JAY ALLEN - Halfway House - ONErpm

Though his incredible song “Blank Stares” placed Jay Allen into the bright spotlight in 2017, this past year has arguably been his busiest, most focused yet.

“No Prayer Like Mama’s,” “Jello Shot,” and “Heart Ain’t Gonna Break Itself” have each elevated his status over the past 9 months, while his cover of “Here Without You” allowed him to showcase his rock kissed edge through his country vibe on the 3 Doors Down hit.

He now returns with his brand-new single, “Halfway House.”

The song, co-written by Allen with Alex Kline and Aaron Scherz, leans into an addictive, modern country backbeat to hold the pop of the soft rhythm through the verses as he places his vocals atop the melody, hitting their rawest edge to carry the varied emotions of the lyrics through every word sung as his better half continues to drift further away with each passing line.

Encompassing the full depth of the song, he pleadingly lists the things which she can have 50% of: half of the bed, the yard out front, the hangers in the closest, etc. Before then holding firm understanding on why she’s distancing herself when he reveals in the second verse that he knows she’s been through it with the guys in her past, but that she’s also building a wall around herself that’s keeping him out while holding onto those lasting hurts.

Punching the chorus with firm stance, he laments through the conflicting feelings that arrive with her only giving half of herself to them and their current relationship, striking the very bold question of how they could even make it last like this:

“Halfway in and halfway out

I wanna love ya but you’re making it hard

With your one foot in and one foot out

You never wanna give away all of your heart

We talk about forever but what the hell for

Even in my arms in the dark you got your eyes on the door

Don’t wanna be alone but tell me how

We’re gonna make a home in a halfway house”

Sealing the heartbreak emotion through the bridge when he lays it all out on the line, “give me it all or give me nothing cause I can’t live with the way you’re loving me,” Jay Allen delivers the strike of pure pain from a place of transparent honesty that was born out witnessing divorce from an early age, while masterfully putting on the next bold showcase of who he is in the here and now as this exciting chapter continues to unfold.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

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