Marian Runk “Broken and Free” – Americana UK

Dallas-born, Chicago-based singer-songwriter Marian Runk’s latest single is a captivating and timeless reflection on grief. Over Runk’s delicate guitar and Jess Baldissero’s beautiful violin, Runk delivers an unforgettable melody and her words are captivating throughout. Jacqeline Boyd’s backing vocals provide a haunting touch as Runk sings of loss, using both poetic imagery, such as a heart in the snow, and specific narrative details, such as: “…the day I watched six hours of Miami Vice.” Meanwhile, gentle rhythms from Andrew Wilkins’ double bass make us sway.

Ruck shared with AUK what the song means to her: “It’s about dealing with an onslaught of loss and the never-ending grieving process that I think is a side effect of getting older. The title is misleading, the concept is actually similar to the lyrics: “halfway between broken and free”, which for me is a sweet point where I remember the person and they are still part of my life, but I can move around I move in the world and function with its memory/my grief more like a companion than a burden. I experienced the first verse on Valentine’s Day 2016. On the train between St. Louis and Chicago, on the way home from my uncle’s funeral, a group of teenage Mennonite girls were singing hymns in the observation car. Their music was so confident and joyful, I can’t emphasize enough how much it moved me at the time. I kept the voice memo I made that day for almost a decade and couldn’t resist inserting it at the end of the song. I collaborated on the video with my long-time friend Latham Zearfoss, a Chicago-based artist. We spent a beautiful day filming near a railroad bridge in Chicago, enjoying the sunshine and planting wildflowers.”

Latham Zearfoss created an effective video that reinforces the song’s message; Watching Runk plant flowers in an unusual place has wonderful symbolism, giving hope and signs of recovery when life is bleak.

“Broken and Free” is the first song on Runk’s brand new album “Two wires and a spark”. Their second album, co-produced by Steve Dawson, is a lyrical delight full of mesmerizing images and captivating stories. Runk speaks passionately about what music means to her and many readers will connect with these sentiments: “Music has been a constant throughout my life, comforting and healing me in times of loneliness and change. It was especially comforting on lonely days as an only child, and in adulthood it has brought me relief when grieving a death or the end of a relationship. Music is magical and that’s why I love it.” Indeed.

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