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In a local indie scene that’s as restless as it is noisy, Breē offers something else entirely—an ambient, slow-burning sanctuary of sound. Their music doesn’t scream for attention. It waits. Patiently. Like a friend in the passenger seat of a quiet drive home. And when you finally listen—really listen—it’s like finding a letter you forgot you wrote to yourself.

But make no mistake: Breē isn’t a sonic accident. It’s a band born from deliberate craftsmanship, unlikely influences, and a shared longing for stillness amid chaos.

A Halfway House in Middle-earth

The name Breē isn’t random—it’s Tolkien-inspired. “In Middle-earth, Bree is a halfway house to rest, find peace, find shelter,” shares Arian, one of the founding members. “We aim for our songs to be just like that.”

Arian (guitars, vocals) and Paul (drums, vocals) were the first sparks of what would become Breē. They met back in 2013 at work, where their shared love for music led to the creation of the band’s first tracks: “Endless,” “Haze,” and “Dream.”

Vincent, a friend of Arian’s cousin, came in next. He was a guitarist at the time but transitioned to bass after the original bassist had to bow out due to an injury. Later, when Breē was on the verge of signing with Offshore Music, they brought in Potch—studio colleague turned third guitarist—to complete the puzzle.

Each member brought a distinct color to the Breē palette: Paul swayed to The Paper Kites and Turnover. Arian leaned into Turnover and Dashboard Confessional. Vincent was an OPM kid through and through, with a dash of Metallica, while Potch listed Hillsong as an influence.

Put them all together and you get Breē’s signature blend: dreamy, ambient, and quietly intense.

Signed, Sealed, Still Kind of Starstruck

The band is now under Offshore Music and distributed by Sony Music Philippines—a feat that’s both an honor and a challenge.

“It’s nerve-wracking because you know they’ll listen to every second,” they admit. “But it’s also food for the soul, because these are the same people who’ll say, ‘That sounds great.’ Sometimes.”

It’s the kind of pressure that pushes a band to polish their sound while staying true to themselves—and that tension, you can hear it in their debut album.

“A Dream of Sunrise”: A Lucid Reverie

If Breē’s debut album, A Dream of Sunrise, feels like falling asleep to your favorite memory on loop, that was the goal.

The band wanted to build something cohesive—like Turnover’s Peripheral Vision—an album where each track bleeds into the next, capturing their collective voice at a moment in time.

“We just really wanted the album to encapsulate who we were and what we wanted to sound like,” they say.

And while the ambient textures and cinematic layering weren’t part of the original plan, they emerged naturally. Vincent toned down his heavier roots to support Arian’s shimmering guitar work. Potch added flourishes that deepened the atmosphere, turning good songs into immersive experiences.

Some tracks hit closer to home than others. “Sweet” is Arian’s love letter to his wife, written during a health scare. “Home” is Paul’s promise to his twins: that no matter how far they roam, they’ll always find their way back. “Paul wrote most of our songs,” they add. “But those two are special.”

From Quezon City to Jambi, Indonesia

While Breē’s music may not dominate the mainstream charts, it’s quietly making its way around the world.

“We have 33 listeners in Jambi City, Indonesia? That’s surprising and definitely moving,” they laugh.

They’re under no illusion about their niche appeal. “We just let the songs out and let them find their own audience,” they explain. “Just like how we found the music we love.”

Here in the Philippines, listeners often tell them their songs are great for long drives. “Someone said they use it as lullaby music,” they recall. “We’re not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Hopefully, they’re not the same ones saying it’s good for driving—baka makatulog sila sa daan.”

Still, for the band, those quiet moments of connection—whether it’s someone de-stressing in traffic or finding comfort at 3 a.m.—mean everything.

Lights, Layers, Live

If you’ve seen Breē live, you’ve probably noticed their immersive visuals—soft lights, abstract projections, everything moving in sync with their slow tempo.

“Paul realized that the usual bar lighting doesn’t work for our music,” they share. “So we hired Spacedog to handle visuals so it’s not just one static spotlight on our faces.”

Yes, part of the motivation was also to “hide Vincent’s beer belly,” but ultimately, the goal was to match their sound with a mood—visuals that extend the emotional reach of their set.

Pre-show rituals? Nothing too rockstar. Just Coke Zero and a good meal. “If we get to the venue early enough,” they add.

Dream venues? “All the local fests, of course,” they say. “But also SXSW in Texas, Coachella, Fuji Rock in Japan, Glastonbury in the UK. We can all dream, right?”

Songwriting as Therapy (and a Bit of Reddit)

When it comes to creating songs, Paul often brings in the skeleton—a near-complete track with chords and structure. Then Arian steps in, checking if the emotional tone matches the progression.

“If the lyrics are a bit hopeful but the chords are dragging down, there’s a mismatch,” they explain.

Potch, the most musically trained among them, throws in alternate directions. And Vincent? “Since he’s on bass now, he just waits for the final chords while browsing Reddit.”

Creative blocks? They don’t force it. “We just leave it alone for months,” they say. Their upcoming single is one such case—a slow bloom that needed space to grow.

Social media, while a necessary part of the game, is something they manage themselves. “It’s easy to stay authentic as long as you’re respectful.”

The Next Chapter

With A Dream of Sunrise marking their first major step, what comes next?

“We have an upcoming EP later this year,” they reveal. “We’re not sure about touring just yet—our day jobs are keeping us pretty busy.”

Collab dreams? Kyla, for one. “We think her voice would blend well with our ambient tones.” Also on the wishlist: Austin of Turnover. “And since she owns her masters now… Taylor Swift, maybe?”

Lyrically, they want to go deeper—not just inward, but outward. “More of our feelings toward the people around us,” they say. “Especially the ones supporting us dearly.”

To the Quiet Fans on Loop

When asked if they had anything to say to the quiet listeners—the ones who don’t post or tag, but play the songs on repeat—Breē gets reflective.

“We appreciate that you gave us the chance to be with you for around four minutes… which turned into more and more,” they say. “Hopefully we can see you live soon.”

And if not? Breē will still be here. A halfway house. A shelter. A gentle, glowing sound waiting patiently for you to press play.

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Listen to Breē’s debut album A Dream of Sunrise on Spotify. Follow them on social media for updates on their upcoming EP and shows.