We Say…
Based out of Los Angeles, Runnner is the musical project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Noah Weinman. Signed to Run For Cover Records, Runnner recently shared his debut album, Always Repeating. The album was self-produced and written wherever Noah was calling home at the time, detailing his struggles with leaving college life in Ohio behind and feeling disconnected from the world he loved, unsure where to go next.
Living up to its title, Always Repeating is a study of cycles, a record that seeks to look back while simultaneously trying to find a way to move forward. As Noah further explains, “I get restless and frustrated in my present, and romanticize my past while pushing myself into some different chapter—one that usually starts with me in a dark place and some songs in my journal”. Despite its insular themes, Always Repeating is not in any way a minimal record, Noah taking his talents as a producer, his credits include Skullcrusher’s excellent debut EP, alongside his skilled musicianship to make a record that is gentle but delightfully full-bodied. Whether it’s guitar, banjo, trumpet, bass, piano or synth, throughout Noah finds a way to wring emotion from the instrumentation, keeping the production clean, almost unproduced to the point you can hear the bones of the songs, and feel them being forged from the ether into a tangible, listenable whole. Bedroom-pop to soothe your soul, Always Repeating is a record that lives up to its name, making you reach back to press play time and time again, in this race we call life, Runnner are onto something very special indeed.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know – who is Runnner?
My name’s Noah. Runnner is mostly me playing in my room for the recordings, sometimes I bring in some friends, and then most of the shows are done with those friends. But if you’re listening at home, you’re hearing mostly my playing and me trying to figure out how to make the sounds I want in whatever room I happen to be in.
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
The first Runnner show? There were a few different kinds I guess (first time calling it ‘runnner’, first venue, first with a band). I think the first time I called it ‘runnner’ was just this little living room thing these people I knew were putting on. I think I played monochrome, awash, and trundle bed. I remember people being really quiet, which made me scared at first, but then it made me feel good, they were listening. It felt like for the first time I was playing songs that were resonating with people in the room. I played a few more living room things there and I think the confidence I got there really helped me push this project to where it’s gone.
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
Music has always been what I’ve connected with the most, and what just makes sense to me so much of the time. I honestly never gave much thought to pursuing any other art form professionally – I still like making movies, drawing, and writing poetry and I appreciate the opportunities I have to incorporate that into this project, but when I think about expressing myself or connecting to people through art, it’s always musically and there’s never a second thought about that.
FTR: What can people expect from the Runnner live show?
Full band: Big dynamic shifts, ambient interludes, saxophones, some yelling. Solo: inaudible banter b/c i’m standing away from the mic, tiny unreleased songs that I may never play again, also yelling.
FTR: What’s next for Runnner?
Doing some solo shows this fall and working on the next record, hopefully some band shows too!
They Listen To…
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah – Who They Wish I Was
Madonna – What It Feels Like For A Girl
Another Michael – Football
Rostam – Don’t Let It Get To You
Roomful of Teeth, Caroline Shaw – Partita for 8 Singers: No. 2 Sarabande
Always Repeating is out now via Run for Cover. For more information on Runnner visit https://runnner.band/.
For The Rabbits 