Barely Alive

Last updated
Barely Alive
Barely Alive.png
Official Logo
Background information
Origin Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
Instrument Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Years active2013–present
Labels
Members
  • Matthew Meier
  • William "Watt" Watkins
Website barelyalive.com

Barely Alive is an American Electronic music duo composed of Matthew Meier and William "Watt" Watkins founded in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S. The duo is well known for their songs on British-American and Los Angeles based electronic music record label: Disciple Records. [1]

Contents

Similar to some EDM groups such as Bassjackers and Dash Berlin, William's primary role is the headliner (as Watt) for the duo's tours whereas Matthew's primary role is the music production and "behind-the-scenes". [2]

History

Meier and Watkins both attended Monument Mountain Regional High School and participated in its music program. The duo, each, grew up with parents with a rock music background. [3] [4]

The duo began producing in 2013, releasing digital singles on Dirty Duck Audio and Adapted Records, [5] [6] and remixing other artists such as Getter, Virtual Riot, Astronaut and others. In 2014, Barely Alive signed to Disciple Recordings, releasing the four-song EP, Lost In The Internet, early in the year. [4] [7] The release was an immediate success on dance music retail site, Beatport (where the duo were eventually named the second best-selling dubstep artist of 2014), and they began touring the U.S and Europe along with artists such as Datsik and Trolley Snatcha.

Numerous singles and EPs followed, including collaborations with Zomboy & Splitbreed, and the duo's full-length debut album, We Are Barely Alive, surfaced on Disciple Recordings in October 2015. [8] Since then, the duo released their OWSLA debut single, "Back To Back", a remix to SKisM’s "Experts", and their remix album, We Are Barely Alive: The Remixes.

Their OWSLA debut EP, Domain EP, was released in early February 2017. [9] In late July, Disciple Recordings released a teaser for the duo's second album, Odyssey, which was released on August 13, 2018. [10]

The duo released their seventh EP on Disciple Recordings, Lost In Time on February 13, 2019. After collaborating with 12th Planet & PhaseOne for the single Bubzstep on May 13, 2019, Barely Alive released their eighth EP on Disciple Recordings entitled Multiplayer on 03 Jul 2019.

Etymology

The name 'Barely Alive' came from a "random movie quote", and the logo was inspired by a test card. [7]

Discography

Albums

TitleTracklistDetails
We Are Barely Alive [8]
  1. Hackers (feat. Armanni Reign)
  2. Binary
  3. Windpipe (feat. Ragga Twins)
  4. Rough and Rugged
  5. Stomp
  6. The Riddler
  7. Pooyoso (Take It Back)
  8. We Are Barely Alive (Interlude)
  9. Over It
  10. Scoop
  11. Poison Dart
  12. Fireflies (feat. Ewol & Espired)
  13. Elephant
  14. No Time
Odyssey [10]
  1. Odyssey
  2. Know About Me (feat. Virus Syndicate)
  3. Deeper In Love (feat. Great Good Fine Ok)
  4. Bad Thang (feat. Splitbreed)
  5. Xenomorph
  6. Bounce Wit Me
  7. Devil's Tower
  8. New Coupe: Ride Out (feat. Iamsu!)
  9. War Of The Worlds
  10. Buddy (feat. Yves Paquet)
  11. Wompum
  12. Shutdown
  13. Warrior (feat. Mad Hed City)
  14. Over (feat. Nah Mean)
  • Released: August 13, 2018
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download

