Holding my Breath Heartstrings & Hustles

*HOLDING MY BREATH | Heartstrings & Hustles — An Original Musical (In Development)* Original Song by J. Kristian O'Daugherty | © 2026 Of all the music I've written and developed over the years, "Holding My Breath" has become one of the pieces I'm most proud of. More importantly, it was the creation of this song that inspired so much of the music that followed for *Heartstrings & Hustles*, an original stage musical I'm currently writing and developing. The song belongs to a woman who has spent years building a life of independence after discovering that love doesn't always bring the happiness we once believed it would. She's intelligent, accomplished, and certain of the choices she's made. Or at least that's what she tells herself. Alone with her thoughts, she begins examining the difference between what she once believed about love and what experience has taught her. And somewhere beneath that carefully maintained composure, something remains that she's not quite willing to acknowledge. " Holding My Breath" is an intimate theatrical ballad about expectations, disappointment, independence, and the complicated things we sometimes convince ourselves we've left behind. *ABOUT HEARTSTRINGS & HUSTLES* Heartstrings & Hustles is an original musical currently in development, combining contemporary storytelling with original music and theatrical staging. My goal is to complete the musical's first draft and, if development progresses as hoped, begin exploring opportunities for workshopping the production in 2027. The video presented here is part of that ongoing creative development, using emerging visual production technologies to explore how the music and characters might eventually come to life onstage. I'm excited to share this part of the journey. *COPYRIGHT & PERMISSIONS* J Kristian O'Daugherty Copyright 2026 - All Rights Reserved Heartstrings & Hustles is an original theatrical work in development. All rights to the original music and associated creative material are reserved. Reproduction, redistribution, adaptation, public performance, synchronization, or other unauthorized use requires prior written permission from J Kristian O'Daugherty. These rights will be strictly enforced. Serious requests for permission, licensing, or presentation will be considered when they demonstrate respect for the music, its creator, and the artistic integrity of the project.