Half Life Half Death

aLfie vera mella, now based in Canada, formed a performing band aptly named haLf man haLf eLf. In December 2006, mella in collaboration with fellow Winnipeg-based Filipino musician Abelardo "Ardie" Sarao" released an EP entitled The Woes of Emong Payaso (independent label: eLf ideas / Kalabasa Records). This carried the single "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao." During live performances, haLf man haLf eLf was initially comprised by mella and a backup of friend musicians who included Roy Gutierrez (guitars), Jason Paredes (bass), Roberto "Abet" Carino (bass), Cris Pangan (bass), Joshua Bernardo (drums), Paul "Ten-ten" Labao (drums), Edward Daquina (drums), and Jimmy Tan (lead guitars). A few of the group's significant performances included serving as one of the front acts for Philippine-based Rock bands doing a Canadian tour, like Siakol (in May 2006) and Mike Hanopol (in 2007).

In July 2007, mella, again in collaboration with Sarao, begins recording a new song, entitled "Like Fireflies (You Are My Only Hope)." In October 2008, the duo along with musicians Joseph David (drummer), Nicco Gilbang (bassist), and Danny Omana (keyboardist) formed Half Endangered Species and performed as one of the front acts of the Filipino Nu Metal band Slapshock in the Winnipeg leg of their 2008 Canadian tour.

In February 2009, mella and David form a new band with friends Aldo Caziani (guitars), Sherwin Ylagan (bass), and Benjo Mendoza (keyboards), calling themselves The Half Gifts. They immediately begin arranging songs for a planned three-song CD that they hope to release within the next few months. The planned EP, entitled A Melange of..., which would have contained "Vanilla Float," "Chocolate Mousse," and "Cotton Candy Carnival," has been shelved. Due to conflict in schedules and priorities of members, The Half Gifts dissolved in the middle of 2009.

Mella reverts to using the name haLf man haLf eLf, as he is joined by mostly new members. The band was one of the front acts to the Winnipeg concert of the Filipino Alternative Rock band Pupil. The reinvigorated haLf man haLf eLf began to perform in venues outside the Filipino community such as Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano, Paragon Lounge & Restaurant, Ozzy's Bar at Osborne Village Motor Inn, Dylan O'Connor's Irish Pub on Portage Avenue, and Curtis Hotel Henderson Drafthouse on Henderson Highway.

The band's lineup in the early 2010s were aLfie vera mella (vocals, keyboards, bellkit, percussion), Christine Mazur (violin, cello, acoustic guitar, vocals), Robert Nicanor Jr. (drumkit, percussion), Dave Labovich (mandolin, banjo), and Janice Bamsworth (cajon). Previous members included Robert "Jun" Villanueva Jr. (12-string acoustic guitar, percussion), Tyler Holmes (keyboards), Johnny Holmes (bass), Jan Castillo (ukulele), Pol Chua (acoustic bass), and Dante Gomez (electric guitar). haLf man haLf eLf brands its style of music as Classical New Wave—a mix of the melodious sensibilities of New Wave and Postpunk and the intricate instrumentation and arrangement of Classical.

Mella as haLf man haLf eLf remains loyal to the style for which his erstwhile band Half Life Half Death was known—New Wave with a touch of the technical instrumentation of Classical music and Progressive rock and the "fist-raised" attitude of old-school Punk Rock. Songs that haLf man haLf eLf had covered during gigs included "Just like Heaven" (The Cure); "I Melt with You" (Modern English); "The One I Love" (R.E.M.); "Today" (The Smashing Pumpkins); "More to Lose" (Seona Dancing); "High School (Life)," "Butterflies," and "Brother's Pen" (Half Life Half Death); "Susi" (The Dawn); "Nagpapapansin, Pansinin" (Urban Bandits), and "Canto de Maria Clara" (The Camerawalls).

Currently comprised by the core of mella, Mazur, Labovich, Xaq Freeman (acoustic guitar), and Jeremy Rusu (12-string acoustic guitar, accordion, acoustic bass), haLf man haLf eLf is yet to finish recording its debut album to be titled Tales from a Half Forgotten Era.

Based in the Philippines, Rainald Paggao collaborated with his brother, JB, and formed The Rain, releasing its first album, entitled Girl in Mind (2006, independent label). The two cover songs featured in the album, The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost in You" and Seona Dancing's "More to Lose," are a reference to the duo's New Wave roots. The Rain's music is reminiscent of classic '80s Alternative Rock / New Wave bands the likes of The Cutting Crew, The Railway Children, and Flesh for Lulu. Prior to involving himself on this project, Paggao also became the lead guitarist of Dream Kitchen, another Filipino Alternative Rock band. He is also currently the lead guitarist of Dead Popstars, a Filipino New Wave band which many Alternative-music enthusiasts regard as "the ultimate The Smiths tribute band of the Philippines."