EPs

TitleTracklistDetails
Lost in the Internet [7]
  1. Chasing Ghosts (with Spock & Directive)
  2. Dial Up
  3. Keyboard Killer (feat. Splitbreed) [11]
  4. Chasing Ghosts (Virtual Riot Remix) [12]
  • Released: March 10, 2014
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Internet Streets [13]
  1. Cyber Bully (feat. Messinian)
  2. Rifle Blow Kiss (feat. Soultrain Locomotive
  3. Candy Kids (with Datsik)
  4. Cyber Bully (The Frim Remix)
  • Released: June 9, 2014
  • Label: Disciple Records/Firepower Records
  • Format: Digital download
Fiber Optic [14]
  1. Zombie Hunter
  2. Boston Shit
  3. Lasers Up
  4. Work It
  5. Lasers Up (Habstrakt Remix)
  • Released: January 26, 2015
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Rivals [15] (with Astronaut)
  1. Rivals
  2. Bad Fellas
  3. Raga
  4. Some Kind of Monster
  • Released: March 30, 2015
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Domain [9]
  1. CA$H
  2. Elastic Nightmare
  3. Kickin' In (feat. Chloe Stamp)
  4. Gumby (with Habstrakt)
  • Released: February 10, 2017
  • Label: Owsla
  • Format: Digital download
Lost In Time
  1. Wack
  2. Be Mine
  3. Our Own Way (with Modestep)
  4. Rock The Beat
  5. Break Em Down
  6. My Favorite Star
  • Released: February 13, 2019
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Multiplayer
  1. Arsonist (with PhaseOne & Virus Syndicate) [16]
  2. Bloodshed (with Crichy Crich & MVRDA)
  3. Weed Haha (with Bandlez & Rod Azlan)
  4. Can't Hold Back (with SampliFire)
  5. Crankin (with Eliminate)
  • Released: July 3, 2019
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Head To Head Vol. 1

(with Virtual Riot)

  1. Wompum (VIP Mix)
  2. Odyssey (VIP Mix)
  • Released: August 28, 2020
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Head To Head Vol. 2

(with Virtual Riot)

  1. Weeble Wobble (VIP Mix)
  2. Basement Dwellers (VIP Mix)
  3. Rivals (with Astronaut) (Virtual Riot's VIP Mix)
  • Released: February 5, 2021
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Computer Love
  1. Computer Love
  2. Electric Lady (with Nyptane & XO ELIZA)
  3. Closure (with Drew Seeley)
  4. Tick Tock (with Control Freak)
  5. Imagineer (with XO ELIZA)
  • Released: July 23, 2021
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Feel The Panic
  1. Fuck Around
  2. Let It Spin
  3. Hopped Out
  4. Crash Landing
  • Released: November 11, 2022
  • Label: Disciple Records
  • Format: Digital download
Casket Case [17] [18]
  1. Big Ivan
  2. Headshot (with Mikey Ceaser)
  3. Sky High (with beastboi.)
  4. Double Dare

Singles

YearTitleAlbumLabel
2013Killer In You [5] Non-album singlesDirty Duck Audio
Static Hero [6] Adapted Records
2014Sell Your Soul [19] (feat. Jeff Sontag)Disciple Records
Poison [20] (with Dodge & Fuski)
2015Wedabe$ [21] (feat. Splitbreed)
The Blastaz

(with Datsik)

Smash!

(with Twine)

2016Back To BackOWSLA Worldwide BroadcastOWSLA
Salty

(feat. Honey C)

Non-album singlesDisciple Records
2017Kaos [22] (with Nonsens) Twonk
Send It

(with 12th Planet & PhaseOne)

Disciple Records
2018Rampage [23] (with Virtual Riot, PhaseOne, and Myro)
Fake U Out [24] (with Ghastly)Haunted Haus Collective
Bad Thang [25] (feat. Splitbreed)Disciple Records
Triforce [26] (with Panda Eyes & Virtual Riot)
Prepare To DieDisciple X Jericho
By My Side [27] (with Modestep & Virtual Riot)Disciple Alliance Vol. 4
Bang Your Head

(feat. Virus Syndicate)

Non-album singles
Mmm Good [28] (with 12th Planet)Swamplex Terrestrial EP
Bring That BackNon-album singles
2019Bubzstep

(with 12th Planet & PhaseOne)

Here We Go

(with Fox Stevenson)

Spicy FutureDisciple 09: Dragonborn / Knights of the Round Table Vol. 3
2020Meme Graveyard

(with Bandlez)

