Shayla McDaniel – Let Me Breathe (How to Break Our Hearts) (2021)
Relationships can be difficult, but the real question is whether a difficult relationship is healthy or unnecessarily tough. This question is examined by Shayla McDaniel in her single ‘Let Me Breathe (How to Break Our Hearts)’. Inspired by her own relationship that wasn’t good for either party, she challenges us to really consider our relationships and whether we stay in them because we have grown used to everything.
Featuring drums from Peter Mansen of Deep Sea Diver, the single really has you thinking while getting into her sound. A multi-instrumentalist, she recorded the guitar over Mansen’s drums before starting on the vocals. Singing what she felt about her own experience, she crafted this engaging single which showcases why she has an ever-growing fanbase.
The light guitars that open ‘Let Me Breathe (How to Break Our Hearts)’ pull you in before the beats creep up on you. There is a great indie rock vibe to the melody that has you moving to it. The horns that blast through on the chorus are wonderful as they add a burst of light to the melody. As the single progresses, there are new tones that tap across your senses adding an almost plucky vibe to the music.
McDaniel’s vocals have a contemplative feeling to them as she opens up through the lyrics. The lyrics are a glimpse into the thoughts of someone who is struggling in a relationship. The chorus is a moment of clarity and understanding regarding the relationship and whether it is healthy to stay in it. There is a great rise and fall to her vocal performance with a deeper tone on the verses that burst into something more empowering on the chorus. This is a great sonic representation of the thought and emotional process many people go through when really considering the situation they find themselves in.
Shayla McDaniel has you riding the thought and emotional waves of ‘Let Me Breathe (How to Break Our Hearts)’ while thinking about your own relationships. With lyrics that walk you through the thought process of someone questioning how healthy their relationship is, the single gets you really thinking. This is combined with a really engaging melody that has you moving to her rhythm.
Find out more about Shayla McDaniel on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
