Interview: Get to Know Halfway Down

Interview with Blake - Lead vocals/guitar of Halfway Down

What first got you into music?

Guitar Hero 1. My dad plays guitar. My grandpa played multiple instruments and sang a lot. For some reason, music and playing guitar never clicked with me until I played guitar hero 1.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

We usually describe Halfway Down as somewhere between Blink-182 and A Day To Remember. It’s melodic pop-punk and emo with heavier easycore elements. It's polished enough to feel current but still rooted in the rawness and energy of the music we grew up with.

Was there a defining moment when you realized music was your calling?

When my family and friends started singing my songs. I remember I got a video of my mom, dad, sisters and brothers (I have 7 siblings) all in the same car listening to Halfway Down and singing along. I literally cried watching the video.

Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics or melodies?

It comes from anxiety, relationships, regret, and all the emotions people have without being able to voice them. For us, songwriting is therapy. I bring in a punk or indie idea from my huge backlog of demos, and Shawn refines the structure, transitions, and adds in all the meaty breakdowns and stuff.

How do you balance personal expression and creating something your audience will love?

Our rule is that we make music we want to hear. We don’t start by trying to write a song about a certain thing. We start with something that sounds exciting to us, then work on making the melody, structure, and chorus as strong as possible. We trust that if it genuinely connects with us, it will connect with someone else too.

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?

Selling out Pilllar Forum in Minneapolis with When the Sun Sets, was probably the clearest moment where everything felt real. Hearing a packed room sing our songs back to us was incredible.

Are there any specific milestones you’re working toward in your career?

We want to keep growing into larger and larger Twin Cities shows, expand throughout the Midwest, and build a team around the band.

How do you prepare for a show or tour?

Show days usually start pretty relaxed. We might meet up for breakfast and grab a Bloody Mary before heading to rehearsal. We’ll run through the set once, spending extra time on any songs or transitions that feel like they need work. After that, we check our gear, load everything up, and make sure the merch is fully stocked. Cam owns a shirt press, so if we’re running low, he’ll personally print more shirts before the show. Then we head to the venue for load-in, meet the sound engineer, get settled, and hang out with the other bands until doors open.

What’s the most unusual or memorable thing that’s happened to you on stage?

Either the time that I said 6-7 on stage and got booed by the entire crowd but then they did a circle pit shortly after for us, or the time that my locking guitar strap broke and fell off and I dropped my pick at the same time, so I played an entire song while strumming with my fingers and holding my guitar, while also doing breakdowns and jumping around.

Can you tell us about your latest project or release?

Our latest single is “Want You,” released July 3, 2026. It was our 13th original release and shows the brighter, catchier side of Halfway Down. Our releases have largely worked as snapshots of where the band was at the time. Rather than waiting several years between projects, we’ve focused on releasing singles consistently and giving each song its own identity.

Are there any collaborations in the works you’re excited about?

None that I'm going to share yet ;)

What message or emotion do you hope people take away from your music?

More than anything, we want people to feel understood. A lot of us grew up without always having the language or space to process anxiety, regret, memory, and other difficult emotions. Our songs aren’t necessarily there to solve those feelings. Sometimes they’re just there to sit beside you while you work through them.

Who are you listening to right now?

When I'm not listening to my own demos to work them into real songs, I'm currently listening to Jeff Rosenstock, Prince Daddy and the Hyena, Linus, Combat, Tiny Moving Parts, Heart To Gold, and Say Anything.

How do you see your music evolving in the next few years?

We want to become more emotionally detailed and musically dynamic. The big choruses and pop-punk energy aren’t going anywhere, but all I can say is that the next era of the band will bring less conventional song structures and moments that feel more vulnerable.

How do you handle the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity?

Our idea is simple: we make music we want to hear. Commercial success would give us the ability to make more music, play more shows, and reach more people, but it only matters if people are still connecting with something that still feels real to us.

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, tours, or surprises?

For now, we have a few more local shows around the Twin Cities in Minnesota to close out the year. We've got some surprises, but if I shared them, they wouldn't be a surprise, ya dingus! lol

Anything You'd Like Your Fans to Know.

Thank you to everyone who has streamed a song, shared our music, bought merch, or come to a show. Halfway Down has been built independently, one release and one relationship at a time. We also encourage people to support their local scene. Go to shows, arrive early, stay for the other bands, and introduce yourself to people. We’re all here for the same reason. Why not support each other?

Halfway Down