Joe May turns up the heat with his newest single, “Halfway to the Edge,” a funk-rock anthem with an edge as sharp as its blazing horns. From its mysterious opening notes to the slinky groove of its clavinet-driven verses, the track builds a soundscape that commands attention, pulses with energy, and bursts with charisma. A mix of playful wordplay, gritty production, and an outright swaggering rhythm, the song cements May’s ability to blend past and present into something entirely his own.
From the crunchy textures of its ’70s-infused clavinet to the relentless snap of its rhythm section, “Halfway to the Edge” oozes attitude. Exploding with soaring brass lines—courtesy of celebrated horn arranger and North Carolina stalwart, Brad Wilcox—the track feels as if it could sit comfortably alongside gritty cuts from legends like Galactic, Little Feat, or Steely Dan in their edgiest, funkiest moments.
LISTEN | Joe May - Halfway To The Edge
“Halfway to the Edge” follows an enigmatic protagonist teetering on the border between chaos and growth—or is it the verge of a funk-fueled breakdown? Cleverly penned lyrics weave a tale of disconnection, hope, and mischief in a way that is quintessentially Joe May. Cheeky turns of phrase, like “struggling to stay ahead, now that I’ve seen you’re behind,” showcase May’s knack for injecting humor without losing emotional complexity.
"Halfway to the Edge" started as a half-joke, just me messing around on the clavinet and building around the last line– ‘I can't seem to stay ahead, girl, now that I've seen you're/your behind,’” explains May. “The more I played with it, the more I saw this character- this disheveled guy who's just barely holding it together; all building up to the central pun that Myself, Kevin, and Steve, my co writers, had come up with. It's funk rock with an emphasis on the 'fun' -- crunchy clavinet, tight horns, and completely unserious lyrics."
The analog-driven production shines through with every note, thanks to May’s hands-on artistry in his Alta Mira Studios. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and love for vintage-inspired tones, Joe thrives in finding the middle ground between technical perfection and raw energy. “Halfway to the Edge” is no exception, offering a dynamic, layered sound that invites listeners to dance, laugh, and ponder in equal measure.
“Halfway to the Edge” is another bold step in the rollout of Joe May’s upcoming album, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks, scheduled for release May 15th. The single release follows the release of studio single “Ignoring the Feeling” in January. To celebrate ITF’s release, May performed a jam-packed show to a 400+ attendee crowd in his hometown, Charlotte, NC. To check out the power of Joe’s live band, “Joe May’s Month of Mondays,” check out their cover of Little Feat’s Spanish Moon, recorded live at the release show.
WATCH | Joe May’s Month of Mondays - Spanish Moon (Little Feat Cover)
For more information, including upcoming tour dates, please visit Joe May’s official website.
