Every so often, an album arrives that reminds you why choral music remains one of the most powerful and human forms of artistic expression. Welsh composer Nathan James Dearden's debut choral album i breathe is one of those albums. Ahead of its release on 6 November, I had the opportunity to hear the record early, and it's nothing short of extraordinary.
Released on Signum Classics, i breathe brings together fifteen works written across the last decade, performed by three ensembles that have played a defining role in Dearden's musical journey: the National Youth Choir of Wales, The Choir of Royal Holloway, and Kantos Chamber Choir. Rather than feeling like a retrospective, the album feels remarkably unified, as though these pieces have been quietly in conversation with one another all along.
What is immediately striking is the album's emotional honesty. Dearden's writing feels deeply rooted in place, community and memory, but never weighed down by them. Instead, these themes emerge naturally through rich harmonies, intimate textures and moments of breathtaking restraint. Breath itself becomes a musical force, not simply as a technical device but as a symbol of connection, reflection and shared humanity.
The album effortlessly moves between the sacred and the everyday. Works such as Three Motets, featuring cellist Maxim Calver, showcase Dearden's gift for creating atmosphere, while Morals + Interludes offers something more personal and contemporary, drawing from the lived experiences and memories of the singers who first performed the work. The result is a collection that feels both ambitious and accessible.
Particularly captivating is the title track, i breathe, a work that has already gained significant recognition, winning 'Best Music Creator' at the 2022 Making Music UK Awards. Hearing it within the larger context of the album reveals its true power. The setting of poetry by Ken Jones, Paul Chambers and Arwyn Evans unfolds with remarkable patience, creating a sound world that feels suspended between landscape, silence and song. It is one of those rare pieces that seems to linger long after the final note fades.
Equally impressive is Everything about us: Now it's my time, written for the National Youth Choir of Wales. Built around the power of young voices and collective expression, it grows from individual contributions into something much larger and more profound. It is uplifting without sentimentality and offers one of several moments on the album where Dearden demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the emotional possibilities of choral music.
What makes i breathe so compelling is how it balances complexity with warmth. Contemporary classical music can sometimes feel intellectually distant, but Dearden's music repeatedly invites listeners in. There is sophistication here, certainly, but it is always in service of communication. Whether drawing on Welsh musical traditions, exploring ritual and belonging, or simply allowing voices to breathe together in harmony, every track feels purposeful.
For audiences already familiar with Dearden's growing reputation as one of Wales' most exciting contemporary composers, i breathe will feel like a landmark release. For newcomers, it serves as the perfect introduction. The performances throughout are superb, delivered by ensembles that clearly understand and believe in the music they are singing. Their connection to the composer is evident in every phrase.
As an album, i breathe is reflective, beautiful and profoundly moving. More importantly, it demonstrates why Nathan James Dearden has become such an important voice in contemporary Welsh music. This is not simply a collection of choral works. It is a statement of artistic identity, community and gratitude, sung back by the choirs that helped shape the composer himself.
When the album is released on 6 November, listeners should make time for it. In a world that rarely pauses, i breathe offers an opportunity to do exactly that. And after an early listen, I can confidently say that it is well worth taking a breath for.