‘Barely Breathing’ singer dies aged just 56

Duncan Sheik, the voice behind one of the most unforgettable songs of the 1990s, and arguably the soundtrack to the summer of 1996, has died aged just 56.

The singer-songwriter, best known for his ’96 hit Barely Breathing, reportedly passed away last week on Thursday, September 17, in Manhattan.

His mother, Suzanne Sheik, confirmed to The New York Times that he died from heart failure that led to cardiac arrest. Sheik had been receiving medical care in the days leading up to his death, with a statement from his family saying he was in “critical but stable” condition just one day before he died.

For many fans, Sheik will forever be associated with Barely Breathing. Released on his self-titled debut album, the song became a huge success, spending 55 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching No. 16.

It also earned Sheik a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Yet the success of Barely Breathing turned out to be just the start of a career that would eventually lead him to musical theatre.

Working with lyricist Steven Sater, Sheik composed the music for Spring Awakening, the Broadway musical about teenagers coming of age in 19th-century Germany.

The production became a phenomenon, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, as well as a Grammy for its cast album.

Sheik ultimately worked on a string of other stage projects, including American Psycho, Alice by Heart, Whisper House and The Secret Life of Bees. He continued recording his own music too, with his final album, Claptrap, released in 2022.

In a statement shared after his death, his family described Sheik as a father, husband, son, brother and friend, remembering his sensitivity, wit, intelligence and “depth of spirit.” He is survived by his wife, Nora Ariffin, and their seven-year-old daughter, Ines.