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Artist: Chad Lawson
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Chad Lawson:

Where We Are

World-renowned pianist, podcaster, and certified breathwork educator Chad Lawson has announced Where We Are, a new album of original solo piano works inspired by messages from his fans about how his music has affected their lives. Lawson is known for exploring the intersection between music and wellness with chart-topping contemporary classical releases and his iHeart Radio Award-nominated podcast Calm It Down, which explores mental health topics and meditation techniques soundtracked by Chad’s music. Lawson’s music has struck a chord with listeners worldwide, with plays of his recordings totaling a billion streams. His last two albums breathe and You Finally Knew have received over 700MM streams, unprecedented in the classical genre.

A certified breathwork expert, Lawson has shared the lead single, “Sanctuary,” along with an accompanying music video to mark World Breathing Day, April 11th, a global celebration of the practice of conscious breathing. On the track he plays a delicate piano melody in an almost-cyclical repetition. “It sets the theme of what the album is,” he notes. “‘Sanctuary’ is the place where you personally find healing. People want to be gentle with themselves and feel okay, but they don’t know how.”

Coinciding with the announcement and release of “Sanctuary,” Chad is partnering with the International Breathwork Foundation for a Zoom workshop titled “Healing through Music and Breathwork.” Chad’s live piano playing will be interwoven with a conscious connected breath session led by Lauren Chelec Cafritz. The session will happen on April 11 at 4pm ET/1pm PT/9pm CET. Tickets are free here: https://ibfbreathwork.org/world-breathing-day-april-11/

“My role is to impact the heart rather than impress the mind,” he notes. “That’s how I see my music. Right now, it seems like everyone is very tired. So, I’m trying to meet people Where They Are—which is where the name of the album came from. I’m going to be in the thick of it with them. I’m putting my hands out and saying, ‘I’ll hold you through this’.”

Chad Lawson:

breathe - Guided Breathwork Edition

Pianist and Composer Chad Lawson Announces breathe (guided breathwork edition) - New Deluxe Album - Featuring Spoken Guided Breathwork Tracks and More

World-renowned pianist Chad Lawson has released breathe (guided breathwork edition), a new deluxe edition of his luminous album breathe, today via Decca Records US. Released for Mental Health Awareness Month, the album includes a series of guided breathwork tracks, with Lawson’s soothing voice guiding listeners through simple techniques. Listen to the album HERE.

As both the creator and host of the iHeartRadio Award-nominated podcast Calm It Down, Lawson has established himself as an essential voice exploring the intersection of music and wellness. Says Lawson of the album: “I created breathe (guided breathwork edition) to offer an accessible and engaging experience for listeners seeking relaxation and balance. This album combines calming breathwork techniques with the emotive power of music, providing an easy-to-follow journey towards inner peace. I'm passionate about supporting mental health, and I hope this album can provide comfort and relief during life's challenges.”

Chad Lawson:

drift

Pianist/composer Chad Lawson releases ‘drift’ (Decca Records US). The EP is a collection of reimagined soothing piano reworks of songs from his highly praised and chart-topping release, breathe.

The music was specially arranged to allow you to be lulled to a peaceful sleep with each passing track

Designed to gradually slow your heart rate as you listen from beginning to end, each song on the five-track EP slows by exactly 10 beats per minute – with the first song starting at 80 BPM and ending at an ideal 40 BPM as you gently drift to sleep. It’s a peaceful and purposeful journey into a blissful sleep.

Says Chad of drift, “drift is the perfect album for those looking to drift off peacefully into dreamland. I’ve recreated five of my favorite pieces from my last recording, breathe, with a serene minimalist texture as each song progressively becomes slower in tempo, with an extra layer of softness and stillness added for your ultimate relaxation. May each note of this release carry you off to an oasis deep in dreamland, far away from reality.”

The focus track off the EP, “with you (sleep rework),” is accompanied by a hypnotic visualizer that embodies the soothing spirit of drift. 