Non-album singles
Pray 4 Money

(with Virus Syndicate)

Know You Better

(feat. XO ELIZA & Drew Seeley)

Disciple Alliance Vol. 6
2021Fusion Core [29] (with Voltra)Knights of the Round Table Vol. 4
Killer RobotsNon-album singles
Flak JacketDisciple Alliance Vol. 7
2022Power Alliance [30] (with Samplifire)Knights of the Round Table Vol. 5
2023T.O.A.D. [31] (with Kompany)Non-album singles
Headshot [32] (feat. Mikey Ceaser)Bassrush Records
2024if you wanna

(feat. Skyelle)

Monstercat
2025next to me [33] (with beastboi.)Killed It!
don't stop [34]
chicken jockey
hold me
HANDS UP [35]

Remixes

YearOriginal ArtistTitleLabel
2013Hellberg, Deutgen, and SplitbreedCollide (with Astronaut) [36] Monstercat
AstronautApollo
Getter & DatsikHollow PointFirepower Records
2014Dodge & Fuski & Nick ThayerPlayboyDisciple Records
Destroid Destroid 2 WastelandDestroid Music
Eptic Like A Boss Never Say Die Records
501Kill Your Boss
2015ZomboyResurrected
2016Barely AliveBinary (with Virtual Riot)Disciple Records
L D R U

(feat. Savoi)

Next To You Ultra Records
Henry FongDrop It Down Low Dim Mak Records
Herobust Dirty Work Mad Decent
Mayhem & AntiserumSweatSeven Deadly Sins
DJ Snake Ocho Cinco Interscope Records
2017 Snails & Pegboard Nerds Deep In The NightMonstercat
FuntCase

(feat. Merky ACE)

4 Barz Of Fury Circus Records
Excision, Datsik, and Dion TimmerHarambe Rottun Recordings
2019Dodge & FuskiSilence Is GoldenDisciple Records
2020PhaseOne

(feat. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony)

Ultima
2023 Slander Love Is Gone Slander Music
2025 Marshmello, TRICKSTAR, and Lil Jon The Roots (Remixes) Joytime Collective

