We’re all looking for ways to overcome our daily stressors. The idea of there being a free, universally accessible tool that can slow a racing heart, calm a frazzled mind, and help us reconnect with our inner world sounds too good to be true. But pianist, composer, and podcaster Chad Lawson’s latest album, breathe, is a reminder of the power of our breath as a level for calming our often nervous nervous systems. breathe, along with his live pre-show breathwork sessions, are both musical experiences and mindfulness toolkits, equipping audience members with techniques they can apply to their daily lives─not the least being the ability to listen deeply to music.

The piano is, for Lawson, an agent of connection. He views his instrument as a family member, capable of strengthening bonds and holding space for challenging emotions through shared reflections. This communal functionality of the piano seeps into the ethos of his performances, wherein Lawson actively invites his audiences to enter into a relationship with the music and, in...