Chad Lawson:

breathe

World-renowned pianist Chad Lawson has announced his luminous double album breathe, set for release on September 23 via Decca Records US. Featuring both solo piano compositions and orchestrated arrangements, breathe is a heart-felt invitation to pause and enjoy a cathartic moment of release. Each melody purposefully brushes across the canvas of emotions, allowing a tremendous depth of feeling to shine through every moment. “With this album I really wanted to create something where anyone can sit back, close their eyes, and release everything they’ve been holding inside,” says the NC-based composer, who’s devoted much of the past few years to studying the science behind calming music and its neurological effects. “My hope is that this music can help people exhale and finally let all that go.”

Co-produced by Lawson and London-based orchestrator Geoff Lawson, breathe came to life at the legendary Abbey Road Studios (the same facility where he recorded You Finally Knew, whose standout track “Stay” climbed the Billboard Classical chart for 111 weeks). The lavishly orchestrated opening section features the lush string work of cellist Peter Gregson, violinist Esther Yoo, and members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Chad Lawson:

Christmas in My Dreams

Composer and pianist Chad Lawson presents his new holiday EP, Christmas in My Dreams. Showcasing Lawson's signature emotive sound, the four-track collection includes a unique collaboration between Lawson and the vocals of adored singer Dinah Washington, with Chad accompanying the vocal track of Dinah's enchanting version of "Silent Night." Listen to this never-before-heard version here and the full EP here.

 

In addition to the standout arrangement of "Silent Night," the EP also features three new renditions of well-loved holiday tunes such as "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." The end result is an instant classic that is sure to become a part of many Christmases to come. 

Chad Lawson:

When the Party's Over

Pianist and composer Chad Lawson shares his cover of Billie Eilish's song "When the Party's Over" today; listen/watch HERE. The track is Lawson's first release since he shared his album You Finally Knew last fall; check it out HERE.

"A great song is a great song no matter the genre or instrument," says Lawson. "When I first heard this track, I was geeking how FINNEAS crafted such a unique melody based on his chordal theme; so creative. Add Billie's unabashed vulnerability to the mix and you have the artistic marriage of head & heart. I knew this song would resonate with just a piano."

With You Finally Knew, Lawson sought to create an album that would be "an invitation for self-reflection." Overwhelmed by the number of people reaching out to express how his music has helped them through difficult times-especially during the pandemic-he launched a new podcast, Calm it Down. Passionate about how music can help people, reduce stress levels and improve emotional health, the podcast seemed to be the next logical step and a great way of connecting with and helping his audience. Live across all DSPs, new episodes are released every Tuesday. Calm it Down is now nominated for an iHeart Radio Podcast award. The virtual awards show will be broadcast across streaming platforms and iHeartMedia radio stations on January 21.

Chad Lawson:

You Finally Knew

Pianist and composer Chad Lawson releases his new solo piano album, You Finally Knew, recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios. "You Finally Knew is an invitation of self-reflection," explained Chad Lawson. "Beckoning us to pause and look inside ourselves, to see what makes each of us uniquely us. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be honest with ourselves as we unintentionally set aside even the smallest life-giving activities to address everyday obligations."

Chad Lawson:

Prelude In D Major

Composer and pianist Chad Lawson released his major label solo piano debut, Stay, on May 1 via Decca Records US.  Where minimalism and melody meet, the five track EP and title track "Stay," is a paean to inner peace and a clarion call to just exhale and breathe. You can pre-order the EP and listen to the single here. You can watch the accompanying visualizer here. A modern-day master of reinvention, Lawson has now released; Prelude In D Major.

Chad Lawson:

Stay

Composer and pianist Chad Lawson announces the release of his major label solo piano debut, Stay, set for May 1 via Decca Records US.  Where minimalism and melody meet, the five track EP and title track "Stay," is a paean to inner peace and a clarion call to just exhale and breathe. You can pre-order the EP and listen to the single here. You can watch the accompanying visualizer here.  

A modern-day master of reinvention, Lawson eschews both the trend of ancient instruments and New Age-y electronic clichés commonly heard in today's wellness music, relying only on his faithful piano, his emotional signature sound and eclectic taste for the five original songs on the EP. From the self-reflective "Stay" to the overall theme of the EP, Lawson strikes a delicate balance between the intimate and universal. "I'm just trying to invite people to take a moment and reconnect with who they are" says Lawson. "The music I make is meant to create calm." "It's about finding those times that are fleeting but buffer the soul." The music is both peaceful and transfixing.