Since 2010, Sam Howard has been making music under the moniker Halls, and in 2014 he released his second album, Love To Give. The reason that we’re starting in the past is because this moment in time was definitive for Halls. Following the launch show for that sophomore record, Sam learnt that his father had been diagnosed with cancer and six months later he passed. Dealing with the immense grief, Sam hit pause on Halls and deleted all social media. His creative outlets turned to pop-orientated side projects as a distraction from his emotions, although avoidance only deepened the musician’s depression. Eventually, he cut ties with these projects and in this new-found space, learnt to deal with his mental and emotional health and soon enough began to write music again. This is the origin story of Hall’s third album, Infinite Loss, from which we’re hearing lead single ‘The Gift’ today. A word on the track from Sam Howard himself: “The Gift is about the different feelings experienced after suffering a loss - the vulnerability and sadness from grief compared to the elation of feeling like you’ve worked through it. You move through those two states in waves, and the song structure reflects that.” Even without the true-to-life context, this is a striking piece of music that connects our passive ears to the emotive core of this vulnerable songwriter. The fragility of his words are reflected in a breaking falsetto; sung over shattered beats and tender piano. There’s a particularly poignant moment after the 3:22 mark, in which piano and vocals echo airily, crafting the impression of a lofty space, such as the arches of a church where one would hold a funeral. What a stunning return from Halls. Look out for more from the Infinite Loss LP, out in full on 18th November. - Hannah Thacker