Barely Alive is an American electronic music production and DJ 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.

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".

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.

The duo began producing in 2013, releasing digital singles on Dirty Duck Audio and Adapted Records, 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. 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. 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. In late July, Disciple Recordings released a teaser for the duo's second album, Odyssey, which was released on August 13, 2018.

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.

Discography

Albums

TitleTracklistDetails
We Are Barely AliveHackers (feat. Armanni Reign) Binary Windpipe (feat. Ragga Twins) Rough and Rugged Stomp The Riddler Pooyoso (Take It Back) We Are Barely Alive (Interlude) Over It Scoop Poison Dart Fireflies (feat. Ewol & Espired) Elephant No TimeReleased: October 26, 2015 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
OdysseyOdyssey Know About Me (feat. Virus Syndicate) Deeper In Love (feat. Great Good Fine Ok) Bad Thang (feat. Splitbreed) Xenomorph Bounce Wit Me Devil's Tower New Coupe: Ride Out (feat. Iamsu!) War Of The Worlds Buddy (feat. Yves Paquet) Wompum Shutdown Warrior (feat. Mad Hed City) Over (feat. Nah Mean)Released: August 13, 2018 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download

EPs

TitleTracklistDetails
Lost in the InternetChasing Ghosts (with Spock & Directive) Dial Up Keyboard Killer (feat. Splitbreed) Chasing Ghosts (Virtual Riot Remix)Released: March 10, 2014 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Internet StreetsCyber Bully (feat. Messinian) Rifle Blow Kiss (feat. Soultrain Locomotive Candy Kids (with Datsik) Cyber Bully (The Frim Remix)Released: June 9, 2014 Label: Disciple Records/Firepower Records Format: Digital download
Fiber OpticZombie Hunter Boston Shit Lasers Up Work It Lasers Up (Habstrakt Remix)Released: January 26, 2015 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Rivals(with Astronaut)Rivals Bad Fellas Raga Some Kind of MonsterReleased: March 30, 2015 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
DomainCA$H Elastic Nightmare Kickin' In (feat. Chloe Stamp) Gumby (with Habstrakt)Released: February 10, 2017 Label: Owsla Format: Digital download
Lost In TimeWack Be Mine Our Own Way (with Modestep) Rock The Beat Break Em Down My Favorite StarReleased: February 13, 2019 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
MultiplayerArsonist (with PhaseOne & Virus Syndicate) Bloodshed (with Crichy Crich & MVRDA) Weed Haha (with Bandlez & Rod Azlan) Can't Hold Back (with SampliFire) Crankin (with Eliminate)Released: July 3, 2019 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Head To Head Vol. 1 (with Virtual Riot)Wompum (VIP Mix) Odyssey (VIP Mix)Released: August 28, 2020 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Head To Head Vol. 2 (with Virtual Riot)Weeble Wobble (VIP Mix) Basement Dwellers (VIP Mix) Rivals (with Astronaut) (Virtual Riot's VIP Mix)Released: February 5, 2021 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Computer LoveComputer Love Electric Lady (with Nyptane & XO ELIZA) Closure (with Drew Seeley) Tick Tock (with Control Freak) Imagineer (with XO ELIZA)Released: July 23, 2021 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Feel The PanicFuck Around Let It Spin Hopped Out Crash LandingReleased: November 11, 2022 Label: Disciple Records Format: Digital download
Casket CaseBig Ivan Headshot (with Mikey Ceaser) Sky High (with beastboi.) Double DareReleased: December 1, 2023 Label: Bassrush Records Format: Digital download

Singles

YearTitleAlbumLabel
2013Killer In YouNon-album singlesDirty Duck Audio
Static HeroAdapted Records
2014Sell Your Soul(feat. Jeff Sontag)Disciple Records
Poison(with Dodge & Fuski)
2015Wedabe$(feat. Splitbreed)
The Blastaz (with Datsik)
Smash! (with Twine)
2016Back To BackOWSLA Worldwide BroadcastOWSLA
Salty (feat. Honey C)Non-album singlesDisciple Records
2017Kaos(with Nonsens)Twonk
Send It (with 12th Planet & PhaseOne)Disciple Records
2018Rampage (with Virtual Riot, PhaseOne, and Myro)
Fake U Out (with Ghastly)Haunted Haus Collective
Bad Thang (feat. Splitbreed)Disciple Records
Triforce (with Panda Eyes & Virtual Riot)
Prepare To DieDisciple X Jericho
By My Side (with Modestep & Virtual Riot)Disciple Alliance Vol. 4
Bang Your Head (feat. Virus Syndicate)Non-album singles
Mmm Good (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 (with Voltra)Knights of the Round Table Vol. 4
Killer RobotsNon-album singles
Flak JacketDisciple Alliance Vol. 7
2022Power Alliance (with Samplifire)Knights of the Round Table Vol. 5
2023T.O.A.D. (with Kompany)Non-album singles
Headshot (feat. Mikey Ceaser)Bassrush Records
2024if you wanna (feat. Skyelle)Monstercat
2025next to me (with beastboi.)Killed It!
don't stop
chicken jockey
hold me
HANDS UP
2026OBSCURE VIBE (with Infekt)Port Zero
SPEED DEMONMonstercat
Time Machine (with Zomboy)

Remixes

YearOriginal ArtistTitleLabel
2013Hellberg, Deutgen, and SplitbreedCollide (with Astronaut)Monstercat
AstronautApollo
Getter & DatsikHollow PointFirepower Records
2014Dodge & Fuski & Nick ThayerPlayboyDisciple Records
DestroidDestroid 2 WastelandDestroid Music
EpticLike A BossNever Say Die Records
501Kill Your Boss
2015ZomboyResurrected
2016Barely AliveBinary (with Virtual Riot)Disciple Records
L D R U (feat. Savoi)Next To YouUltra Records
Henry FongDrop It Down LowDim Mak Records
HerobustDirty WorkMad Decent
Mayhem & AntiserumSweatSeven Deadly Sins
DJ SnakeOcho CincoInterscope Records
2017Snails & Pegboard NerdsDeep In The NightMonstercat
FuntCase (feat. Merky ACE)4 Barz Of FuryCircus Records
Excision, Datsik, and Dion TimmerHarambeRottun Recordings
2019Dodge & FuskiSilence Is GoldenDisciple Records
2020PhaseOne (feat. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony)Ultima
2023SlanderLove Is GoneSlander Music
2025Marshmello, TRICKSTAR, and Lil JonThe Roots (Remixes)Joytime Collective