NYC indie folk trio Bandits on the Run invite listeners to slow down, let go, and embrace the beauty of becoming with “Rough Magic,” a tender, harmony-driven meditation on time, trust, and togetherness – and the spellbinding title track from their sophomore album ‘Rough Magic,’ a heartfelt celebration of connection and the magic of making something from nothing.
“Rough Magic” – Bandits on the Run
It takes time to live the life you want to know…
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Bandits on the Run’s lyrics serve not as advice, but as something felt – a truth that settles in slowly, steadily, in the moments where we stop rushing long enough to actually listen.
Life doesn’t unfold all at once; it reveals itself in fragments, in breath, in the quiet recognition that you don’t have to force meaning into place for it to exist. That sense of release – of trusting what’s already there, of letting go of the need to arrive – lives at the heart of “Rough Magic,” a gentle, harmony-laced meditation that finds beauty not in perfection or control, but in the act of showing up, together, as you are. Bandits on the Run channel that hard-won stillness into a tender, lilting folk reverie that feels as intimate as it does communal.
Built on little more than a softly strummed guitar and three voices moving as one, “Rough Magic” unfolds like a shared breath – intimate, unguarded, and quietly revelatory. “Take your time, you see it better when it’s slow… let your breath release into the great unknown,” they sing, turning patience into both message and method. In doing so, the trio offer not just a song, but a way of being: One rooted in trust, connection, and the understanding that whatever we’re becoming, we don’t have to become it alone.
There’s a game that you know best
You’ve been playing your cards
close to the chest
Put ‘em down and let it rest
Take a breath and settle in
Feel the drumming of your heartbeat within
The rhythm says where to begin
It takes time to live the
life you want to know
Take your time
You see it better when it’s slow
Let your breath
Release into the great unknown
Lift your hands
They will not rise alone
Atwood Magazine is proud to be premiering “Rough Magic,” the sweetly spellbinding title track from Bandits on the Run’s upcoming sophomore album Rough Magic, due June 12, 2026. A decade into their journey as a band, the New York City-based trio – Regina Strayhorn (accordion), Sydney Shepherd (cello), and Adrian Blake Enscoe (guitar & suitcase drum) – return with a project shaped by years of collaboration, exploration, and lived experience, following a steady stream of singles and EPs that expanded their theatrical, richly melodic folk sound. Formed after a chance encounter busking in the subway, Bandits on the Run have spent the past ten-plus years carving their identity around human connection and community, blending rotating lead vocals, vibrant instrumentation, and a shared storytelling spirit that feels at once timeless and entirely their own.
“Rough Magic” follows recent singles “Am I Your Mirror?” and “Woods Alone at Night,” and finds the band at their most stripped-back and intentional, trading ornate arrangements for one of their most immediate, immersive, and achingly human performances. Here, that intention takes shape in its simplest form – just three harmonizing voices and an acoustic guitar, held together by instinct rather than excess. To hear them tell it, the song itself arrived just as organically.
“‘Rough Magic’ started as a literal dream I had,” Sydney Shepherd tells Atwood Magazine. “In the dream, the three of us were singing the song and slowly dancing in a wooden room for a small group of our dearest friends. I woke with tears in my eyes, the melody ringing clear and my fingers scrambling to write down and catch the fragments of what had visited me in sleep. It was written or cooked up by the subconscious at a time when we were on the road, playing lots of festivals, soaking in the talent and spirit of our comrades-in-song.”
The titular “rough magic” comes into focus in the song’s final verse: “In the silence there is truth / You can find there what is real to you / Nothing to own, nothing to lose / Just your rough magic shining through” – a quiet but powerful reckoning with identity, presence, and release. These lines strip away performance and pretense, pointing instead toward something innate and unpolished – a kind of inner knowing that doesn’t need to be earned or perfected, only recognized.
For Bandits on the Run, that idea extends far beyond the song itself.
