Stepping into Valborg Ólafs’s musical universe feels like entering an ethereal, evocative space, a heartwarming indie-folk dimension steeped in bucolic imagery and grateful, introspective lyricism. ‘Breathe With Me’ largely confirms our suspicions, following up on the project’s previous single ‘Shackles Me’, itself a welcome return to the music industry after a three-year drought. Caressing alt-pop melodies with organic folk arrangements (Bon Iver would be proud), Ólafs fully embodies the hypnotic allure of her Icelandic homeland, her luscious and elegant vocals following suit.
‘Breathe With Me’ can be seen as a piece steeped in personal experience; an emotional confession of sorts. To better understand its premise, listeners should widen their perspective on the subject matter, taking into account Valborg’s biographical events. Moving from the city to the countryside with her husband (near the infamous Icfelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull), the talented songstress had to learn to slow down and appreciate a more laidback way of living, something that comes through strongly in ‘Breathe With Me’.
Delving deeper into the record, Ólafs explains: “‘Breathe With Me’ came to me one morning as I sat in the kitchen drinking my first cup of coffee. I lit a candle and found myself thinking about writing exactly this, about arriving here beneath the mountains “Eyjafjöll”, where there is calm and a deep stillness in nature.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Breathe With Me’ now: