One Breath by Kaia Fowler
Now available!
“One Breath is, well, breathtaking! It was one of the best albums I received in 2022. Kaia Fowler is a gifted songwriter and vocalist.”
“I picked up your One Breath from my mailbox on my way into town, opened it immediately and played it in the car. And when I got home, I played it again with lyric sheet in hand, and shed a few tears. I thought of other widows who, like me, would appreciate not only your beautiful voice, but the juxtaposition of imagery from the natural world, and journeying through grief. So I have ordered three more copies. Congratulations on a very moving, beautiful CD.”
Listen to “Take Shelter in Love” - Track 2 on One Breath!
Newest Album: One Breath
Release date June 24, 2022!
Born out of personal grief and a journey back to wholeness, One Breath honors our losses, offers balm to ease the healing, and invites us to open our hearts to joy. One Breath features songs Kaia Fowler wrote in response to experiences of transition and challenge—for her personally and for us as a global society. Although many of the songs explore difficult themes, like grief and injustice, the spirit of overcoming through love prevails. As a work, the album encourages a sense of Oneness through contemplation of our relationships with ourselves, each other, and all life.
Grammy Award-winning engineer Charlie Pilzer of Tonal Park, Maryland, mixed most of the album tracks. Buzz Kemper of Audio for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin mastered the album. Musically, Fowler’s exquisite use of dynamics and melodic phrasing in the vocals define the album. Fowler’s voice has been described as subtly reminiscent of classic folk singer-songwriters Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez for its beauty, range and full vibrato. The album’s sonic landscape spans from songs with solo acoustic guitar and vocals to songs with delightful layers of instrumentation that may include harmony vocals and bouzouki (Joe Jencks), electric guitar (Fowler), flutes (Peter Phippen), harmonica (Tricia Alexander), bass (Phippen), drums (Caleb Wood), or singing bowl (Fowler).
Songs like “Where the Water Meets the Land,” and “Will I Grow?” with their beguiling fingerstyle hooks and chord arrangements enchant listeners. Upbeat tracks like the bluesy “Ridin’ Along” and country-influenced “Life Is So Beautiful,” groove with rhythm sections. Story songs like “Eclipse” and “Obon, Dance of Light” round out this profoundly beautiful album.
Kaia Fowler writes and performs music as ministry of wellbeing, and her soulful vocal delivery and guitar playing evoke an emotional response in listeners. Lines like, “When we feel that we are one —one blood, one breath, one Earth, one sky— then at last we shall overcome, and on the wings of freedom fly, fly, fly,” from “Take Shelter in Love” (feat. Joe Jencks), speak to our collective longing for transformation and healing.
Similarly, the title track, “One Breath,” explores the meaning within a single breath, from the first breath to the last. Written prior to the pandemic, the song takes on a more powerful presence in the context of the horrible disease caused by the COVID-19 virus and the tragic deaths it has caused worldwide. Ultimately, One Breath resonates comfort, courage, and connection.
See the lyrics for all songs on One Breath!
Sample the album tracks below
This video plays about 30 seconds from each track, with each segment hand selected by Kaia to showcase the song style and feel. Enjoy!
Sample tracks from the album One Breath
Cover Art
Back cover of CD wallet
See the complete song lyrics for all songs on the album One Breath!
Inside left panel of CD wallet.
Inside right panel of CD wallet.
Gratitude . . .
Special thanks for the amazing musicians who contributed to the album:
The wonderful Tricia Alexander performed blues harmonica for "Ridin' Along". (Yes!)
Joe Jencks, a well-loved international folk artist, arranged and recorded harmonies and bouzouki for "Take Shelter in Love."
Peter Phippen contributed bass and bamboo flutes for "Obon, Dance of Light" and bass for “Ridin’ Along.”
Caleb Wood played drums on "Eclipse", "Life Is So Beautiful" and "Ridin' Along."
The following people also made special contributions to the One Breath project and receive these thanks and credits from Kaia:
Album sponsors—you know who you are and you chose to remain anonymous—but your names and gifts will ever be appreciated by Kaia, along with your patience with the two+ years it took to bring this album into the world. This music is your contribution at work in the world, too. Thank you.
My mother, Karen Fowler, for steadfast support and encouragement and for all the times you’ve listened when I needed to talk throughout my life. You’re an inspiration to me!
Caleb Wood for the cover photography (and for humoring my unusual idea for presenting the collage artwork), and also for your playfulness and ideas.
Isaac Wood for helping to make the cover photo possible through perseverance and patience. (Thanks for holding on and holding still with me!) Also, for all the inspiration and encouragement over the years.
Always, to my dad, for valuing the music so much!
Nath Dresser for One Breath photography and for providing a keen listening ear to review the mixes and master. You put my mind at ease and brought a laugh along the way.
Dee Hogland for your friendship and gentle artistry in graphic design for the album. Your partnership in this project means so much!
Ken F. for the loan of the guitar that made the “One Breath” song arrangement and voicing possible and for being there on the journey.
Gail McCoy for the collage art featured in the cover photo (used with licensed permission). Your art inspires.
Friends and family, all! You encouraged me when I felt discouraged by the obstacles in my path. You helped me keep life in perspective. You loved me for who I am, not how good my album turned out! You helped me have purpose and companionship. You shared in my sorrows and joys. Thank you, always! We have each other.
Thank you again to all who pre-ordered and donated to support the album project.
Track details:
1. Ridin’ Along KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar TRICIA ALEXANDER harmonica
PETER PHIPPEN bass CALEB WOOD drums [5:25]
2 Take Shelter in Love (feat. Joe Jencks) KAIA FOWLER lead vocals, guitar
JOE JENCKS harmony vocals, bouzouki [5:20]
3 Eclipse KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitars CALEB WOOD drum set [6:48]
4 O’ Pacific Shore KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [4:05]
5 Standing KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [3:32]
6 Harborage Road KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [5:53]
7 Milkweed (poem) KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [1:27]
8 Will I Grow? KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitars [4:45]
9 Time Wears Thin KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [4:10]
10 Obon, Dance of Light KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar PETER PHIPPEN bass, bamboo flutes. Lyrics inspired by Melanie Finney, Maya Angelou “When Great Trees Fall,” and “The Water Is Wide” song [4:40]
11 You Feel So Near KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar [4:23]
12 Life Is So Beautiful KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar CALEB WOOD drum set [5:06] 13 There Is Joy KAIA FOWLER vocal, guitar [3:48]
14 Where the Water Meets the Land KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitars
Lyrics inspired by wisdom teachings, full credits at this link. [5:15]
15 One Breath KAIA FOWLER vocals, guitar, singing bowl [4:35]
Album credits:
Song composition and lyrics by KAIA FOWLER.
Vocal harmony arrangements on Take Shelter in Love by JOE JENCKS.
Recording engineering by KAIA FOWLER, except tracks by Peter Phippen engineered by IVAR LUNDE, JR. at Skyline Studios.
Mixing by CHARLIE PILZER of Tonal Park, Maryland, except "Ridin' Along" mixed by STEVE YATES of Chicago, Illinois.
Mastering by BUZZ KEMPER, Audio for the Arts, Madison, Wis.
Interior photography by NATH DRESSER.
Front cover photo by CALEB WOOD.
Back cover photo by KAIA FOWLER.
Graphic design by DEE HOGLUND.