“The concept of ‘rough magic’ has been a guiding light for us long before the existence of the song – we love creating beautiful things from scruffy, scrappy materials,” Shepherd says. “This song is a celebration of and meditation on that very spirit.” In that light, “Rough Magic” becomes more than a closing statement or a moment of reflection – it’s a philosophy of creation and of living. What matters isn’t precision, but presence; the willingness to make something real with whatever you have in front of you. It’s an invitation to trust that what emerges – however incomplete, however imperfect – carries its own special, singular truth.
All we are is dust and all
Belly full of wind and fire to fly and fall
Two hands for reaching through the wall
Two feet to run when someone calls
That same sentiment carries through the chorus, where Bandits on the Run widen the song’s perspective from inward reflection to something more expansive and collective: “It takes time to live the life you want to know / Take your time, you see it better when it’s slow / Let your breath release into the great unknown / Lift your hands, they will not rise alone” – a gentle affirmation of patience, trust, and the unseen support that holds us as we move forward.
It takes time to live the life you want to know
Take your time
You see it better when it’s slow
Let your breath
Release into the great unknown
Lift your hands
They will not rise alone
For Shepherd, those words come from lived experience as much as intuition. “I often write what I need to hear myself, and I’m an extremely impatient person,” she reflects. “My tempo is generally a bit more frenetic, especially when I’m working on something I’m passionate about. It is exhilarating and exhausting. But so much richness happens when I let more stillness in. One of the most powerful and hard lessons I’ve had to learn is that nothing enduring is born quickly or easily. And some of the most beautiful things are found in a moment of release.”
As their sophomore album’s title track and one of its final moments, “Rough Magic” offers a glimpse into the broader world Bandits on the Run have spent years building. Rough Magic marks the trio’s first full-length release in nearly ten years, following their 2017 debut The Criminal Record. “Holy crow! Has it been that long?” Enscoe exclaims when confronted with the number. “We’ve been on a lot of little adventures, little experiments in sound with so many singles and a few EPs where we chased a rabbit down a hole for a bit. All of those experiences and lessons are baked into this album – which really took making a conscientious effort to reserve time and space and resources to weave into a full arc across 14 songs.”
What emerges is a record shaped by time and transformation – one that carries the band’s early brightness forward while grounding it in a deeper well of experience. There’s a greater sense of scope here, both emotionally and sonically, as Bandits on the Run capture the immediacy of their live connection while expanding their sound into new and unexpected territory.
And in the letting go
Is the tender way you’re made to be
Your body was built to be free
No one wins the game
We were only made to live
In the ease of love
And the shadow of your shame –
Let it fall away
What is left
What is left
What stays
What is left to say
“The word that comes to mind is depth,” Shepherd says, and it couldn’t be more accurate – if their latest single alone is any indication, Bandits on the Run are operating at their most fully realized – as songwriters, as musical collaborators, and as storytellers.
“Our story, our hearts, and our spirits are woven through this album,” Regina Strayhorn shares. “We hope that this album is a reminder that something can be made from nothing, a chance encounter can become a greatest hope, and there is always a curve coming down the road. We hope this record keeps people curious. We hope it’s a balm and a light and a friend and, at times, a great damn thing to dance to.”
To the band, “Rough Magic” plays like the final scene before the credits roll –
– a moment of reflection and release after everything that came before, where you can look back on what you’ve learned and move forward with a renewed sense of possibility. Stripped of spectacle and grounded in presence, it distills their decade-long journey into a beautifully simple, lasting, and deeply felt refrain.
Stream “Rough Magic” exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and dive deeper into our conversation with Bandits on the Run below as they unpack their song’s late-night origins, the personal meaning behind “rough magic,” and the patience, process, and perspective shaping their long-awaited sophomore album.
Take your time with “Rough Magic” – let it unfold at its own pace, and you may just find a little more of your own story reflected back in it. You might even call it a dream come true.
