In the interest of full disclosure, I am biased. I love the music of Levi Fuller. I think he is one of the most talented musicians I have ever laid my ears on. He is a treasure. I cherish his music and I think you should, too. What I love most about his music is his ability to evoke and emulate emotion in his songs. This song is no exception.
The song begins with 20 seconds of breathing before the guitar comes in. After the breathing and guitar come the words “I need you.” These words gradually build up to “I need you to help me remember to breathe.” The buildup to this poignant sentence hearkens to the building anticipation felt and the breath held during those days between election night and the day the results were finally called. A time when we all needed help remembering to breathe amid the anxiety, nerves, and anticipatory disappointment we feared we’d feel with our fellow countrymen.
The song itself contains some Nick Drake-esque elements in the guitar picking and vocal delivery. It feels like a subtle, reverent homage. This song, like many that pour out of the heart and soul of Levi Fuller, contains curated notes that are plucked with mindful intention. Each note plucked layers onto the notes that came before to create richness and depth.
To listen to music so beautiful, might cause one to be ashamed by the ugliness of the world. However, this song inspires me to remember to cherish those fleeting glimpses of beauty as I find them and, regardless of the outcomes of those contentious moments in life, to always remember to breathe.