Lydia Loveless just dropped a powerful new single, “Runaway,” from the upcoming album, Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again, set to release on September 22nd, 2023, via Bloodshot Records. The song starts with a haunting piano chord, gradually building into a memorable chorus that showcases Loveless’s powerhouse vocals. Unlike the usual witty lyricism, “Runaway” offers a raw vulnerability and heart-wrenching honesty.
“This was one of the very first songs I wrote for this record,” Loveless (she/her/they/them) explains. “I hated it, but my friend Amy was giving me assignments and pushing me to write my way through heartache while I was crashing on her couch. She would send me out with a notebook and tell me not to come back until I had something. Eventually this one grew on me and is now actually my favorite to sing on the whole record. It’s deeply personal and gut-wrenching to perform. It’s about not wanting my relationship to end but knowing things weren’t ever going to improve. I’m especially proud of the instrumentation, particularly the guitar part at the end that had everyone calling me Mark Knopfler when I came out of the booth.”
This follows the anthemic lead single, “Toothache,” which garnered praise from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NPR Music, and more. Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again, one of Pitchfork’s most anticipated albums, is a breakup record reminiscent of classic gems like Richard & Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors. But it’s more than that; it’s also a call to self-improvement, taking ownership, and moving forward, even if it means going it alone. The album continues Lydia Loveless’s evolution as a fearless songwriter who fearlessly reflects on life through music.