In the silence there is truth
You can find there what is real to you
Nothing to own, nothing to lose
Just your rough magic shining through
It takes time to live the life you want to know
Take your time
You see it better when it’s slow
Let your breath release
into the great unknown
Lift your hands
They will not rise alone
They will not rise alone
They will not rise alone
They will not rise alone
They will not rise
Alone
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:: stream/purchase “Rough Magic” here ::
:: connect with Bandits on the Run here ::
:: pre-save Rough Magic here ::
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“Rough Magic” – Bandits on the Run
A CONVERSATION WITH BANDITS ON THE RUN
Atwood Magazine: Bandits on the Run, for those who are just discovering you today through this writeup, what do you want them to know about you and your music?
Sydney Shepherd: Welcome to our world! Thank you for listening 🙂 We are three best friends, two of us are married, and we got our start busking in the subways of New York City. We love to bring a spirit of community to every show, and we all have theatrical backgrounds and love to implement fun surprises, so always expect the unexpected.
Who are some of your musical north stars, and what are you most excited about the music you're making today?
Shepherd: I have so many musical inspirations, so I’m going to answer this one in terms of longevity – Iron and Wine has been a North Star for me since I was in high school. I feel like he’s always stayed true to himself while allowing himself to evolve and explore, and his work is just so consistently stunning. I had a chance to see him live a few years ago, and his energy as a frontman and his generosity of spirit to his fellow musicians were just as inspiring as the music itself. And I really admire his poetry. The lyrics don’t always have to be on the nose to strike right at the heart.
Regina Strayhorn: So many north stars! Glen Hansard, Alabama Shakes, Lucius, I’m With Her, Bonny Light Horseman, Gillian Welch, Angel Olsen, Fleetwood Mac – the list goes on! I love that our music feels really true to ourselves right now (both individually and collectively). The balance of all of our experiences and emotions feels really present in this album.
Adrian Blake Enscoe: I’m a big fan of anything glam and bombastic. So a lot of 70s rock really does it for me. Electric Light Orchestra, David Bowie, and especially Queen were my first musical inspirations. Later, I really got into the epic sounds and journeysome songs of baroque folk acts like Fleet Foxes, Department of Eagles, and Dr. Dog (for some reason, that stage of music was all animals). These days I’m sinking my teeth into older ambient/analogue-electronic music, like Harold Budd and Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, and Mort Garsen’s Plantasia. To this day, I am inspired without limit by the deep and imperfectly beautiful vibe of the Langley School Choir Project.
We’re here to discuss your new music today, but you’ve been active for ten years! Can you recommend a couple personal highlights from the Bandits catalog for Atwood’s crate-digging audience to sink their teeth into?
Bandits on the Run: Absolutely! “Love in the Underground” is inspired by the real-life story of how we met on the subway and earned us wider recognition when it was selected as a Tiny Desk Top Shelf Entry a few years back. “You Have Changed” is very dear to us and is often the song we use to begin our shows. “Reach Back” always gives us a sense of hope and possibility, no matter how many times we play it. And go to YouTube for the video of our song “Radio” – filmed entirely in a closet!
Rough Magic arrives later this year as your first full-length in nearly ten years! How do you feel this album introduces you and captures your artistry, especially compared to your past releases?
Enscoe: Holy crow! Has it been that long? We’ve been on a lot of little adventures, little experiments in sound with so many singles and a few EPs where we chased a rabbit down a hole for a bit. All of those experiences and lessons are baked into this album – which really took making a conscientious effort to reserve time and space and resources to weave into a full arc across 14 songs.
Shepherd: The word that comes to mind is depth. I think this album really captures the depth of our artistry and our connections with each other. We started this band so young and bright-eyed, and though we’ve managed to keep much of our brightness, it’s now built over a wider breadth of life experience and ecstasy and heartbreak and angst. Technically speaking, it’s the best-sounding album we’ve made – we’ve managed to capture the spirit of how it feels to see us live while also expanding the sound landscape in ways we’d have never dreamed before.
