[2] The band was formed in 2016 and consists of lead singer Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer and bassist J. Tyler Johnson.

[4] In November 2015, Taylor announced that he had embarked on a seven-month songwriting program several months prior during which he hoped to write 50 songs,[5] a project that would eventually end on December 30.

"[9][10][11] It was announced that The Moderates had disbanded on April 10, 2017, due to other commitments, but an EP as well as a new music video would be released by Taylor's new band, "Half Alive".

[36] On March 14, the band made their late-night television debut as they played the track on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

"[37][38] The band then announced a world tour taking place from June to November in Australia, North America and Europe.

[40] They performed the track live for Vevo's DSCVR series alongside "Arrow" and incorporated various dance interludes from their music videos in the renditions.

[41] The album's fourth single, "Pure Gold", which was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, was released on July 19 alongside a "colorful and jubilant" visual.

On November 17, the band announced a North American "Give Me Your Shoulders Tour", set to begin in February 2022.

"Hot Tea" was accompanied by the formal announcement of what was originally planned to be the band's sophomore album, Give Me Your Shoulders.

[61] The title refers to the personas people adopt when facing the world as well as the new perspectives gained when examining life upon taking them off.

They are also represented via the album's mascots, a pair of aliens named after Sonny and Cher, who are featured on its cover art and in its corresponding music videos.

The band collaborated with Tommy King to produce the album, who had previously worked with Haim, The 1975, and Vampire Weekend.

[62] On creating the album, Johnson stated that it was "stripped to its bones, leaving only the essentials" and that the final product was a result of taking off the persona put on the band by others and "rediscovering their unique sound".

A music video for "All My Love (Imperative)" was released alongside the full album, a collaboration filmed entirely with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

[65] They have cited film and psychology, specifically Jungian and Freudian concepts from which the band's name derives, as some of their influences, in addition to the work of Sufjan Stevens, Vulfpeck, Christine and the Queens, Kimbra, Emily King, Chance the Rapper, Tyler, the Creator and Twenty One Pilots,[64][65] and incorporate themes of anxiety and religion in their songs.

[66][67] Taylor, in an interview with NBHAP, illustrated that while songwriting he aims to hit the "sweet spot" between "abstract" and "relatable" lyrics in order to allow listeners to interpret them in their own way.