While the stigma surrounding mental health is, thankfully, fading, there are still some caveats to the conversations we have about it. Genre-defiant group A Swift Farewell has teamed up with Besties to tackle the hard stuff in a new single, “Just Breathe.”
This glitchy, larger-than-life anthem not only sounds great, but it also shakes up the reality of mental health conversations. Many people offer surface-level advice, which can only scratch the surface and inevitably harm the conversation subject. A Swift Farewell suggests that starting to “just breathe” feels hollow, often invalidating real-world struggles with anxiety.
Sonically, the track follows a rather trendy pattern; a stadium-ready sound fills the mix, with punchy, robust electronic drums carrying a melodic lead vocal. The guitar work throughout is strong, giving the song a bit of an edge it wouldn’t have without it. The Besties feature rounds everything out; the two vocalists contrast just right, with a duality to them that enables context for the mix.
A Swift Farewell continually develops their sound without forgetting who they are. Perhaps it’s lyrical themes like mental health topics that keep them grounded, but regardless, this is a strong single offering a potent message that could help many.