Drawing us in with a stripped back and introspective vocal performance, NOKA open Breathe with a raw authenticity and an existential message before expanding into a luscious alternative rock energy with the hook, “Let me breathe again…”
The opus reminds us of early Garbage with the echoed vocal design, the dynamic guitars and the overarching high emotional quotient that manifests with the song. We appreciate the creative ebbs and flows of the track that keep us enthralled. The poetic prowess is tangible and we can imagine this being epic to experience live in a rock venue!
Speaking on the release, NOKA confess, “The story behind Breathe comes from a very real and personal place. It’s about the way raising children can completely absorb your life — how every moment, every breath, revolves around them. You give everything, because you love them deeply. But there’s also a quiet truth underneath: in the middle of that love, you can lose the space that belongs just to you. And one day, they grow up and move on, leaving you with both pride and the realization of how much of yourself you gave away.”
NOKA continue, “Breathe isn’t about not loving them — it’s about acknowledging the need to breathe, to exist as yourself again, even inside the love. It’s a feeling many parents know, but rarely put into words.”
We learn that NOKA is built around three core members – Mariana on vocals, Pedro slaying on guitar, and Ana on bass. The trio met through their local music scene and quickly bonded over a shared love for emotional, guitar-driven rock!
Inspired by the honesty of ’90s grunge and modern indie rock, the song captures emotion in a simple, powerful way. NOKA produced it themselves, later refining it with a UK-based engineer. The result is a mix of DIY spirit and polished depth. Now for the live shows! We have added Breathe to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from NOKA!