Fresh Breath’s “Through My Window”: A Feel-Good, Lush Alt-Country Anthem of Growing Up and Embracing Life
An electric riff breezes through your speakers. It’s accompanied by melodic, laid-back, charming vocals. It’s Fresh Breath, and their single, “Through My Window”; the title track off their full-length album. And it’s a feel-good, lush, alt-country, contemporary song about growing up and being okay with it.
Josh & Katie Pascoe are the husband/wife, dynamic duo behind Fresh Breath. And the pair are exactly that. Their approach to songwriting and performing have garnished them praise and accolades over their decade-long career as a formidable staple in the music community in Canada. Through My Window (November 2023) serves as the follow-up to their “pandemic piece”, How Did I Get Here, the six-song strong EP that garnered several award nominations with The International Singer Songwriter Association, and with The Canadian Independent Music Video Awards.
Now armed with their “Through My Window” single, the pair have turned out another track-prepped for the listener’s replay button.
“This song was inspired by artist Madison Cunningham,” says Fresh Breath. “After hearing one of her incredible guitar riffs, Josh started playing with a new spark. By the time the riff was created, Josh had already produced a rough demo for the song in our home studio. When he played it for Katie, she instantly started singing the lyrics out loud. The words just slipped out, as soon as she opened her mouth. As if the idea had been waiting in the wings for years. With a few tweaks and changes here and there, the whole song was recorded as a demo within an hour. Later, the group re-recorded the track in studio with their full band and producer Brett Humber of Sound Foundry Studios.”
The track serves as one of ten new songs from the Through My Window album due out this winter. It’s a head-swaying, groove-infused, campfire, open-road, late-night cocktail jam – building to a rushing crescendo. “When I grow up, I won’t give up, if I grow up at all,” Katie croons over the melody. “Through My Window” sets the stage for an album devoid of filler, each song a continuation from the last, a journey to the next.
“This is a record you can truly listen to from beginning to end,” says Fresh Breath. “Each track brings to the table something unique and special. Carefully crafted with a real 70’s rock vibe like Van Morrison met with Fleetwood Mac & Tom Petty over coffee, while Madison Cunningham and Kacey Musgraves walk in the cafe door.”
Laid down in the studio with the accompaniment of John Huff on drums and vocals, Ken Ross on bass and vocals, and Brett Humber on synth, midi, guitar, and vocals, Fresh Breath says having each player’s own personality on “Through My Window” gives the entire record a “rock n roll edge”. “You can hear the sweat drip from Josh’s fingers as he slides on guitar,” they promise, adding: “The breath work in Katie’s shivering flute solos will make the hair stand on your arms. The pounce of the rhythm section drives steady like a well-oiled machine as John and Ken play off each other in real-time. And the group vocals throughout the record thrive with originality and various timbres.”
Fresh Breath continues to swim upstream in their breakaway from conventional alt-rock records and produce an entirely new spin to the genre. Turning away from the mold and designing a free-flowing soundscape for the listener, they have truly embodied their name. For they are, indeed, a Fresh Breath.
Watch the lyric video for “Through My Window” below and learn more about Fresh Breath via our mini-interview.
You’ve been on these pages before, and welcome back! What have you been doing the last few months?
Thank you so much for having us back! We recently returned from a one-month-long tour, out to Alberta and through the prairies. Playing for various clubs, breweries & house concerts to promote our new record and new single. We were also able to enjoy some free time in the mountains and visit friends and family along the way, which was great.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Through My Window.”
Josh: The writing of this song was a unique experience for us. We had been listening to a lot of Madison Cunningham. Her melodic riffs and Joni Mitchell-like tone of voice really spoke to both of us. I had come up with the guitar part, a repetitive lick in D major, and put a simple drum beat and bass line behind it in our home studio. Katie came up to the studio and asked what I was working on. So I showed her. She was inspired instantly and grabbed a pen. Sitting down to write out what would become the final lyrics in a matter of minutes. Those lyrics came with a melody as well. So, we set up a microphone and within an hour of this song’s inception we had the scratch track ready. When it was time to head into Sound Foundry Studios in Kingsville to record the song for the album, it went just about as magically as when it was created. Our rhythm section came in (John Huff – drums / Ken Ross – bass) and put their own spin on the track (with consummate professionalism) and we were off to the races. We layered many guitar tracks trying to capture the essence of the lyrics with swirling guitars. Our producer Brett Humber wanted a full song-length guitar-take to build off of though, “No looping…for the emotion” he said. I feel it really worked. Once it was time to lay down the vocal, Katie had it dialed in, and we had our title track and first single from the album.
What’s a perfect scene for you to look at if you we able to choose what’s outside your window?
Josh: I would have to say, looking through the window of the van, after playing a show, at an inland lake somewhere in Northern Ontario.
Katie: We recently stayed overnight in Jasper, AB. And I have to say, waking up to look out the windows in the van to see the ruggedness of the mountains and wildlife was stunningly picture perfect.
What Canadian album do you have that would surprise even us?
Hmmm…well, we have a signed copy of Mother Mother’s ‘Eureka’ album! It was gifted to Katie for her birthday one year when they played at The Loop in Windsor. We also have a copy of Canadian fingerstyle guitarist Don Ross’ ‘Any Colour’ album. Which is random but excellent. We saw him live at Place Concorde in Windsor as well.
You’ve been making music for a while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Katie: The best piece of advice I can think of, is…to just go for it. Don’t think that you have to “know” what you’re doing to start. The only way you will learn and grow is if you’re out there taking risks.
Josh: My advice is to pay attention to what you are jealous of. If you’re scrolling and see other bands or artists doing something that makes you jealous. It’s ok. Pay attention to that. It means it’s something that you want. Don’t hold contempt for others who are doing well. Use that emotion as fuel to begin your journey to get there.