The Runarounds are backed by some of the largest institutions in the world, but does that make their music any less enjoyable? “Arrhythmia (I Hope You Stay)” is your first chance to find the answer before the band arrives on tour in your town. 

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“Arrhythmia (I Hope You Stay)” – The Runarounds

Three guitars, two lead singers, a TV show, and an actor walk into a beach-bar on the Carolina coast.

They open with flying guitar solos, probably a cover or two, belting choruses, before all the locals demand a slow song to catch their breath. Watery chords welcome you in before “Arrhythmia (I Hope You Stay)” fully demands your attention as a power ballad from another era.

Comprised of William Lipton (guitar/vocals), Axel Ellis (guitar, vocals), Jesse Golliher (bass/vocals) Zende Murdock (drums), and Jeremy Yun (guitar/vocals), The Runarounds are an interesting experience. If you want to dive into the lore before the music, you have an eight episode coming-of-age summer romance TV series produced by Skydance Productions (owned by David Ellison) and distributed on Amazon Prime. This experience is critical to the band’s existence; out of all songs they have released on streaming platforms, only one does not appear in the series.

Social media also lacks any prior recognition of Ax and the Hatchetmen, Axel Ellis (vocals/guitar)’ other band, who released their debut album So Much to Tell You late last year via Arista Records / Sony Music. Released January 23 via AWAL, “Arrhythmia” was co-written with Winnetka Bowling League‘s Matthew Koma. There is institutional backing to ensure this project makes it into our ears and is successful. The Runarounds exist as a group thanks to Jonas Pate’s casting call for Outer Banks, created and arranged much akin to One Direction.

Does that mean the new single is good?

For starters, it’s at least sterile. The studio release is far cleaner and tighter than the soundtrack edition. Guitars sound sludgy rather than washed out, and it’s clear the track was mastered to allow space between every instrument. The chorus has lovely synth that should underscore the earworm, and the second verse features playful guitar work. Climaxing with a guitar solo, never expected always appreciated, you can clearly hear the talent of the group throughout the song. While polishing the edges of a soundtrack, the engineers managed to ensure no new cracks were formed, but they also buffed out lovable imperfections.

The lyrics leave a lot to be desired and also show the promise that this project is meant to be music-first. Every bar is on-the-nose, as anticipated, but the chorus attempts to circle an open room: 

“What if I pack my bags and left myself here
What if the music never sounds the same?” 

Curiosity and imagination aren’t at the forefront here, with the following lines truly embracing the melodramatic love song meant to tug and pull developing romances.

When I close my eyes I’m screaming
For a sign of something close to me to say
I hope you stay

However, what if the music truly never sounds the same? Can a group of talented guitar loving musicians find a way to channel their passions while Capital has both hands in their pockets? It stands to be a super conflicting experience, as reworked soundtrack highlights are repurposed as polished singles. “Arrhythmia” lands far too serious, far too on the nose, and far too unimaginative to generate excitement for the rest of the original material.

And yet…

I still find myself rooting for the group.

Among a loaded Bonnaroo lineup, The Runarounds find themselves in small print under a cavalry of EDM, has-been indie acts, and soon-to-be legends. I’ll find myself in the crowd for them, hoping to feel the same energy the band does when singing lyrics about off-tempo heartbeats while swallowing my guilt knowing how many artists would give up their entire life for that opportunity.

Settle down, grow up
Life becomes transactional
Everyone calls it rational

My heart is competing, losing the color in my face
My feet are both running, I go so far to stay in place
I’m leading, retreating, my internal debate
I think I thought I needed to escape

“If you are a human living on planet earth, you’ve probably been told in a situation or two to follow your heart. Easier said than done,” Will Lipton (guitar, lead vocals) tells Atwood Magazine. “It is in our nature to be distrustful of ourselves. ‘Arrhythmia’ (a medical term used to describe an irregular heartbeat) is a tune about reaching out to someone close to help you find that trust in yourself again.”

For many fans, we will follow our heart directly into a live Runarounds show.

I’m distrustful of myself for believing in a project backed by so much funding, but for once I’m going to ignore the arrhythmia to sing the chorus. I’ll spend even more time, hoping the next studio single is “Minivan” or “Cellophane,” while highly anticipating a barn burning guitar-centered indie show.

“Arrhythmia” can only pique my interest for so long, and I anticipate a live performance to be significantly more empowered.

What if I pack my bags and left myself here
What if the music never sounds the same
When I close my eyes I’m screaming
For a sign of something close to me to say
I hope you stay

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“Arrhythmia (I Hope You Stay)” – The Runarounds

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 © Isaiah Pate

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