SINGLE REVIEW: Alive Inside - "Reflections"
Alive Inside bring feel good vibes with a strong message in “Reflections”
Written by JD Walker
It’s no secret that mental health awareness is more important in our society than ever, and the conversation is slowly but surely gaining more traction and attention in the mainstream. Much of this is thanks to the alternative music scene and a vast amount of bands and artists reiterating the point of how important mental health awareness is. Bands like Alive Inside are much of the reason why the stigma is slowly fading away and why these tough conversations are becoming more accepted and prevalent, and their new single “Reflections” is a great example of the message that’s changing lives for the better.
The song itself begins with a very upbeat, pop-punk inspired drive including melodic guitar, uptempo drums, and a smooth vocal delivery from rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist Bailey Evert. Much of the choppiness and syncopation later in the song shows the rhythmic cohesion between Evert, drummer Caleb Jennings, and bassist Cody Van Der Haegen. The rhythmic trio is complemented greatly by the lead guitar work of Jeff Sparado who selectively threw in lead lines to most augment the song without detracting from the rest of the music. The ebb and flow of different sounds and musical colors is a signal of great songwriting and collective musicianship within the group.
Where Alive Inside really excels (in addition to the instrumental) is the message behind the song - “Reflections” takes an introspective approach to the discussion of mental health and outlines the thought pattern of someone in a depressive state. This falls in sync perfectly with the mission statement of the band, to bring awareness to mental health and depression. The video for “Reflections” matched the mood of the song perfectly, utilizing a mixture of red and yellow lights as well as shots of broken glass for a gloomy feeling that adds a level of meaning behind shots of the band performing.
Alive Inside articulate an incredibly important message in “Reflections” and bring to light just how dark depression can be to someone dealing with it. Though the lyrical content seems dismal, the fact that mental health is being addressed through an inherently constructive medium like music brings a sense of hope to the community and those that deal with mental health issues. Alive Inside did a wonderful job of creating an accessible song with a message that will captivate hearts and minds everywhere and further push the discussion to where it needs to go.