Tallulah Rendall’s song “Run” is an intimate and cinematic example of alt-pop in the form of a ballad, portraying the terrifying nature of a panic attack while also looking beyond the immediate feelings of fear. It depicts the body’s natural freeze-and-flight reaction and the difficulty of realising that running from fear has become a lifelong habit. Instead of showing panic as merely a moment of weakness, “Run” emphasises the step-by-step process of becoming aware and the possibility of once again trusting yourself.
The song starts off vulnerable and then slowly develops into a sense of hope; its emotional progression goes from the state of being stuck in an automatic survival reaction to one of calm, awareness and trust in oneself. The line “I trust my light keeps learning” illustrates this change, indicating a person who is still learning how to move forward without being ruled by fear. What is so powerful about the song is the honesty displayed by Rendall, who has drawn on her own experiences of having panic attacks and the physical fear, shame and confusion that they caused.
The video for ‘Run’ acquires an additional dimension because it was shot within Bruce Munro’s Fireflies light installation. The lit pathways and shapes reflect the song’s progression from darkness to light, while also implying the presence of a nervous system, a body, and a more extensive pattern which is not obvious at first sight. Thus, the visual environment closely aligns with the subject of the song and transforms its emotional development so that it can be seen as well as heard.
The song ‘Run’, taken from the album ‘Only Human’, carries on Rendall’s examination of mental health, resilience and emotional healing, yet it is the personal experiences expressed in the song that give it its effect. Rather than just outlining fear, the track shows the process of identifying it, facing it and then coming up with an alternative reaction. The way the song moves from a state of vulnerability to one of hope gives it a definite emotional structure, so that the listener is left with the feeling that self-trust is still in the process of developing rather than with the impression of a conclusion that has been neatly reached.
Dates for Tour
9 October – Ashburton Arts Centre, Ashburton
10 October – The Globe, Hay-on-Wye
12 October – The Prince Albert, Stroud
15 October – Jam Jar, Bristol
17 October – Zed Shed, Penryn
21 October – St. Pancras Old Church, London
23 October – Bennett Centre, Frome
24 October – Sound Knowledge (in-store signing), Marlborough
25 October – Folklore Rooms, Brighton
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