Today, “Captain” Kirk Douglas, the legendary guitarist for The Roots, released his third single of the year, titled “Breathe In.” The song marks his third single this year following “We Can Be One” and “Over The Ocean” and comes ahead of his second solo studio LP, New Unknown, which is set to release on Nov. 4 via Whole Leap Records.
“Breathe In” is a laid-back psychedelic rock tune that also acts as an ode to meditation. The inspiration for the song came to Douglas during the turbulence of the pandemic. “A lot of people experienced trauma over the past few years. There were divisions in families, friendships, and relationships. However, it brought up the need to do internal healing,” Douglas said of the song in a press release.
On “Breathe In,” he sings about believing in the healing power of sound and how breathing can be a guide to befriending and encouraging resilience. In the second verse of the chorus, he smoothly croons, “Believe in how/ When broken we can mend/ Believe in sound/ Vibration is your friend,” eloquently guiding the listener to natural internal salve.
Douglas is accompanied by Peter Readman on the song, brilliantly blending acoustic kit, picked guitar, wavey bass and smooth orchestral strings with his calming vocals to create a balanced and melodic acid symphony. “All of the other drugs and medicines weren’t working,” Douglas added. “We’ve got to return to the body’s self-healing abilities through breath. Music is a great healer.”
Listen to “Breath In” Below: