Over in the USA, hurricane season is fast approaching, while funding to help prepare for the potential conditions has been declining. Consequently, Marian Runk’s song ‘Natural Disaster’ has been on her mind a lot lately. After being caught out in terrible weather, Runk decided the time was right to make a video for the song – one of her old favourites. In the accompanying photo, above, Runk is pictured with the resonator guitar that she actually used on the original recording; it’s a fine instrument played beautifully, and those twisting, sliding notes are at the heart of the song’s sound. Andrew Wilkins adds warmth with his bass, while Runk delivers a striking vocal performance, clear and tuneful. In the vein of Gillian Welch, this is timeless storytelling music from the Dallas-born, Chicago-based songwriter.
Runk told AUK about the song and video: “I was recently caught in a pretty fierce thunderstorm during a long-distance drive from the Midwest to the East Coast. The sheets of rain and the rhythm of the windshield wipers reminded me of my song, ‘Natural Disaster.’ When I got home, I gathered cell phone videos from my US travels over the last 10 or so years, and weaved those together with video from a live show at Cafe Mustache in Chicago. ‘Natural Disaster’ has always been a favourite song of mine. It was written in a time of high anxiety, and during the depths of a Michael Chapman phase (‘Time Past Time Passing’ on repeat!). Writing a song with an alternating bass rhythm and playing with a slide was, at the time, an effective way of self-soothing! It’s a heartbeat, a breathing rhythm you can match. I’m currently in the studio recording new songs, but it’s been rewarding to work on this visual project that keeps me connected to my ‘past’ work (which is never truly past, when I still play the songs live!).”
Although the video is new, ‘Natural Disaster’ is actually from her first album, “A Few Feet From the Ground”, released back in 2018. Runk’s storytelling journey led her from comics and book art to songwriting and, finally, performing. Her thoughtful narratives explore themes like loneliness, grief and addiction, all addressed with sensitivity on her most recent record, 2024’s “Two Wires and a Spark”. Absorbing stuff.
