Kristiansand, Norway August 14, 2020
Miss Edith (Edith Marie Alfredsen) from Kristiansand, Norway who is known for her soulful singing voice. Once singing background vocals for the renowned “The Elton John Show”. Steps out of her comfort zone to release her debut…a rap single “I Can’t Breathe”.
I Can’t Breathe was inspired by the tragic events involving George Perry Floyd Jr. a Black American man killed during an arrest in the state of Minneapolis in the U.S. A white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes. After his death, protests against police violence toward Black people quickly spread across the United States and internationally.
The track expresses the impact this tragedy had on Edith though she lives in Norway. One can not deny that watching the events unfold on the vivid video footage released stirred up very strong emotions. Along with all the other events unfolding, which Edith touches upon such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the cancellation of May 17th in Norway which she has celebrated every year all her life, the song is very heartfelt.
Edith has been singing all of her life. She was taking part in a singing competition being held on Smule. Smule is the social singing app that lets you enjoy millions of karaoke songs. Connect with your friends from all over the world or sing with top artists. A segment of the competition called for Edith to write and perform an original rap song. After the song took first place for the segment of the competition and also received rave reviews and comments it was decided that the song should be officially released.
I Can’t Breathe was written by Edith and her boyfriend who is an American rapper and Social Justice Activist known for being outspoken against the death penalty and the criminal justice system in the U.S. The pair have a young son together who Edith mentions within the song. Produced, mixed and mastered by Daniel Cordero of No Borders Entertainment in Berlin, Germany the song is a powerful statement The lyrics are telling. Very heartfelt and vivid to the personal experience of a young mother. They even express the last words of George Perry Floyd Jr. which make this track very emotional. Edith does bring in the choruses with her soulful voice adding to the emotional journey this song takes one on.
The responses and the positive critique the song garnered as part of the Smule competition was the driving force in turning this quick submission into an official song release. What happened to George Perry Floyd Jr. is every mothers nightmare. His last words echoed all over the world. They even reached a mother all the way to here in Kristiansand, Norway. A mother who is raising a young son who happens to have an American father who knows these tragedies first hand and all to well. These dire times makes it difficult for all of us to breathe and this song reflects this powerfully.
Edith is currently working in the studio so more will be heard from her in the near future. Her singing debut is soon to follow. But for the moment, she captures all of our attentions just as the actual events she speaks of have. The events will not soon be forgotten and I Can’t Breathe will forever echo in our minds and hearts.