Half The Animal - 'Magic'

The new single 'Magic' by Half The Animal is an infectious, addictive blast of pop, and the start of an exciting new project for HTA. 

Half The Animal is a pop-rock band from LA comprised of childhood friends Chase Johnson and Nick Gross- who you might remember from Open Air Stereo, a band which featured heavily on MTV's 'Laguna Beach'- as well as Dan Graham and Max Benson. They focus on crafting well written, catchy tunes in order to 'do right by music' after the MTV ordeal 'left a bad taste' in their mouths- and by God do they succeed. 

'Magic' symbolises the first glimpse from fans into Half The Animal's debut project, 'Automatic America'- an observation of the current generation; 'nostalgic for the innocence of a pre-Internet childhood, wrestling with the technology-obsessed society of today and searching for intimacy, authenticity, and meaning in a digital simulacrum.' If 'Magic' is representative of what HTA hope to achieve, it bodes well for what's to come.

Lyrically, 'Magic' details the search for the same 'magic' of shared misspent youths enjoying life to the full- reaching 'new heights', 'tripping' with 'blood shot eyes'. The song does a good job of conveying that same optimism and excitement in its music, with the beat bringing to mind the effect of strobe lights, of dancing the night away in a club, and the vocals- a mixture of raw and produced- lending themselves nicely to supporting that same image. 

Opening with an electronic beat that reverberates to your core, the song slowly builds up, with an unrepentant Chase detailing nights 'wasted' with 'bloodshot eyes' and the chorus, straight out of a beach party, just screams 'dance!' However, like the pre-chorus says, 'it's too much of everything'. The song at times is chaotic in its delivery, with what seems to be too much going on at once, an auditory overload of sorts. Despite this, however- or perhaps because of it- it demands multiple listens; the first to appreciate it and the rest out of sheer enjoyment.

Words by James O'Sullivan