Nandi Rose is a singer, songwriter, and “electro-poet” who writes and records under the name Half Waif. Building upon her classical training, she has created a bold and unique sound that melds pop and folk songwriting styles with experimental production and cinematic arrangements. At the heart of Rose’s richly layered compositions — in which synths and electronic percussion sit alongside choir, violin, and grand piano — is a lyrical desire to transform life’s denser territories into something we can move through.

Half Waif’s prolific output includes six full-length albums and numerous EPs. The band appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk series and has toured internationally, opening for acts such as Mitski, Julien Baker, Japanese Breakfast, and Iron & Wine, as well as headlining across the US and Europe. The New York Times called Mythopoetics (2021) a “chordal anthem” and featured the track “Swimmer” on their Best Songs of the Year list, while Paste Magazine called Rose “one of our greatest living songwriters” after the release of 2024’s See You At The Maypole.

Originally from Western Massachusetts, Rose currently lives in the Hudson Valley of Upstate New York, where she is working on new musical projects, writing essays, mothering, teaching, stewarding the land, and exploring new ways to use the voice as an instrument for healing.