“‘Breathe’ is about giving oneself a chance to breathe and sit in the greatness and profoundness of who we all are. There is a powerful destiny for all of us that is our sacred calling and our sovereign right to embrace,” DRMNGNOW—Yorta Yorta/Kaieltheban artist and rapper Neil Morris—tells Apple Music of his new single. “For so many of us, the sad reality of us committing to a path of our highest calling is that it’s often affected by outside influence and noise that drags us away and can destroy our sense of what is truly for us. This piece is an active antidote to that.” Morris developed the track layer by layer—keys, drums, then bass. “I was particularly affected by how the keys and the bass worked together. I felt that it came from somewhere so precious,” he says. “After sitting with it for a couple of months the story then came through quite quickly. “It’s been important for me to explore vulnerability through the Ngarwu project as a means of healing,” he says, speaking of his upcoming album, the title of which is the Yorta Yorta term for ‘listen’. “And not feeling that I need to present a strong veneer to the world in ways that are often expected of us, demanded even, to fit into archetypes of strength and being warriors. “For me, one of the things I have learnt to appreciate is that going deep into vulnerability is as strong as anything else we can do. It was important as a note to self through my own growth and healing through challenging experiences. I hope it may resonate with others to provide a sense of energy and support, as the title expresses: breathing through challenges to find pathways to sit in our strengths and blessings.” Listen to “Breathe” on FIRST, the playlist showcasing the best, freshest music from First Nations artists across Australia. It’s curated and updated every month by Wiradjuri woman Jaja Dare—if you hear something you like, add it to your library. The artwork was created in collaboration with Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie. Apple acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.