The Running Free – Chimes (2021)
With a desire to create his own band and share original music, singer-songwriter Dave Norris formed The Running Free. A collective of musicians from North Yorkshire, Norris combines pop-rock, alternative rock and a twinge of indie-rock in his energetic releases. Using music as a catharsis, Norris was able to push emotion and intimate depth into his sound making it a powerful listening experience. Inspire by the likes of Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro and Green Day, The Running Free are reaching audiences on a global scale with coverage from international press. The latest addition to the discography is ‘Chimes’.
Following their single ‘Out of the Blue’, ‘Chimes’ is a hard-hitting piece of contemporary rock with a nod to the pop-rock artists of the 1990s/early 2000s. Reminiscent of Green Day and Foo Fighters, Norris showcases an intensity and melodic grittiness in the well-arranged track. Combining dynamic guitars with pounding drums, ‘Chimes’ hits you in the face before entering your brain and reverberating down your spine. While all of the elements come together as a whole, the elegant arrangement allows for each musician to showcase his/her natural talent in a dominant way.
The melody holds a gut-wrenching intensity in its hard-hitting instrumentation, but the true intimacy lies in the lyricism. According to Norris, “…the lyrics were inspired by the struggle you can face as an artist, particularly when engaging on social media” showing complexity in the conceptual content. Yes, the melody may be high-impact and no-nonsense, but the vulnerability displayed in the tender lyrics emphasising the fragility of humans in modern society. Moreover, Norris’ rich vocals add urgency with their tone and sentimentality.
While the content is sincere and delicate, the forcefulness of the music makes it more “in your face” than a listless ballad. Not necessarily haunting, but with a certain hazy charm, ‘Chimes’ explores vulnerability but also inspires empowerment in the listener. Norris shares that ‘Chimes’ is “…about trying to stay true to own artistic vision and not getting lost in what is popular at the time, however tempting it may be. It’s about sticking to your guns.”
In addition to the single, The Running Free released an official music video for ‘Chimes’. A “live session” video, you can enjoy the energetic performance from the comfort of your own home. Bonus: no strobes or lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy!
For more from The Running Free check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
