Breathe Owl Breathe

Breathe Owl Breathe emerged from Ann Arbor as a Michigan trio devoted to atmospheric and evocative acoustic sounds that blend folk roots with the exploratory spirit of indie rock. Songwriter Micah Middaugh, who handles vocals, guitar, and banjo, joined cellist Andrea Moreno-Beals—also a banjo player and vocalist—to establish the group in that city. Middaugh grew up in a small Northern Michigan community, absorbing his musical passions from his father, who performed on a homemade banjo and the concertina. Moreno-Beals arrived from Colombia yet passed most of her youth in Ann Arbor, revealing early skill on the cello. After finishing high school she received scholarship offers from several conservatories, yet she lost interest in the rigid demands of classical training. A mutual acquaintance brought the pair together in 2001 at an ice-cream stand, sparking an immediate friendship and creative partnership; that same night they assisted another friend in shooting a homemade zombie film using a VHS camera. Lansing percussionist Trevor Hobbes completed the lineup, allowing the trio to begin regular performances across the Midwest. Their debut, The Fall Album, appeared in 2004 on Earthwork Music, a collective of socially and environmentally minded artists. Climb In arrived the following year and Canadian Shield in 2008, with consistent road work helping to build awareness. Ghost Glacier reached listeners in fall 2009 in CD, LP, and digital editions, while a further album was planned for 2010. Middaugh and Moreno-Beals also worked with guitarist and singer Sari Brown under the name Three Spoons Make Three. The group resurfaced in 2013 with Passage of Pegasus, which included contributions from Michael Hurley, Victoria Williams, Kyle Field of Little Wings, and Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and the Shins.