The latest single from Brooklyn-based trio Bandits on the Run is a song of lost love, of coming to terms with the end of a relationship and the struggle to move on from heartbreak. The quality of the vocal performance is striking: beautiful harmonies and soaring melodies are at the heart of ‘You Have Changed’, a song that aches with emotion. The trio’s voices are lifted by fine instrumentation, particularly Sydney Shepherd’s cello – the deep, sonorous tones reinforce the melancholy. It’s sophisticated songcraft, performed with excellent musicianship.
The song was written at a time when their futures were uncertain and the band were having to face a new reality. The song helped them confront this moment of doubt: “‘You Have Changed’ is about being torn apart, begrudging acceptance, and lingering love. It’s about the uncontrollable wellspring of grief that comes swooping in when life smacks you in the face, and you’re just not ready for it. It felt like the world was caving in under us and all of a sudden everything we loved and held onto had changed.”
The accompanying video truly is a piece of art in its own right. This cinematic film was shot and edited by Paul Emile Cendron, who shared directing duties with the band. Featuring Tony-award winning actor, John Gallagher Jr. and Morgan Siobhan Green, it showcases a complete narrative about the search for a lost earring. Of course, the earring symbolises so much more than a piece of jewellery and it’s incredibly effective at exposing the impact of a relationship unravelling, particularly the sequence of images showing Gallagher Jr. sitting alone at the table day after day. The idea for the video came to band member Regina Strahorn in a dream – a story to be told through French-new-wave cinema. The band explain: “Since we knew we were doing a French-new-wave-inspired short film, we immediately called our friend with the most French name, Paul-Emile Cendron, who also happens to be a brilliant and daring filmmaker. He was able to balance the heartbreak of our story with moments of levity and charm, and literally he risked life and limb, perching on top of a moving vehicle to grab some of the moving bicycle shots.”
Bandits on the Run have come a long way since a chance encounter while busking in the New York subway. Their most recent EP ‘Now is the Time’ was produced by Ryan Hadlock (Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers). They have managed to maintain various solo and collaborative projects in recent years and also produced one of our very first mini-gigs, a terrific performance of ‘Love in the Underground’ – check it out here. ‘You Have Changed’ is the first taste of their forthcoming self-produced EP. While you wait for the EP, be absorbed by this beautiful single.