References

  1. "Your EDM Mix with Barely Alive - Volume 9". YourEDM. May 21, 2014. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  2. "BARELY ALIVE – Artists". Insomniac. Retrieved 2026-01-17.
  3. Rogovoy, Seth (February 25, 2014). "Great Barrington EDM Duo Barely Alive Garnering Rave Reviews". The Rogovoy Report. Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Spira, Daniel (February 24, 2014). "Whoever Said Dubstep is Nearly Dead Has Clearly Never Heard of Barely Alive [EP Review & Exclusive Interview]". YourEDM. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Barely Alive – Killer In You". EDM Sauce. April 26, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. 1 2 Milovich, Amanda (August 31, 2019). "Spin It Back Saturday: Barely Alive – 'Static Hero'". Relentless Beats.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Jenkins, Dave (2014-02-06). "Make Way For: Barely Alive". UKF .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. 1 2 Jenkins, Dave (2015-09-08). "Barely Alive Reveal Debut Album: We Are Barely Alive". UKF . Archived from the original on September 9, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Rishty, David (February 9, 2017). "[PREMIERE] Barely Alive Drops Heavy Dubstep Single "CA$H" On OWSLA EP 'Domain'". ThisSongIsSick.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. 1 2 Contant, Steph (August 13, 2018). "Barely Alive's Sophomore Album 'Odyssey' Is A Must-Listen". FUXWITHIT.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. "[PREMIERE] Barely Alive – Keyboard Killer (Ft. Splitbreed) : Massive Dubstep / Hip-Hop Original". ThisSongIsSick. February 21, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. "[TSS Exclusive] Virtual Riot Drops A Remix Of Barely Alive's "Chasing Ghosts"". ThisSongSlaps. February 23, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014.
  13. Richard, Eddie (May 16, 2014). "Barely Alive – "Internet Streets" EP Teaser Clips". YourEDM. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015.
  14. Jenkins, Dave (2015-02-05). "Barely Alive: 3 Things We've Learnt On Tour With Datsik". UKF .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. Broda, Dylan (April 10, 2015). "Rivals EP – Astronaut & Barely Alive". EDMSauce.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. Small, Liz (July 23, 2019). "Barely Alive, PhaseOne, and Virus Syndicate Unleash 'Arsonist'". Relentless Beats. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019.
  17. Warraich, Haider (2023-12-06). "BARELY ALIVE BURIES FOUR INVENTIVE, EXPLOSIVE DUBSTEP TRACKS ON 'CASKET CASE' EP ON BASSRUSH RECORDS". Canadianravers. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
  18. Parks, Rebecca (December 1, 2023). "Barely Alive Stuns on New 'Casket Case' EP". EDM Identity. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023.
  19. Richard, Eddie (July 16, 2014). "Barely Alive – Sell Your Soul ft. Jeff Sontag". YourEDM. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014.
  20. Jenkins, Dave (2014-10-13). "The Story Behind The Song: Dodge & Fuski VS Barely Alive – Poison". UKF . Archived from the original on September 30, 2025.
  21. Rowland, Carter (March 2, 2015). "Barely Alive- WEDABE$ (Ft. Splitbreed)". EDMSauce.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. Mikaela, Wilkerson (April 25, 2017). "[TSS Premiere] Barely Alive & Nonsens Drop Chaotic "KAOS"". ThisSongSlaps. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017.
  23. Thompson, Ian (February 13, 2018). "Barely Alive & Virtual Riot & PhaseOne & Myro – Rampage". EDMTunes. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021.
  24. Bonavoglia, Brian (April 17, 2018). "Ghastly Teams Up With Barely Alive To Serve Up High-Energy Single "Fake U Out"". ThisSongSlaps. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018.
  25. Mason, Steven (June 4, 2018). "Barely Alive Brings Us 'Bad Thang'". Relentless Beats.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. Stack, Chris (June 10, 2018). "Panda Eyes, Barely Alive, and Virtual Riot smash their new collab, 'Triforce'". Dancing Astronaut . Archived from the original on November 26, 2020.
  27. Stack, Chris (July 11, 2018). "Disciple Alliance Vol. 4 is underway with two singles from 12th Planet, PhaseOne, Modestep, Virtual Riot, and Barely Alive". Dancing Astronaut .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  28. Stack, Chris (December 2, 2018). "Dive into 12th Planet's heavy 'Swamplex Terrestrial' EP". Dancing Astronaut . Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. 'Mmm Good' features labelmate, Barely Alive, quickly devolving from sci-fi melodic bliss into aggressive neck-breaking mayhem.
  29. Masim, Austria (January 14, 2021). "Barely Alive and Voltra collide for the powerful 'Fusion Core'". Dancing Astronaut .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  30. "Disciple Knights of the Round Table Drop First Release ft. Barely Alive & Samplifire". River Beats Dance. March 10, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022.
  31. "Barely Alive and Kompany release their virulent collab 'T.O.A.D.' on Disciple Records". Dubstep FBI. February 12, 2023. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025.
  32. Bonavoglia, Brian (November 14, 2023). "BARELY ALIVE Make Their Bassrush Records Debut With "Headshot"". ThisSongSlaps.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  33. Ng, Kevin (January 24, 2025). "BARELY ALIVE and beastboi. Team Up for First Track of 2025, 'next to me'". EDMTunes.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. Ng, Kevin (February 28, 2025). "BARELY ALIVE Releases Nostalgic Dubstep Banger, 'don't stop'". EDMTunes. Archived from the original on September 30, 2025.
  35. Basket, Tyrone (October 24, 2025). "BARELY ALIVE Drops New Dubstep Anthem 'HANDS UP'". The Daily Frequency.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  36. "Hellberg & Deutgen feat. Splitbreed – Collide (Astronaut & Barely Alive Remix)". EDMTunes. November 12, 2013. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021.