RESPIRE explore immigrant experience with “Keening”: a farewell to past selves and a search for connection

Respire, who recently announced the July 26 release of their fourth album, Hiraeth (Dine Alone Records) have shared a second track from the 10-song collection with today’s arrival of “Keening” and a companion visualizer.

The Toronto-based band previously explained that Hiraeth is a reflection on the immigrant experience, and now share how “Keening” is reflective of that overarching theme: “’Keening’ is a farewell to the past selves we left behind when we moved across the world in search of hope and a new life, an intense nostalgia and longing for memories that are now out of reach. It’s about the attempt to find connection through expression of music and music, even when there doesn’t seem to be anyone listening. ‘Keening’ is one of our densest orchestral arrangements, an ode to solemn chamber music presented in an aggressive, heavy package.”

The band previously released the song “Distant Light of Belonging” and an accompanying video featuring candid footage of the band that spans their time together. Brooklyn Vegan said the track “swirls together harsh screamo, melodic emo, metallic fury, uplifting horns, and more, and it’s a very triumphant first taste.”

Crafted over four years through a continuous exchange of demos and sheet music, Respire spent six months producing Hiraeth, with the invaluable contributions of recording engineer Sean Pearson and mixing and mastering engineer Jack Shirley, and numerous collaborators.

Catch the band live on August 1 in Toronto at The Royal Theatre and September 14 in Richmond, at The Broadberry, with Dark Days and Bright Nights.

Respire has been a pioneering force in the Canadian underground scene for ten years, building a cult-like following over their three critically acclaimed LPs: Black Line (2020), Dénouement (2018), and Gravity and Grace (2016). The seven-piece band is Egin Kongoli (vocals/guitar/synthesizer), Rohan Lilauwala (vocals/guitar), Darren Scarfo (vocals/guitar), Travis Dupuis (vocals/drums), Ben Oliver (bass guitar), Eslin McKay (vocals/violin/viola), and Emmett O’Reilly (vocals/trumpet). Respire pushes the boundaries of heavy music, intertwining intricate, uplifting orchestral arrangements with the intensity and urgency of emotional hardcore and the desperation of black metal.