Breath Add Synth Player to Lineup; New Material Coming Soon
Bands change configuration all the time. Four-pieces lose a member to become a trio. A double-guitar five-piece wants Hammond. Whatever. What makes Breath bringing synthesist Lauren Hatch (also Greenseeker) on board as a full-time bandmate remarkable is how pointedly they were a duo before. Bassist/vocalist Steven O’Kelly and drummer/percussionist Ian Caton had flown the two-piece flag pretty high, but thinking back, even their 2021 debut, Primeval Transmissions (discussed here) tapped third-party participation, namely from guitarist Rob Wrong (Witch Mountain), who also recorded it. Last year’s reworking Primeval Transmissions (Remixed and Remastered) (review here) fostered an even richer sound, so maybe this isn’t actually so outlandish an expansion. Sometimes a band grows and wants something else. It’s not like they’re breaking up with you; they’re breaking up with being a duo.
Hatch plays her first show with the band tonight, July 11, and will play on their second record. Wrong will also reportedly feature on Breath‘s next LP as well, again on guitar, though I’ve no idea when such a thing might be coming. Hey man, I’m doing my best, alright?
I hit up O’Kelly and Hatch for comment and they offered the following to go with the original social post. Dig:
Greetings to you! Our flame burns brighter now with our new mate on Keys. We found kindred vision through collaboration and the steps ahead are now illuminated. Please welcome Lauren to Breath!
Says Steve O’Kelly: “Contemplative walks lead me to hear a third voice in Breath. In the throes of erratic thought when we were deep in the creative phase,, doors swung open to a new path that we gladly stride. Lauren brings thoughtful collaboration and energy to our music. We’re grateful to have her adept hand of Synthesizers pull us up into a new area.”
Says Lauren: “I started out as a fan of Breath. When Steven asked me to play on a song, I was surprised because the band is so strong as a two-piece. One song turned into three songs, which turned into live performances, and here we are. I’ve been having a blast coming up with synth parts to add a new element to these songs and am so excited to explore more sounds with these guys.”
Come see the new incarnation Live!
7 / 11 The Midnight Portland
7 / 14 M & J Tavern Bend
7 / 15 The WOW Hall Eugene
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