If you’ve found yourself jaded–unable to find an artist with that unique, organic, likable quality, look no further than “When My Breathing Slows” by Riley Lynch and Ron Geffen. This song is well written and well produced, but Riley Lynch’s vocals breathe this impossibly hypnotizing life into it, taking it from another heavy alternative rock song to something truly special. It’s one of those serendipitous moments where you can just tell the artist was meant to make music. It’s endearing. It’s moving. It’s incredibly refreshing.
The verse consists of a traditional rock line-up (i.e. guitar, bass, and drums). Over a dark, driving accompaniment, the vocals drudge through a fast yet static melody. The low, warm register manages to be sultry and chilling all at once. It’s genuinely cool and juxtaposes the later delivery, which rockets to a vibrant belt. The pre-chorus features this steady climb up the scale, showcasing the idiosyncrasies and subtle changes of tone and timbre present in the singer’s voice. There’s a completely distinct brightness to their sound. If you’re into this genre of music, there’s no doubt you’ll fall in love with it.
All that being said, this track harnesses what made early 2000s rock great. So many acts try to replicate that sound these days and end up feeling sort of hollow or cheap. It’s hard to describe what it is, but Riley Lynch and Ron Geffen have got it. The chorus has a great melody. The instrumentation is well put together–but at the end of the day, the thing people love about their favorite bands or artists is the way they sell what they’re saying through performance. “When My Breathing Slows” is an excellent example of this.
Written by Alyce Lindberg
