Folk Roots Radio Episode 539: feat. Fresh Breath – The Covid Singles & More New Releases

Fresh Breath are a wonderful Cottam ON based duo, featuring Josh and Katie Pascoe, who are known for their upbeat attitude and a sound that blends together folk-rock, blues, pop, and country with a lot of heart and soul. They join us on Episode 539 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about how they spent their Covid-19 lockdown time – writing and releasing some great new singles, with accompanying videos, that really speak to the energy of the current moment. It’s a fun and uplifting conversation. As always, we wrap up the episode with more of the latest new releases, and this time around we include new music from The Gilberts, Rich Burnett, The Ebbs, Project Smok, Michael Lane, Loudon Wainwright III, and Darrell Scott. Check out the full playlist below.

Interview

Fresh Breath’s Josh & Katie Pascoe are probably two of the most positive people you’ll ever meet. In fact, they really walk the talk – proudly describing themselves as artists whose attitude is gratitude. They joined us via Zoom to record an interview for a socially distanced ‘Covid Times’ edition of our sister show, the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions. Unfortunately because of the ongoing pandemic, we haven’t been able to record any more video sessions, so we’ve switched to a socially distanced interview format similar to Folk Roots Radio. Since we started the Sun Parlour Coffee House Sessions, we’ve had 50 different artists/bands join us in the studio. You can check out the sessions online at sunparloursessions.com.

Josh and Katie Pascoe have released two albums as Fresh Breath, since they became a duo: “Us Against The World” (2017) & “The Big Picture” (2019).

You can check out the four songs/videos discussed in the interview below. Two of the songs deserve a special mention. “Tomorrow Today” was inspired by all the front line workers who stayed at work during the early part of the pandemic, and, as Josh and Katie say, chose courage over fear, every day. This video also features an American Sign Language interpretation by Josh’s mum, Ann Pascoe.

Their latest single “Like & Shares” is an upbeat fun sing-along jam, with an important message that reflects on our collective obsession with social media, and the potentially destructive impact the medium is having on our mental health and well-being. Josh and Katie describe it as a gentle reminder to be present and live in the moment – something that is so important during these strange Covid times.

For more information about Fresh Breath, visit freshbreathband.com.

That’s all we have time for. Thanks to all the artists who share their music with us, and thank you for listening. We have lots of great music and interviews to bring you on future episodes.

If you enjoy the music we play on this show and want to support the artists – many of whom aren’t able to play live at the moment because of the Covid-19 pandemic, don’t just stream their music – that earns them much less than a penny per play. Instead, buy their music – and really make a difference to their income. They’ll love you for it!

Listen

You can listen to this episode again on Soundcloud by following the link below. You can also listen to episodes of Folk Roots Radio, on demand, via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Tune-in Radio. (Click on the highlighted link to reach your chosen platform.)

Playlist

Nicolas & The Iceni (Theme)
Lucy She Rises
Roll Right (2019, self)

The Gilberts
Not Always
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Rich Burnett
I Can’t Give You All Of Mine
The Fog (2020, Self) CDN

The Ebbs
After Nine
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Project Smok
Headlifter (A. The Ivory Flute; B. Headlifter; C. Mohsen’s)
Bayview (2020, Self)

Fresh Breath
Tomorrow Today
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Interview: Fresh Breath‘s Josh & Katie Pascoe chat about how they spent their Covid-19 lockdown time, writing and releasing some great new singles.

Fresh Breath
Make It Together
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Fresh Breath
Time For A Change
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Fresh Breath
Likes & Shares
(single) (2020, Self) CDN

Michael Lane
Coming Home
(single) (2020, Greywood Records)

Loudon Wainwright III
A Perfect Day
I’d Rather Lead A Band (2020, Thirty Tigers)

Darrell Scott
A Satisfied Mind (Live) (feat. Robert Plant, Patty Griffin & Buddy Miller)
(single) (2020, Full Light Records / Soundly Music)