Q&A: Carmen Jane’s Single “How to Breathe” Is Refreshingly Raw
USING ART AS A DIARY — Spokane, WA–based artist Carmen Jane is not only an astonishing vocalist but also an instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocal engineer. Working with her bandmate, Benn Suede, the duo create dark and gloomy pop music that fits perfectly into the quintessential 21st century Sad Girl Summer playlist. Conjoining expertly crafted production and authentically raw fervor, Carmen Jane is an act you will not want to skip over.
Her new single, “How to Breathe,” showcases Jane’s beautifully melancholic and haunting voice surrounded by ambient sounds as her lyrics display the grief and sadness associated with losing a loved one. Jane and Suede have molded these incredibly heavy emotions into an exquisitely composed track, including sentimental mementos — like her fathers voice and handwriting — throughout the track and its artwork.
Read on to see Jane delve deeper into the meaningful nature of “How to Breathe” as well as how this track fits into the rest of her discography.
LUNA: How are you feeling about this release so far?
JANE: Free. This song is the closest thing to forward movement in grief that I’ve been able to find. I wrote it the week the world shut down in COVID and my life turned upside down in loss. My house was full of people due to everyone working at home in the pandemic so I borrowed a friend's RV, parked [it] in my driveway, and put a keyboard in it. I just needed a space for me to cry and write and just… be. The lyrics came quickly, the melody instinctual. It felt too simple at first. “You said I’d be just fine, you lied, left my body here to breathe without you. Goodbye don’t feel fine.” It felt so basic, and I wrestled with changing it to something more clever multiple times. But the words were how I felt. It was that simple. I wasn’t fine. “Goodbye” didn’t feel alright.
LUNA: The track has a really smooth yet emotive melody to it and touches on a really vulnerable time in your life. Why was it important for you to release this track for everyone to hear?
JANE: The song sat untouched for over a year before I felt safe enough to present it to someone for finishing. When I did, I entrusted it to my duo partner, Benn Suede. One evening I sat in his studio and played him the song live — just me and the piano. As I sang, he wept; I wept, we wept. I expected him to say that the song was meant for just me: an ode to my dad and my grief but probably not a fit for the current project we are working on. I was instead met with, “It’s perfect, let’s finish it.” He took such care with a song that was my entire heart and brokenness and helped me create a soundscape around it that was beautiful yet true; intricate yet simple. Benn held this song gently but brought it to its full potential by pushing for vocal takes that were genuine, not perfect. In fact, the vocals you hear in the final version were through constant flowing tears and sobs. When the final mix was settled on I remember feeling those exact words Benn uttered when he heard the song that first night. “It’s perfect… It’s finished.”
LUNA: A picture of you and your father is the cover art, and you even included his voice at the end of the track. What led to adding these personal touches?
JANE: The details in this song are what make the artistry and connection so special: the overlay of vocals, breaths and cries, my dad’s actual voice at the end saying goodbye, his handwriting on the cover art. Every decision surrounding this song was thoughtful and intentional. I wanted pieces of my dad to leak into every part of the process from beginning to end. All these details forced me to remember him, to honor him, and to allow him to be a part of my music even from the other side.
LUNA: Lyrically, which lines are you most proud of in this one?
JANE: This song is honest — simple in nature. I don't think I can say I am proud of any lyrics because I didn't really "think" of any of them. They just poured out. Unlike many songs I write, it was uncalculated. I hardly edited or changed anything because as I tried, it felt forced. The simplicity and rawness of where I was the moment when I wrote it won out over perfection or poetry.
LUNA: The music video for this track is equally as beautiful as the song. Can you share a favorite story from the making of the video?
JANE: The music video was a dream. I love working with my team at Factory Town. They helped shape a beautiful space for me. I was adamant that I wanted to feel everything for real. No fake tears, no forced emotion, no post additions. So, we created a space for me to grieve on camera. My husband put together a video of old footage that I didn't watch until the moment the camera began recording. Much of it was film from my childhood that I had never seen. It was beautiful and impactful and a full circle of feelings for me. I laughed, I cried, and I sat in the pain for the camera to see. We all feel this type of grief at some point in our lives. Many of us feel it multiple times. I wanted to do it "out loud.” We often feel this depth of pain in private and I think there is power in knowing you are not alone at that depth.
LUNA: How does "How to Breathe" compare to upcoming music from you?
JANE: All my music is personal but this took personal to another level. This song is somewhat set apart in the fact that it's a ballad (I don't have many of those). But its intention and intricacy carry through into the material that you will hear from me next. So stay tuned 'cause what Benn and I have cooking up is worth the anticipation.
LUNA: With this track out, what intentions do you have for the upcoming months?
JANE: We have sooo much material for you. Been working our tails off to create and craft and present something special. The music is growing and evolving, and we are always on the hunt for greatness. I truly believe it's the best material I've ever created, and I can't wait for you to hear it. We will also be taking some of it live on the road. So watch for those shows in your area.
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