The Breath are a contemporary alt-folk duo from Manchester, UK, made up of Ríoghnach Connolly (vocals, flute, songwriter) and Stuart McCallum (guitar, composer). They formed the project in 2016 after meeting on Manchester’s gig scene, an unlikely but deeply creative pairing: Connolly bringing a powerful, soulful voice and folk roots, and McCallum adding his understated brilliance on guitar and expansive arrangements. McCallum was previously a long time member of The Cinematic Orchestra before forming The Breath.
Their music blends elements of folk, rock, ambient, and Celtic influences, all driven by Connolly’s poetic, deeply personal lyrical style. Themes in their songs often explore identity, memory, cultural displacement, grief, love, and social justice. Their emotive live performances, from full band to stripped-back duo sets, have earned them acclaim across the folk and indie scenes.
Ríoghnach Connolly grew up in Armagh, Northern Ireland, steeped in traditional music and later expanded into varied influences like soul, jazz, and blues. She has been recognized individually, including a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Folk Singer of the Year (2019), plus nominations for Best Folk Singer and Best Duo/Group with McCallum.
Albums
The Breath’s music has been released primarily on Real World Records (Peter Gabriel’s label) and includes a mix of full albums, revisited reworkings, and standalone singles.
Carry Your Kin (2016) – Debut album blending folk, ambient textures, and indie elements; introduced their expansive, cinematic sound.
Let the Cards Fall (2018) – Sophomore album with layered arrangements and a full band, expanding on their alt-folk fusion.
Only Stories (Let the Cards Fall Revisited) (2019) – Reimagined acoustic take on songs from Let the Cards Fall, featuring two new tracks.
Something On Your Mind / Remembering Mountains (two-track release, 2021) – A tribute inspired by folk icon Karen Dalton.
Land Of My Other (2023) – Third studio album featuring deeply lyrical writing and rich musical landscapes, produced with Thomas Bartlett.