What’s the story behind the title track that we're premiering today?
Shepherd: “Rough Magic” started as a literal dream I had. In the dream, the three of us were singing the song and slowly dancing in a wooden room for a small group of our dearest friends. I woke up and tried to write down as much as I could remember from my sleep. It was written/cooked up by the subconscious at a time when we were on the road, playing lots of festivals, soaking in the talent and spirit of our comrades-in-song.
The concept of “rough magic” has been a guiding light for us long before the existence of the song – we love creating beautiful things from scruffy, scrappy materials. And this song is a celebration of and meditation on that very spirit.
“It takes time to live the life you want to know,” you sing in the refrain. “Take your time, you see it better when it's slow... let your breath release into the great unknown.” Tell me about these lines; what do they mean to you?
Shepherd: I often write what I need to hear myself, and I’m an extremely impatient person. My tempo is generally a bit more frenetic, especially when I’m working on something I’m passionate about. It is exhilarating and exhausting. But so much richness happens when I let more stillness in. One of the most powerful and hard lessons I’ve had to learn is that nothing enduring is born quickly or easily. And some of the most beautiful things are found in a moment of release.
There's a tenderness to this song – one guitar gently strumming alongside three voices in beautiful harmony. What was your collective vision for this track?
Shepherd: That was the instrumentation in the dream! So we went with it! Though of course, Adrian’s guitar arrangements turned out way more beautiful and intricate than they were in the dream (the power of collaboration!)
Enscoe: Dawww, thanks, Sydney – I wanted the ethereal glow from the dream to shine through a more solid, rooted foundation that the lyrics express. I’m pretty pleased that this one is very close to how you’d hear us if we were singing around you in this room.
How does this track fit into the overall narrative of Rough Magic (the album)?
Enscoe: This album travels a lot – it takes you on this ride through really vivid vistas with a lot of wild sounds we found while we were in the studio with our producer William Garrett. Since it’s one of the last songs on the album, it kind of felt like this one was gonna be a bit of the moral of the story, the morsel of Bandit wisdom to take on, that you don’t need all the bells and whistles for the magic to happen, that it could just be some friends and a guitar.
Shepherd: There’s so much beautiful arrangement work on the album overall, and we wanted to strip this one almost completely down – to make you feel like you’re just in a nice cozy room with us at the end of a long adventure, with candles and tea OR on a hill at twilight as the sun paints the sky and the wind sends you this tune. It’s near the very end of the album, near the very end of the movie, before the credits roll, where you can look back on all you’ve learned and look forward with faithful possibility.
What do you hope listeners take away from “Rough Magic” the song – and the album – and what have you taken away from creating this music and now putting it out?
Strayhorn: Our story, our hearts, and our spirits are woven through this album. We hope that this album is a reminder that something can be made from nothing, a chance encounter can become a greatest hope, and there is always a curve coming down the road. We hope this record keeps people curious. We hope it’s a balm and a light and a friend and, at times, a great damn thing to dance to.
In the past we’ve gone into the studio knowing exactly what we want to do, and for this album many of the songs were still babies, still new ideas, still being written when we arrived to record them at a house in the woods – and we let each other, our producer William [Garrett], our engineer Carl [Bespolka], and the beautiful nature around us help inform and shape the songs as they were being born. We will certainly be carrying this spirit of discovery and exploration while in the recording space forward with us.
In the spirit of paying it forward, who are you listening to these days that you would recommend to our readers?
Bandits on the Run: There are so many amazing artists doing the dang thing out there these days, and we want to celebrate our incredible friends: John Gallagher Jr., Raising Daughters, Garth., Sienna Sears, Christopher Sears, Dustin Dale Gaspard, Alexa Wildish, The Little Mercies, Makeshift Hammer, to name a few!!
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:: stream/purchase “Rough Magic” here ::
:: connect with Bandits on the Run here ::
:: pre-save Rough Magic here ::
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“Rough Magic” – Bandits on the Run
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