Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and performer Rob Eberle’s new single “Half of You” is the latest evidence of this Long Island, New York native’s prodigious gifts. Songs about unrequited love are far from unexplored territory in the pop music landscape. However, Eberle’s considerable talents result in a personal foray into the subject matter that captures a strong sense of individuality. “Half of You” is a fitting soundtrack for assorted emotional states. The varied utility of this single is one of its most appealing strengths but, at its heart, it’s Eberle’s unquestionable vulnerability that draws us in and holds our attention.
URL: https://www.robeberle.com/#/
It is not hard to believe that he began playing music in earnest at eight years old and started writing songs by the age of twelve. “Half of You” doesn’t come off as the songwriting work of a promising novice but, instead, as the seasoned work of an experienced artist. He’s still developing, without a doubt, but it’s clear that Eberle has captured his voice at a point where many contemporaries are still groping for their own.
Much of “Half of You” comes across like a ballad. It isn’t cookie-cutter fare. I believe the song likely began life with nothing more than Eberle’s voice and the accompanying piano we hear throughout the track. He developed the composition in a masterful way. Adding tasteful percussion is one of the keys to the song’s success because it imbues “Half of You” with a physicality that other instruments lack.
His lyrics are far from afterthoughts. The self-assurance and intelligence pervading each line is another aspect of the piece that reaches far beyond his years. I am particularly a fan of how it is structured as a dialogue of sorts, with himself above all else, and the experience of hearing him work through complicated emotions has more than therapeutic value alone. He writes in a relatable fashion that all but the hardest of hearts will connect with the piece.
The aforementioned attributes of the arrangement enhance that connection. The tempo is crucial; the slowly developing trajectory of the song’s construction doesn’t rush the emotional flow. There’s nothing immediately overwhelming about this performance; its effects are cumulative, and it peaks at all the right moments. The chorus delivers in an artful fashion without ever diluting the emotional center of the song, reducing it to a billboard-style refrain, and exhibitions of such nuance are crucial for the song’s impact.
You will hear few, if any, pops songs as complete as this during 2024. Eberle has all the pieces in place for a track with staying power rather than glossy disposable music that you hear once or twice and immediately consign to memory. It’s a work that’s the product of countless hours of fine-tuning, sifting through what works and does not work, and elevating your art. His discipline is as unquestionable as his talent. Rob Eberle’s “Half of You” gives us the full measure of this young singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist in a way that few songs do.
Garth Thomas