Emma Ruth Rundle has been putting out records pretty consistently for years now, and touring behind them solidly, which is actually a much harder thing to do than it might seem to those who don’t live that life. This week she has shared a new song called “Staying Power”, which is all about that struggle. She says:
“There is very little mystery as to what this song is about. The lyrics are not metaphorical. It’s about being a touring musician and trying to survive, to conjure the self discipline to go on without sacrificing sensitivity. How we can become hardened as a result of constantly selling our feelings, how I didn’t want that to happen to me but could feel the callousness building. It’s also about the financial feast or famine and whether a little immediate monetary gain is worth the expenditure of youth. It’s about wondering how long I might be allowed to do this and the fear that it could end at any moment— with Covid, the song has some renewed relevance in that regard. It talks about what it means to endure and what the rewards and consequences of such persistence might be.”
While the topic might seem quite serious on the surface, Rundle makes it sharp and scything with her usual rock prowess. Atop gliding guitars and shuddering percussion, her voice rises like a fearsome beast, almost daring us to question her dedication and tenacity.
You can hear “Staying Power” below, or stream it here.
Keep up with Emma Ruth Rundle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
