It’s hard to know what to say about this time in general but I can share a bit about where I am personally and in this process.
I struggled this week to transition into a new scenario. One in which I’m alone in an apartment in Halifax trying to wrestle productivity, creativity, and clarity from a long, structureless day. In a way I feel like I’ve finally joined the ranks of people quarantining world-wide. Not to say that we didn’t take the pandemic seriously up at the farm but it’s easy to forget so much of the reality of the world when you’re surrounded by acres of natural beauty (including a dozen bald eagles), family/friends, a hundred year old piano, and a particularly quirky 1973 Hammond theater organ.
I tried writing/editing songs all week but where I found my energy wanting to go was a deep dive into the mix and arrangement of an orchestral version of Week 9’s song “Breathe Easy”. Despite the title perhaps seeming crass in the era of “I Can’t Breathe”, revisiting and living in this song has been incredibly helpful and uplifting for me. It’s a reminder I need daily.
Once again the incredible Camellia Hartman lends her brilliant string arranging and playing to the fold. In addition, we have two new collaborators on this one. Phil Rodriguez lends his unbelievable ears, tone, and phrasing through his flugelhorn and Mike Parker lays down a powerful foundation on the upright bass, recording remotely from Krakow, Poland.
It was important to me to have Phil and Mike on this one in particular because the verses in this one are a reflection on touring. I spent much of the past two years on tour with Phil, a member of Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds and much of the past decade on tour with Mike, the bass player for Nat Osborn Band on our European tours.
I had the pleasure of going back through all the songs so far and took great joy in remembering the time and place, both physical and mental, in which they were created. It’s also heartening to watch the production level grow. I’d like to think this is the next step in that. Enjoy.
-Nat
lyrics
In the fading light of the solstice evening
As our van passed under
The Mt. Hood leaves
And that proudest sun
Threw it’s final rays
You felt clarity through the normal haze
You could breathe easy
Breathe easy, cause you’re doing fine
It just took a midnight sun to remind
You’re doing fine
VERSE 2:
As the moon rose low
Over the Tennessee
Down in Chattanooga
My bandmates and me,
To not get swept away,
We swam full speed
And in that moonlit water
I saw clearly
It’s not where you’re traveling to
Or if you arrive
It's if who’s swimming next to you
Makes you feel alive
So breathe easy, you’re doing fine
Just breathe easy, you’re doing fine
It might take a moonlight swim to remind you, but you’re doing fine
If you’re spinning round
Like a wheel on the road
You may find like me
Your highs turn into lows
But if you keep on moving
You may get where you're trying to go
Keep moving, it's not all in your control
Just breath easy, you’re doing fine
Breathe easy, you’re doing fine
credits
released June 26, 2020
Written/Produced/Mixed by Nat Osborn
Nat Osborn - Piano, Vocals
Camellia Hartman - Strings
Phil Rodriguez - Horns
Mike Parker - Upright Bass
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