Chillout – Relax – Unwind

A Better Life is ambient and downtempo producer Phil Daniels plus talented musicians that make up the A Better Life Collective. It is the projects aim to write music that provokes a sense of calm and tranquillity – a chilled state to breathe, reflect, contemplate and most of all relax

How to Listen

To listen to our music simply click on any of the links below

New Website Design on Its Way!

We’re working hard to revamp the A Better Life website ahead of some new releases for 2026/27, including a remastered single release of our track Under The Setting Sun, featuring our friend Holly Taymar – released on 19th September 2026.

For the most up to date news, continue to follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages

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New Meditation / Relaxation EP Out Now

Our new meditation EP, Tranquil State, is available now to stream on all platforms. The EP consists of 27 minutes of music across 4 tracks. It is completely beatless to allow the expansive textures and in the case of the track ‘We Are All’, the vocals to take centre stage and glide the listener into a world of calm and relaxation.

First review in for The Light

Thanks very much to Jeremy Bregman at Mesmerized blog!

Check out our video for the single Under The Setting Sun!

So pleased with this video featuring our friend and sensational singer songwriter Holly Taymar. Please do check it out and let us know what you think in the comments!

The new A Better Life album ‘The Light’ is out now!

Stream from all the usual platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Deezer etc) at the links above!! We hope you enjoy it!

Cold Goodbye – New Single with Pete Rawcliffe Out Now!

We’re happy to announce that the second single from our upcoming new album ‘The Light’ is out now! It’s a pleasure to be working again with Pete Rawcliffe – truly one of the most original vocalists in the UK right now.

Check out Cold Goodbye on all the usual streaming platforms, or YouTube below.

New Single ‘Cold Goodbye’ Released Friday May 17th 2024

The second single from the upcoming new album ‘The Light’ is a new collaboration with regular A Better Life vocalist Pete Rawcliffe. Released on all streaming sites and YouTube on 17th May, you can hear the track ahead of time by signing up to our news group at the link above!

To check out Pete’s latest amazing single – visit his website – Pete Rawcliffe Singing

Radio interview with ABL’s Phil Daniels and Holly Taymar discussing The First Light single

Phil and Holly caught up with DJ Roger Dudman for an interview about how their collaboration came together and working on the new single ‘The First Light’.

You can listen to the show below. Our interview begins around the 33min mark.

The Walrus and Carpenter Show 428 by Roger Dudman | Mixcloud

The First Light (feat Holly Taymar) Out Now!

Available on all streaming platforms and YouTube!

New Single – The First Light (feat Holly Taymar) Released 11th March 2024

So happy to finally be able to reveal the first single from our upcoming album ‘The Light’ will be released on 11th March 2024 on all streaming platforms and YouTube.

This is a collaboration with acclaimed singer/songwriter Holly Taymar. Holly is based in York, UK and has established herself as a popular touring and recording artist. Her voice and ability to layer vocal harmonies is perfect for the A Better Life sound, and we’re more than delighted that she has joined the ABL Collective!

News Archive

New Moon Meditation and Full Moon Release Date

Our latest guided meditation instalment ‘New Moon – Create The New in Your Life’ is available now on streaming platforms and on YouTube below. On 30th August, to coincide with the next Full Moon, we will be releasing the follow-up to this. Keep an eye on the website for links.

New Guided Meditation Project

We’ve been beavering away the last few months in collaboration with Devon based Holistic Practitioners ‘Sensory’ for a series of guided meditations. We’re delighted to say the first two, Morning and Evening, are out now. To stream them, simply visit the A Better Life page on all streaming sites (links above). If however YouTube is your preferred platform – see below!

Official Video for our Bruce Springsteen cover ‘I’m On Fire‘

26th March 2023 – International Radio Coverage for New Single!

We’re delighted to have had the new single, I’m On Fire, featured on a number of radio stations in various parts of the world since it’s release. Thanks very much to the following stations for playing the single:

www.belter-radio.com

www.kracradio.com

www.banksradio.com

www.rock-radio.co.uk

lwww.lonelyoakradio.com

10th March 2023 – New A Better Life Single Out Now!!!

Our cover of the Bruce Springsteen track I’m On Fire is out now!

It’s great to be working with Pete Rawcliffe again. Thanks to him and the other gifted musicians for making this one happen.

As always, please please share this with anyone you think might be interested. Your support is massively appreciated!

Listen on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/2M7YC769eanN4x6MeDJTbx…

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/…/im-on-fire-feat…/1668977599

Take A Deep Breath Official Lyric Video

Here is a new lyric video for our title track, Take A Deep Breath. The most meditative track on the album, we hope the subtle video conveys the sense of calm that the music and vocal has been written to do. 

Big thanks to guitarist Alan Henery who’s incredible playing features prominently on this track and adds so much depth. 

This will be the final release from our debut album, as we are working hard on some new material! This should see the light of day later this year. 

Thank you all who have streamed and downloaded the debut album thus far. It’s been amazing to see the monthly stats and realise how many people are listening! 

Souda Bay Official Video

Taken from the album ‘Take A Deep Breath’, and inspired by the tranquil surroundings of the Souda Bay region of Crete

Latest News

Take a Deep Breath on Guido’s Lounge Cafe

We are absolutely delighted to share that ‘Take A Deep Breath’ the title track from our new album was played on Guido’s Lounge Cafe podcast this weekend. Guido’s Lounge Cafe podcast is one of the very best and most popular chill-out podcasts in the world and we are very honoured to have our track selected for play-out. You can listen to the full podcast below.

