical references commonly found in their songs, Half Alive is not without Christian songs. Some of their songs can be regarded totally as Christian songs while others contain some verses or lines that carry Christianity themes or messages. Below are some songs by Half Alive that are considered Christian songs:
- Creature: in “Creature” by Half Alive, the hope-filled lyrics are an expression of faith and hope in God. The artists try to assure humans that we were created for a purpose and that our creator looks out for us always. The songwriter recounts his belief in God and hopes that others can see through his life that there is hope for them as well.
“I know I’m made of clay that’s worn
Blighted by imperfect form
But I will trust the artist molding me
I am creation, both haunted and holy
Made in glory
even the depths of the night cannot blind.
Then You guide me, cause what comes
Creature only.
Early days and sleepless nights
Death and resurrection, life
My body is a sacred note
Sung between the flesh and hope…..
Before I took a single step
I’m looking forward to the day
When life can grow without decay
Humanity is not alone
When Jesus Christ sits on the throne
These hidden mirrors expose the mess
The selfish turns to selflessness
Haunted by a darker side
Transcends to walking in the light
And slowly I’m recovering
The beauty of discovery
I mean, that amount of glory
Does sound reasonably glorious”
- In “Trust” by Half Alive, the songwriter tells listeners that life can get scary sometimes but they should hold on to God and trust him because he has their best interest at heart and will take them to a safe place. Below are some lines from the song:
“Trust is a tree that towers fifty feet above us
Grown over time through many seasons
Believing in something more than just the surface
I trust that this is worth it
But my toes are hanging off the ledge
Lord, help me, there’s a thorn in my side
I feel the tension and the Fear in truth
I carry life in between the divide
But all the wrestling has left me bruised”
Some other songs considered “Christian” by Half Alive include; Still feel, Arrow, Pure Gold, etc.
Is Half Alive a Satanic Band?
Half Alive is not a Satanic band. A satanic band is one whose songs and lifestyles reflect Satanism, usually characterized by demon worship and glorification, dark lyrics, and terrifying themes.
Half Alive band does not possess any of the features listed above, as such, the band is not satanic. The trio have always identified with Christianity and have constantly acknowledged their love for God and the Christian faith.
Conclusion
Many listeners already consider Half Alive as a Christian band, they might not be wrong in their way. Besides, songs by the band glorify God and other pillars of Christianity. They also have deep spiritual themes and biblical references.
However, the band does not just sing songs with Christian messages, they have explored various themes like love, fear and anxiety, emotional intimacy, hope, and friendship amongst others. This forms the basis of our opinion that Half Alive is not a Christian band.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!