As a child in his West London home, he would often find himself rendered speechless and wide-eyed by the clever exchanges between his mother and sisters in the kitchen. He remembers his father’s demand for complete silence before sharing a dramatic story. He is influenced by Phoebe Bridgers' sense of "humor" and Nina Simone's “intimacy and directness.” Additionally, he recalls Sudan’s most renowned folk musicians captivating audiences not in large venues, but at house parties in Khartoum.
This reflects the storytellers who have impacted British-Sudanese musician Saeed Gadir. Now, as the singer-songwriter known as The Halfway Kid, he carries on this tradition of storytelling. During our conversation, he expresses himself with thoughtful, philosophical warmth: “I view songwriting as connecting links. It’s about… how to connect with others and navigate relationships as honestly and truthfully as possible.”
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What constitutes a story, who has the right to tell it, and which narratives are shared? These are the central questions posed in Gadir’s second album, ‘Myths In Modern Life,’ released on October 18, following his debut album in 2023, ‘If I Don’t Come Home (Go To My House And Burn My Things).’ The album explores themes of identity and belonging, rooted in Gadir’s experiences as he lived in the UK while his family faced struggles in Sudan amidst the escalating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. These are songs that “occur outside your window, behind the yellow windows of the city.”
Throughout the album, Gadir weaves a rich tapestry of sound that varies across genres like a well-loved box of paints: from folk to afrobeats, grunge, and love-struck ballads, he found playing with this range “a really fun thing.” The entire album was completed in just over a month, and the quick production was intentional. Gadir wanted to express his thoughts while still feeling them at the time of the album's release.
“Songwriting keeps you truthful,” he shares, “because when you’re not being genuine, it affects the song, and then it's not as good.” He considers himself fortunate to have grown up in an environment where he felt secure about his roots. The album further instilled in him “an even greater confidence about who I am, where I come from, and how I fit into today’s musical landscape.”
He aimed to portray the myth of urban life in your 20s—highlighting both struggles and fleeting joys. “There aren’t many songs these days that reflect the reality of London, where rents are exorbitant and everyone is struggling financially…” he muses. “I wanted to express that, as it mirrors the experiences of many people.” In the opening track ‘To Get To The Other Side,’ Gadir fuses vibrant East African folk rhythms with a punk-infused energy to convey these narratives. He seeks to capture “the strain it places on relationships… the expectations people have of one another, and that inevitable disappointment,” referencing how often life doesn’t meet people’s expectations.
Yet, the album approaches pain laced with humor, tenderness, and an invitation to listen. “I wanted it to be an optimistic record,” he explains, “in the sense that even while discussing these challenges, it’s ultimately about coming together. It’s about making music as an act of hope, not cynicism.”
Experiencing the album feels like stepping in from a chilled street into a room teeming with laughter. Myths are foundational to culture, and Gadir’s music is about forging connections, yet he does not shy away from discussing pain. ‘Anything To You’ reflects falling in love during the chaos of war in Sudan, while ‘Immigrant Song’ evokes the atmosphere of that tumultuous time. “Your world might be crumbling, but you’re still trying to love or be there for friends,” Saeed shares. “That’s something I wanted to address.”
In an article for The i, Saeed described the challenge of managing daily tasks such as grocery shopping and working while his family remained caught up in Khartoum during the outbreak of war in April 2023. Despite his music gaining traction, he found it easy to decide to cancel a major show: “I couldn’t perform without knowing if my family was safe.”
As media networks in Sudan crumbled, Saeed relied on social media to relay firsthand accounts and information to his family in the capital. After three weeks, they reached safety in Cairo. However, the experience profoundly altered his perspective on music. He now feels a deep connection with his audience—people he has never met who resonate with his feelings.
For instance, he headlined a show at Lafayette in London in October. “The crowd was truly special, and the feeling was incredible,” Gadir beams. “My performances now have become events where there’s a generous atmosphere, feeling alive
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Speechless and dreamy at the clever exchanges between his mother and sisters in the kitchen of his West London childhood house. His father's request for