Chad Lawson

Chad Lawson is an American pianist, composer, and podcaster. After performing as a member of the Summit Records act Chad Lawson Trio from 1997 to 2004, Lawson performed as a member of Julio Iglesias' tour band, which inspired him to release his debut studio album Set on a Hill. Lawson's fifth studio album The Chopin Variations (2014), a collaboration with violinist Judy Kang and cellist Rubin Kodheli, reached number one on the Billboard Top Classical Albums chart. He debuted as a major label musician through Decca Records US in 2020, with the extended play Stay. Lawson is known as the composer of the podcasts Lore and Unobscured, both works created by Aaron Mahnke.

Lawson is the creator and host of iHeart Radio Award-nominated podcast Calm It Down, which explores mental health topics and meditation techniques soundtracked by his music. He is also a breathwork coach who completed his certification at the Loka Yoga School, and was named a UN ambassador for the World Federation for Mental Health in 2024.

Career

Lawson did not come from a musical family, Lawson started composing songs when he was given his first keyboard, a Korg M1, and played piano in a cover band during high school. later attending the Appalachian State University for a semester to learn computer science, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina. and Unforeseen (2004), an album that mixed original compositions with jazz standards, as well as covers of Soundgarden and The Police. and privately with the head of the Manhattan School of Music, Garry Dial.

In 2009 after returning to the United States, Lawson released his debut solo album Set on a Hill, a primarily improvised jazz piano album produced by William Ackerman. After the release of the album, Lawson moved back to Charlotte after experiencing health problems. His sophomore album, The Piano (2011), was awarded the SoloPiano.com classical album of the year. Lawson's 2013 album The Space Between was mostly written in a single day, which was widely successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Classical Albums chart. Lawson followed The Chopin Variations with a second classical re-imagining in 2016, this time of Bach's chorale works.

From 2016, Lawson began acting as the composer for the podcast Lore, as well as the podcast's Prime Video adaptation. Lawson collaborated with Lore creator Aaron Mahnke again for the soundtracks of his podcast Unobscured, and the theme song for the podcast Cabinet of Curiosities.

Lawson's 2018 album Re:Piano saw him experiment with loops and effects using an iPad, and reached number five on the Billboard Classical Albums chart.

In 2020, Lawson released his debut major label extended play, Stay, through Decca Records US. The album was written in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in the US.

Decca Records US released his debut major label album, You Finally Knew, on September 11, 2020, and a Deluxe Edition of the album the following year.

Decca released his next album, a double album titled Breathe, on September 23, 2022 to coincide with National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and included collaborations with violinist Esther Yoo and cellist-composer Peter Gregson.

In 2023 Lawson performed at the Universal Music + Health Summit hosted by Arianna Huffington and Sir Lucien Grainge.

In July 2024 Decca released his next album, Where We Are.

Calm It Down

Chad Lawson created, writes, voices, and produces the independent podcast, Calm It Down. The podcast airs on a weekly basis, and is released every Tuesday.

Launched in September 2020, Calm It Down guides listeners through techniques for breathing and meditation while tackling mental health subjects such as anxiety and suicide. Lawson first had the idea for the Calm It Down podcast from the many messages he received from fans of his musical career, who would recount to him how his music helped them through many dark and difficult times in their lives. By combining his music, experiences, and meditation techniques, Lawson is able to bring his passion for mental health and emotional wellbeing to an even bigger audience.

Artistry

Lawson cites Reese Wynans, Keith Jarrett and Benmont Tench as his biggest musical influences. Label: Hillset Records Formats: CD, digital download — —

Released: October 9, 2011 Label: Hillset Records Formats: CD, digital download — —

Released: November 1, 2011 Label: Hillset Records Formats: CD, digital download — —

Released: June 4, 2013 Label: Hillset Records Formats: CD, digital download — —

Released: September 23, 2014 Label: Hillset Records Formats: CD, digital download 1 —

Released: April 29, 2016 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download — —

Released: March 23, 2018 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download 5 —

Released: September 11, 2020 Label: Decca Records US Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download 4 3

Released: September 23, 2022 Label: Decca Records US Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download 2 2

Released: July 19, 2024 Label: Decca Records US Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download 24 22 "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions US Classical Label: Hillset Records Formats: digital download — Autumn Suite, Vol. 1 Released: October 7, 2010 Label: Hillset Records Formats: digital download — Songs of Prayer: Solo Piano Music for Prayer Released: October 30, 2012 Label: Hillset Records Formats: digital download — The Broad Sun Released: September 1, 2017 Label: Self-released Formats: 12" single, digital download — The Waning Moon Released: July 6, 2018 Label: Self-released Formats: digital download — Stay Released: May 1, 2020 Label: Universal Music Classics, Decca Records Formats: digital download 18 Comfort Released: April 9, 2021 Label: Universal Music Group Formats: digital download — Christmas in My Dreams Released: October 23, 2021 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — irreplaceable Released: May 13, 2022 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — Drift Released: March 17, 2023 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — Sama Vritti (Guided Breathwork Exercise) Released: May 11, 2023 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — Nadi Shodhana (Guided Breathwork Exercise) Released: May 16, 2023 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — Diaphragmatic (Guided Breathwork Exercise) Released: May 23, 2023 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — 4-7-8 (Guided Breathwork Exercise) Released: May 30, 2023 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — Drift (Lo-Fi Remixes) Released: February 2, 2024 Label: Decca Records US Formats: digital download — "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Soundtracks

Title Details Dark Conclusions: The Lore Variations Released: October 28, 2016 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download A Grave Mistake: The Lore Variations 2017 Released: October 20, 2017 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, LP, digital download Home Sweet Home: The 2018 Lore Variations Released: November 2, 2018 Label: Self-released Formats: CD, digital download Unobscured (Season 1 - Original Podcast Soundtrack) Released: December 18, 2019 Label: Universal Music Classics Formats: digital download Unobscured (Season 2 - Original Podcast Soundtrack) Released: December 18, 2019 Label: Universal Music Classics Formats: digital download

Singles

Title Year Album "Song of Prayer (Solo Piano Music for Prayer)" 2015 "I Wish I Knew" The Space Between "Waiting, Holding, Breathing" 2016 Piano Cloud Series - Volume Two "Restless One" Non-album singles "Falling Ocean" "She" 2019 Unobscured (Season 1 - Original Podcast Soundtrack) "Sweet Power of Song, Woo. 152 No. 2 (Arr. by Chad Lawson for Piano)" 2020 Non-album singles "Of Twilight Skies" "Stay" Stay "One Day You Finally Knew" "Stay (Arranged for Flute)" 2021 Non-album singles "Silent Night" Christmas in My Dreams "Stay (Slowed Remixes)" 2022 Non-album singles "You Finally Knew (Slowed Remixes)" "The Windmills of Your Mind" "Fields of Forever" Breathe "This Is What Love Is" "The Color of the Sky (Solo Piano)" "Irreplaceable (Solo Piano)" Irreplaceable "To Hold the Stars in the Palm of Your Hand (Solo Piano)" "The Color of the Sky (Sleep Rework)" 2023 Drift "Fields of Forever (Sleep Rework)" "Of Twilight Skies (Sleep Rework)" Non-album singles "Matilda" (Harry Styles cover) "In the Waiting (Endel Sleep Soundscape)" 2024 You Finally Knew (Endel Sleep Soundscape) "Sanctuary" Where We Are "'Like the Stars in the Sky'" "Of Wonder" "Of Twilight Skies (Dream Rework)" Non-album singles "This Is Me Trying" (Taylor Swift cover)