In just under a year, Wyatt Flores has become a force to be reckoned with in country music, and his new EP, Half Life, proves why all over again. The 22-year-old took the world by storm after releasing his hit song, “Please Don’t Go,” in April 2022. Since then, his career has been in the fast lane on the strength of subsequent singles like “Losing Sleep” and his debut EP, Life Lessons. His latest effort was far and away his most anticipated as he rode into this era with three instant classics. As expectations were at a career-high, Flores met them head-on and released eight excellent songs to add to his catalog.
Those three singles, each a testament to Wyatt Flores’s wise introspection, arguably take the podium for the best songs on the project. The first of the three Wyatt released was his poignant cover of The Fray’s “How To Save A Life.” His vulnerability in recording a song that already held real personal significance set a tone for the rest of this collection before it was even released. Outside of this cover, Flores co-wrote every song, and we’re reminded all over again of his knack for baring his soul as he recounts personal experiences. Wyatt’s songwriting continues to cut deep as he delves into the complexities of love, loss, and everything in between, inviting the audience to share his journey.
The opening track, “Running Out Of Time,” is an early fan-favorite. It sets the tone for what to expect in the following tracks. While it carries Wyatt’s signature angst with heartwrenching lyrics about losing a loved one too soon, it also shares a positive message about living life to the fullest. With his sheer conviction, Flores forces the listener to reflect on the life they live. “We’re gonna die, so do what makes you feel alive,” he sings, exposing his attitude in the aftermath of the loss he experienced.
For a discussion on this EP to be complete, the fiddle player, Kenzie Miracle, can’t go unrecognized for her contributions. The fiddle alone helps take songs like “Milwaukee” and “Running Out Of Time” to the next level, from wry singer-songwriter ballads to alt-country standouts. Her elegant playing is rarely front and center but always adds some additional intrigue whenever she’s in the mix. Miracle also does double-duty on background vocals and matches Wyatt’s epic crescendos with her high harmonies.
All eight songs go hand-in-hand, making this feel like a very full project. Flores is still early in his career, and it’s very cool to see a young artist prioritizing the strength of the overall project beyond just the singles it spawns. With Half Life, fans get a project that tells one story in a series of movements that flow smoothly together; Wyatt underscores what we’ve always known about him: he’s in this for his love of the craft, and mainstream success is far less significant to him than making these songs the way he wants to.
For the emotional centerpiece of Half Life, Flores also teamed up with his good buddies Evan Honer and Cole Miracle to write “I Believe In God.” The lyrics about being so deeply lost are bone-chilling as the chorus recites, “I believe in God, but he doesn’t believe in me.” Flores, a staunch advocate for mental health, wears his struggles with courage in bold streams of consciousness; in addition to sharing how he feels so candidly, he also does it in a way that feels poetic and accessible. Wyatt Flores has galvanized his fanbase with his mental health advocacy, and on Half Life, he turns that passion into a creative strength.
The closing track, “Devil,” is the perfect ending to the 26-minute journey the listener is taken on. It’s another heartbreaking anthem about the thoughts that keep someone up at night, recorded on a tinny mic with some of the sparsest production you’ll ever hear on a mainstream country record. “Devil” leaves this EP on a foreboding note, telling us all that his battle with the Devil isn’t over, and even though he’s figuring things out, the pain of growing up is still very real for him.
When put head to head, Life Lessons has a slight edge over Half Life with more variety and a better look at his diverse skill sets, even though Half Life has the advantage in songwriting. However, for the full portrait of who Wyatt is today, it can be even more helpful to regard these EPs as two halves of the same whole. Similar to HARDY’s the mockingbird & THE CROW, Wyatt paints a thoughtful picture of his own self-image across these two EPs as both a wide-eyed, young storyteller and an endlessly tortured artist.
At just 22 years old, Wyatt Flores has become one of the hottest names in country music, and he has the songs to prove why. Half Life is exactly why he is up next, with plenty of reflection and honesty spanning only eight tracks. Wearing his heart on his sleeve has become Wyatt’s specialty, and he knows what his fans want when he puts out a new project. Half Life is a strong contender for being one of the year’s best projects and should continue to win over new fans in and out of country music.
8.9/10
