halflight?

“The new jewel in the crown of Welsh music” Big Issue

In 2004, halflight’s debut release, ‘Subside’ e.p. signalled the arrival of a rare new talent. Centred around the heart-breaking vocals of Sarah Howells, Halflight take acoustic and electric guitars and cello and transform them into a compelling and emotive sound.

Halflight write songs of delicate, haunting beauty based around the powerful and emotive vocals of songwriter and founder Sarah Howells. In seemingly simple songs of loss and re-emergence, the band fuse guitars, cello, drums and vocals, to create a sound that is at once richly resonant and thoroughly compelling.

It's been a busy 12 months. Having supported acts such as James Morrison, Gossip, Sandi Thom, Johnathan Rice, Jonah Matranga, Liberty X and The Cheeky Girls, the Halflight sound has reached many different audiences. The band have also been working on new material with Finnish production team The Animal Farm (Atomic Studios, Bermondsey) and legendary mix engineer Head (PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, Kathryn Williams).

Halflight began at the end of 2003 after Sarah Howells previous band Jylt, tragically came to an end. Bassist, singer and best friend, Nia George had been diagnosed with Leukaemia and eventually died of the illness at only 21. Despite the indescribable sense of loss and despair this brought, Sarah was compelled to continue writing and performing and out of this, Halflight was born. Halflight began at the end of 2003 after Sarah Howells’ previous band Jylt, tragically came to an end. Bassist, singer and best friend, Nia George had been diagnosed with Leukaemia and eventually died of the illness at only 21. Despite the indescribable sense of loss and despair this brought, Sarah was compelled to continue writing and performing and out of this, Halflight was born.

With a sound that manages to merge bands such as Coldplay and with someone like Cat Power, it’s not surprising Halflight have wide appeal without being mainstream.