Sophia Kaloustian’s new single “Used To Breathe” is a love letter to love and its absence. The LA based artist is known for her lyrical storytelling and this song is an intimate and emotional reflection on the disorienting space left behind when a relationship ends. By blending indie and pop sounds Kaloustian has created a powerful song driven by the up-tempo track and her vocal delivery.
“Used To Breathe” is about losing a love that once felt like a part of you. The lyrics express the pain of that loss: “Ache in my chest / Cause the hole in my heart was a person.” She doesn’t just miss the person she loved, she misses the security of that relationship. Lines like “Scared of a future where I end up alone / Question my choice / Could’ve stayed and never known” highlight her fear of moving on versus staying in something familiar.
The song is also about taking back your identity. “Curl up in a ball / Try to block out the pain with the pressure / Pressure to find myself,” she sings, acknowledging the difficulty of rediscovering who she is outside of a relationship. The chorus, repeating “God I miss him loving me / Cause being in love’s how I used to breathe,” reinforces the idea that this love was a fundamental part of her life.
Sonically the track is understated. Vulnerable but strong. The production allows Kaloustian’s voice to shine through and every lyric to land. The repetition of “Used to breathe / You with me / Used to be” in the bridge lingers like a fading memory, emphasizing the lasting impact of what’s been lost.
By the end of the song there’s no answer—just the reality of facing life without the person who defined so much of it. “Used To Breathe” is a honest and painful song and proof that personal loss can be turned into a song that reaches far beyond the individual.
