Respire by Matthew S. Rosin

The story:

“I recorded ‘Respire’ in 2014 as a way to rediscover my own breath.

“I sang in falsetto with a resonant space in my mouth but lips closed and vibrating slightly. I was inspired by how Arve Henriksen makes his trumpet sound like a cooing voice. I tried to do the opposite: make my voice sound like a gospel-inflected cousin of a trumpet, theremin, or flute. Doing so got me out of my own head and into my body.

“Then I brought in the accordion, which also breathes: vibrating chords and the simple pull and push of air.

“I put the resulting piece away for another time—until the COVID-19 pandemic, when I returned to ‘Respire’ and finished the mix.

“So many have suffered, struggled to breathe, and lost their breath entirely to COVID-19. ‘Respire’ reminds me to be grateful for my breath and all that might flow from it.

“May you, the listener, breathe easy and be well.”

- Matthew S. Rosin, 2021

Restless. Searching. Never the same twice.

Matthew S. Rosin (he/him/his) composes atmospheric music that blends ambient, rock, and folk textures.

He is also an essayist, short-story author,
and stay-at-home dad.

matthewsrosin.com