Following on from the stirring EP Ghosts, Irish singer-songwriter RUNAH is delighted to announce the release of her debut album Strange, due for release on May 5, 2019 via Beardfire.

From the garden in the beginning to the smoke of strife and war, the twisting sound of Strange stands naked but for sword and helmet, like Bellona. Vibrating waves rise and crash within warm low rhythm. Delicious instruments of torture engage the soul, the blood and bones. And like bells ring, beauty rings and swells wonderfully from song to song. 

In this magic, if we stay, if we rest, who sits beside to listen like King David at his harp? Can we know devotion? Then all erupts, the splitting tones creeping into our shadows. We are lifted and cast into deeper waters, to die before we live eternally, breathing all the world at once, with RUNAH. 

In this interview spotlight, I chat with RUNAH about her upcoming release, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

I like lots of music, so I try to approach my music with the question of how can I make this world 3D in someone’s mind? So it is more of a question of what does the song want, maybe. But I love folk music and I guess it is somewhere around there.

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

I came to music quite late but I just fell in love and couldn’t stop. It’s a funny thing sharing it because you want people to like and understand what you were trying to offer, but also I just wanted to understand myself more and then I got so excited that I started to understand my own mind that I wanted to shout about it a bit. Then I was like ‘oh look, I think this is who I am, who are you?’.

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

I like watching people, people and their reactions to the world are fascinating. I am fascinated by stories of all kinds, I figure we are all just humans, what makes us unique and interesting are all the little stories we collect over time. The stories we tell ourselves and others, the ones we read, it’s a form of magic. I love nature I am happiest outside and I would lie in the grass all the time if I could. I like to say hi to all the trees and plants it makes me happy.

I like a lot of music and love hearing anything but the same with how I write lyrics it changes depending on mood or what I am currently obsessed with. It probably has changed, but I haven’t noticed.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

The album ’Strange’ that is coming out May 5^th this year is an exploration of the wild women archetype, my relationship to her, the way I see her played out (or not as the case my be) in society. It’s about softness, anger, sexuality, nature, apologies and completely unapologetic at the same time, it is the changeability and life of a wild woman. ‘Ground’ is the first single, in this story she has been chosen to live between the spiritual realm and the physical realm and she wants to claim both but can never fully be in either and both sides know this. It is about frustration, power and all that she wishes to understand. 

It’s a story I have been telling for a while and I felt ready to share. This is my letter to my wild woman, as well as many other things, but mostly me asking myself to show up more in the world.

What was the last song you listened to?

Animal – Aurora, it is magic.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

Probably that I am quite introverted and like books, I think everyone has a complicated relationship to social media. I mostly want to share stories and thoughts in case someone somewhere needs to escape and look at things from a slightly different perspective. But I am reasonably uncomfortable with the playground of it all and I also think we all have work to do on ourselves and the universe uses things in our lives to highlight those shadows so we can make friends with them. But that’s just my thoughts.

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

Instagram, @runahmusic, I like pictures so if any one wants to share stories with me I’ll be there. All my music is available via all major services.

Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?

May you always find magic.