The basis of "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" was conceived by Garbage in March 1997, whilst they were staying at a friend's house on Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, where they spent time jamming to come up with material for their second album.

The recording included the band's performance of "The Trick is To Keep Breathing" from that night and was broadcast on MTV networks worldwide, from April 1.

BMG released "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing" in Germany on February 15, 1999 on a CD maxi format which contained the B-sides "Tornado", a cover version of The Seeds' 1965 single "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" and an urban radio remix of "Special" by production duo Rickidy Raw.

[7] In Greece, music channel MAD TV heavily supported "The Trick Is to Keep Breathing", where the video reached #1 on their station chart.

The music video for "The Trick is To Keep Breathing" was shot onstage at three Garbage concerts by Sophie Muller for Oil Factory during the band's Fall 98 North American tour.

Muller recorded live footage of the band over three nights, beginning on November 17 at the Egyptian Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana.