Melbourne chanteuse extraordinaire and songwriter Anna Smyrk has just released a new single ‘The Runner’ ahead of tour news supporting The Birds of Tokyo and Tim Rogers (You Am I).
‘The Runner’ is a swiftly-paced anthem – filled with a hyper kinetic energy and an indelible melody. There is almost a shoegaze wall of sound to the instrumentation while Smyrk’s vocals have a contrasting softness that shines through the mix.
Developed with new collaborators, producers Jake Finch and Collin Pastore, Smyrk says of the track:
Everything came together really quickly on this one. The producers and I just clicked as soon as I walked into the studio and a few hours later we had the track. (‘The Runner’ is)… a song about trying to overcome a fear of letting people get close, that fight or flight instinct that can lead to self-sabotaging a relationship. So it’s a deep self-examination, but I hope it’s also a bit of a banger. We tried to go for a feel-good vibe that makes you want to jump around, or maybe even go for a jog yourself.
The lyrics reveal Smyrk’s wry and self-deprecatory sense of humour and romantic bent:
Despite the fear
Try to let my guard down
There’s something here
That makes me want to stick around
Baby I’m a runner
Baby I’m a runner
Baby I’m a runner
But you make me want to stay right here
The result has all the trademark elements of Smyrk’s craft: a thunderous instrumentation and a powerful delivery with a poetic lyricism that shines brightly.
‘The Runner’ is out now and available to stream and download here.
It’s been a massive year for Smyrk following an extensive overseas tour with official showcases at NXNE (Canada), Folk Alliance International (USA) and Live at Heart (Sweden), and a stop in over in Nashville where she recorded her upcoming EP,
Anna and her band members Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange), Holly Thomas (Quivers, Husky, Freya Josephine Hollick) and Loz Irwin Ray (Belly Savalas) will play the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Picnic in the Paddock, and supporting Australian rock icon Tim Rogers. Details and tickets below.
Picnic in the Paddock
Saturday 18 March
Bright Brewery
Bright, VIC
Tickets
Friday 24 March
Supporting Tim Rogers
Baha, Rye, VIC
Saturday 1 April
Supporting Birds of Tokyo
Sip & Savour Lake Macquarie
Speers Point, Lake Macquarie NSW
Tickets
‘The Runner’ out Friday 17 March via MGM.
Feature Photograph: Jeff Andersen Jnr
