with their sophomore single, ‘Barbara Gray’
For their sophomore single, the cerebrally poetic Indie/Americana outfit, Run the Enemy, excavated the sublimity from the serendipitously ephemeral, eternally immortalised encounter between Elvis and Barbara Gray in1956.
By using the samples of histrionic Elvis fans in the Editors-esque post-punk production, the Cambridge, UK-residing outfit amplified the tenderness in the transient intimacy of a pop culture moment of pure connection, inviting listeners to live vicariously in that temporal moment and revel in the reverie of the synchronicity.
With the Elbow-reminiscent choked-with-emotion vocals which efficaciously illustrate the thematic depths of the lyricism and an aura of sepia-toned nostalgia enveloping the hauntingly angular guitars, arcane keys and pulsating rhythm section, Barbara Gray weighs heavy in the soul while simultaneously imparting the transcendence of the moment that will never be lost to history.
Barbara Gray was recorded at Skyline Studios, produced by Jez Larder, and reached the airwaves on June 28th.
Run the Enemy said:
“The song is about randomly overlapping lives, inspired by the fleeting moments shared by Elvis and Barbara Gray, captured on film by Alfred Wertheimer in 1956 at the Jefferson Hotel in Virginia.
For over fifty years, the girl remained anonymous until she appeared on the Today Show to discuss the one day that her life crossed with Elvis’s, like a crossword clue; he was seven down, she was eight across. Despite the moment being so transient and their lives going in such different directions thereafter, their moment is preserved forever on film.”
Amelia Vandergast, Executive Editor at A&R Factory said:
“Run the Enemy’s ability to find the poetic beauty within fragments of history and infuse the romanticism into their achingly affecting installations of alt-indie ensures their superlative work dilates with soul-strikingly sweet sonic sentimentality. You’d be hard pressed to find a better entry into the UK indie scene in 2024. It’s only a matter of time before Run The Enemy tears it’s way into the mainstream”
About
Run the Enemy is Geoff Steward (Guitars, Songwriting, Lyrics), Mike Turnbull (Guitars), Ben Hoy (Vocals) Tim Steele (Percussion and Backing Vocals) and John Buckley (Piano, Keyboards, Bass, Songwriting).
The band formed in 2023 and released their debut album, Trail of Tears, in February 2024 which exhibited their Americana and British Indie fusionism.
After a phenomenal reception, which saw their debut single, She Writes Poetry, described as “giving Richey Edwards and Morrissey a run for their lyrical vignette money”, Run the Enemy prepared to unveil their sophomore single, Barbara Gray, on June 28th.
July 26th will see the launch of the third single, Eulogy Air; an exploration of symbolism, spirituality and the joy of remembrance, which ensues from a sombre funeral church organ and haunting post-punk guitars before building into a euphorically anthemic crescendo, facilitating the act of mourning through celebration.
Source
A&R Factory
