Breathing Space Confronts Pain and Humanity in “Bad Posture”

Houston-based duo Breathing Space, made up of producer Emi Salinas and vocalist Maura Dooley, has carved out a reputation for crafting music that feels like a late-night conversation with your closest friend. Their work is equal parts tender, confessional, and sonically intoxicating. Their latest release, “Bad Posture,” continues that tradition while pushing their artistry into deeper emotional terrain.

At its core, “Bad Posture” is a character study, a portrait painted through sound. Emi describes the inspiration as seeing Maura through fresh eyes at the start of their friendship. She appeared far beyond her years, carrying lifetimes of weight, yet still shimmering with vulnerability and humanity. That image becomes the spine of the track. Maura’s smoky, blues-soaked vocals bend around phrases that feel lived in, while Emi’s lofi textures and nostalgic chords create a soft canvas for her words to land.

The title itself is a metaphor. Bad posture here is not just physical, but emotional, the way trauma and unspoken hurt can weigh down a body over time. Instead of flattening it into cliché, Breathing Space delivers it with an honesty that feels both intimate and universal. The arrangement is stripped but purposeful, letting every subtle crack in the vocal delivery resonate, while warm production flourishes flicker like streetlights in the background.

What makes “Bad Posture” so compelling is its humanity. It is not just about one person, but about the way we see ourselves in others. The tequila drinker, the cigarette holder, the smile that hides grief, the eyes that carry storms. The song dares listeners to look closer, to notice the small signs of pain in those around them, and to choose empathy over indifference.

As the final single from their forthcoming EP JAMSANDWICH, “Bad Posture” sets the stage for Breathing Space’s first true era. With its blend of lofi production, R&B warmth, and soul-baring lyricism, it is clear the duo is not just making background music for playlists. They are building worlds you want to live inside.

With “Bad Posture”, Breathing Space invites us to slow down, see people fully, and recognize that hurt is something we all share. It is a reminder that connection, even in brokenness, is still sacred.

“Bad Posture” feels like such a vivid character sketch. What was it like to write about someone you are so close to?

Honestly, it makes it a whole lot easier, but all the more scary. In songwriting, it sometimes feels like you’re called to write in extremes and absolutes, and there was always this constant fear that she would feel I wasn’t really painting her accurately, or that I was trivializing the weight she feels all the time.

The title is both literal and metaphorical. How did that concept take shape during the songwriting process?

I really always wanted to make a little anthem for all my fellow slouched backs and anyone who’s always getting reminded to stand up straight. And so from that silly, literal idea, I, of course, wanted to dig deeper and find some sort of significance within it and the thread that maybe connects all of us with these crooked spines.

Your sound sits at the intersection of lofi, R&B, and soul. How do you balance intimacy with polish in production?

We always prioritize intimacy in the production, and what is perceived as polish likely exists as a byproduct. Letting things breathe as openly as possible grants us so much space in a mix that it might sound polished. But in truth, polish is never our intention. We’re always trying to age and beat up our sounds, so it’s quite gratifying to hear it be referred to as polished.

JAMSANDWICH is about to mark a new era for Breathing Space. How does this EP define where you are headed?

This EP is going to serve as a kind of signpost for what Breathing Space has always been at its core, and a representation of our sonic identity up to this point. Just two Texas kids trying shit in their bedroom with no expectations, just making things we’d want to vibe to. Think of it as an entry point into our discography for any new listeners.

You have described this track as a way to see humanity in others. How do you hope listeners carry that into their own lives?

I just want people to recognize the pain in one another. I just want to offer another reason for people to approach one another with kindness. Be open to people. That’s all, really.