WORDS IN THE EARTH – Interview with Phill Daniels

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of reviewing Take A Deep Breath, the debut album from UK chillout project A Better Life. It’s a wonderful album full of transformative soundscapes designed to evoke relaxation, but the thing that stood out most for me was the emotion and individual touch that seemed to emanate from these songs. It stands to reason then that A Better Life’s founder Phil Daniels has a very personal reason for creating music with such blissful tones.

The collective is multi-faceted, involving a host of talented instrumentalists and two stunning vocalists that help bring the songs to life; but at its heart is Phil and his innately creative mind. In this interview I aimed to get a deeper understanding of his connection to the music, his influences and inspirations, and the process of putting together a collective that can still produce such beautiful and intimate music in the midst of a global pandemic 

Tell us about your musical history before A Better Life, and what got you into making music?

I honestly couldn’t tell you what got me into making music in the first place! My first memory was hitting pots and pans in my parents kitchen…which I expect a lot of budding drummers did! Instrumentally and in a live set-up I’ve focused on drums and percussion for much of my creative working thus far …. read more

The latest review for our new album Take A Deep Breath by Words In The Earth has been published.

“Despite the cultural significance it has for those of us in the UK, I’ve never actually dived too deeply into chillout music before. The style was pioneered at the great London nightclub Heaven, and dance music institution Ministry Of Sound have been upholding the chillout genre for the best part of two decades now. When house music was at it’s peak of commercial popularity in the UK, chillout was there alongside as it’s relaxing, spaced-out partner. Whilst I can’t profess to being an expert in chillout, I am familiar enough with the style and it’s roots in ambient house, as well as it’s relationship to downtempo and trip-hop, to find Take A Deep Breath, the debut album from A Better Life, an incredibly intriguing and creative project.

My experience with these sounds is often … … read more

New Single Souda Bay Now Released

Our new single Souda Bay has been released and is available on Spotify and Apple Music

Wicked Game is a downtempo reworking of the Chris Isaak classic featuring amazing UK vocalist Pete Rawcliffe.

We will be compiling Spotify playlists regularly featuring the very best music to relax and chill out to. You can play a short sample of the very best music to unwind to below or click here to enjoy the full playlist on Spotify in a separate window.

A Better Life in Ibiza

More good news! – 2 tracks from our forthcoming album “Take A Deep Breath”, Souda Bay and Mono Heart, have both been play-listed on Costa Del Mar Radio in Ibiza. You can listen to Costa Del Mar Radio by clicking here – more info about the new album can be found here

Live Premiere – Video Launch – Wicked Game

Join us on our YouTube channel on Friday 19th March 2021 at 9pm GMT (21:00hrs) for the live premiere of our Wicked Game video a downtempo reworking of the Chris Isaak classic, featuring amazing UK vocalist Pete Rawcliffe. Please come along and join in the chat – we would love to have you there! You can view the video below on the launch night or click the link here

The single will be available on all digital platforms from midnight on Saturday 20th March.

A Better Life in Argentina

Studio 65 Radio who broadcast from Buenos Aires has play-listed our new album Take A Deep Breath and are currently featuring tracks regularly. You can listen live to Studio 65 Radio here.

New Single – Wicked Game
A Better Life featuring Pete Rawcliffe

We are delighted to announce that A Better Life featuring Pete Rawcliffe will be releasing Wicked Game on March 20th 2021. If you wish to pre save the Spotify link then click here

Enjoy the short sample below before the full release!

For more information about Pete Rawcliffe click here

New Album – Take a Deep Breath

Debut album Take A Deep Breath released on 1st May 2021 on all digital platforms. 

Developed, recorded and produced over a period of 18 months from September 2019 – Take A Deep Breath is the ambient and downtempo album I’ve always wanted to make. 

Having been influenced by electronica acts like Air, Bliss, Zero 7 and Enigma – as well as more traditional singer/songwriters and celtic artists – the sound of Take A Deep Breath draws inspiration from all these genres to produce an album filled with chilled grooves, lush strings and piano, subtle guitar and some amazing vocal performances from two incredible artists – Herica and The Wolf, and Pete Rawcliffe. 

The album has been written to chill out to, to feel like you can take a step back, take some time away from whatever situation you find yourself in, to reflect and appreciate what you have, and what is important. After some serious mental health issues in late 2018 into early 2019, subsequent breakdown and major life reassessment – it was the perfect remedy and very cathartic for me to write this album. Along with trusted friends and new musical acquaintances – the ABL Collective, who’s talent and desire to see this succeed along with me is something I’m eternally grateful for. 
Phil

Extracts from the Take A Deep Breath Album

Pre-save the album on Spotify: here

New Single – release date 1st April 2021

Souda Bay – the first single to be taken from the album ‘Take A Deep Breath’, is released on 1st April 2021 on all digital platforms.

Pre-save the single on Spotify here

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Contact us here

A Better Life are:

Phil Daniels – Lead writer and producer, programming, keys, percussion

The ABL Collective

Pete Rawcliffe – Vocals

Herica and The Wolf – Vocals

Andrew Richardson – Keys, strings, bass

Alan Henery – Acoustic and electric guitars, bass

Andrew Ryder-Richardson – Trumpet

Bryn Wulff-John – Production

Email Newsgroup

Our email newsgroup gives you the best way to hear first about all the latest news from A Better Life. We won’t spam your inbox like some mailing lists! We’ll only email you occasionally with interesting, relevant information which could include links to hear music and see music videos ahead of release, plus mailing list exclusive content. We never share your email details with anyone else. Use the form below to join our email newsgroup (and check your email junk/spam folder just in case your confirmation falls into there!!)