In October 2007, Paggao and his brother begin working on their second album, entitled The Emperor's New Songs. In the same year, mella and Paggao pursue a long-distance collaboration. Using the project name Half Moon Half Rain, the two was able to finish two songs: "My Brilliant Friend," a reworking of an old unreleased original song written by mella when he was still with Dream Kitchen; and a version of Seona Dancing's "More to Lose."

Also based in the Philippines, Ramil Aznar is now the front person (vocalist/guitarist) of Dream Kitchen's reincarnation, whose current members include Dream Kitchen originators Aldrin Cardona (guitars), Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drummer), and Vincent "Bong" Torres (bass), the first two of whom also became members of Half Life Half Death during its final days. Dream Kitchen's first commercial release, "16 Hours," can be found in the compilation album entitled 8 Track (2005). The band's music takes on the sound of Alternative rock / Britpop bands such as Radiohead, This Perfect Day, and Weezer. Dream Kitchen's professionally produced music video of "16 Hours" was nominated for the "Music Video of the Year" category in the 2006 MTV Philippines Music Awards. Dream Kitchen has recently finished recording a 10-song demo album and is currently scouting for a record label that would sign them.

In the late '90s, during Dream Kitchen's early days and Half Life Half Death's inactivity, mella served as Dream Kitchen's vocalist and occasional keyboardist. Significant songs covered by the band during this period included "Say Something" (James), "Blushing Girl, Nervous Smile" (The Wallflowers), "Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen), "Leave Me Alone" (New Order), "Waterfall" (Riverside), "True Fools Fall" (Died Pretty), "The Worst Year of My Life" (The Wild Swans), "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band-aid), "Falling" (Under Blue Skies), and "Sumigaw, Umawit Ka" (Identity Crisis). Original songs composed by Dream Kitchen at the time, but which did not see the light of being released commercially, included "Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," "My Chocolate Mousse," and "Buhay-Karnabal," which reincarnated as haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."

Before their eventual disbandment in 1999, Dream Kitchen with mella recorded five original songs at Purple Studios in Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. In 2004, this set of compositions was compiled by mella into an EP entitled half baked delicacies ("Vanilla Float," "The Neverending Why," "Silver Spoon on My Mouth," "For Her Brilliance," and "Buhay-Karnabal").

Vocalist aLfie vera mella released a 4-CD epic package in December 2006, in conjunction with the culmination of his debut album as haLf man haLf eLf. The package included a newly enhanced and redesigned The Halven Trilogy music of Half Life Half Death (commercially released songs and previously unreleased studio recordings) and a redesigned Girl in Mind of The Rain (retitled as Songs for Moonlit Nights, which included a version of Seona Dancing's "More to Lose," showcasing a long-distance collaboration of Paggao [who rendered the guitar tracks in the Philippines] and mella [who recorded the vocal and keyboard tracks in Canada]). Part Three of the trilogy, half buried treasures, is yet to be finished; this will feature previously unreleased studio recordings of Half Life Half Death, remixes of studio-recorded songs of Dream Kitchen, remixes of some songs from The Rain album, and alternate versions of haLf man haLf eLf's "Parang karnabal--ganyan ang buhay ng tao."

• aLfie vera mella (vocals, sound effects, bellkit, percussion), 1988–2003, 2012
• Rainald "Rain" C. Paggao (lead guitars, keyboards), 1988–2003, 2012
• Joel Padilla Reyes (bass, acoustic guitar), 1988–1990, 2012
• Nestor Edmund "Doods" G. Villafuerte (keyboards), 1988–1990, 2000
• Jonathan "Jon" Villaraza Mejino (drums), 1988–1991
• Caroline "Carol" O. Pobre (female vocals), 1988–1990, 2012

• Ruperto "Pet" Pura de Jesus (guitars, backing vocals), 1989–2000, 2012
• Ramil Cruz Aznar (bass), 1989–2003, 2012
• Edgar Villafuerte (backing vocals), 1989
• Lamberto "Ambet" Taylo (violins, keyboards), 1990–1991, 2000
• Rozylyn Limjoco Torres (female vocals), 1990–1992
• Robert "Bimbo" Ballesteros (drums), 1991–2001
• Juan "Jani" Miranda (drums), 1991–1992
• Aldrin Cardona (guitars), 2002–2003, 2012
• Gilbert "Bebet" Tiongson (drums), 2002–2003, 2012
• Rodel Gremar Bernil (guitars), 2002
• Christine Mazur (violin), 2012
• Jesus "Jonjon" Santos (percussion), 2012