MASTERFULLY ENCAPSULATES THE SPIRIT OF THE SCOUSE MUSIC SCENE | ‘RUNAWAY’ NEW SINGLE BY KEYSIDE

SINGLE REVIEW | KEYSIDE – RUNAWAY By Keira Knox

The latest single from the city’s rising radio favourites, Keyside, combines the fusion melodies of classic jangle-indie from Liverpool’s inner city streets with the sorrow that defines contemporary bedroom pop. The band’s upcoming second EP features the tune ‘Runaway,‘ which is an anthem dedicated to the art of escape.

Mainstream radio took keen interest in Keyside’s breakthrough single, ‘Nikita,’ from the EP of the same name (on leading indie, Modern Sky – home to The Coral, The Lathums, The Royston Club, and more). The tune was overflowing with thoughts, packed with life experience, and found enough jangle chords to make anyone’s heart skip a beat. A unique group of inadvertent estate poets, whose music flows from them like a need. The message of ‘Runaway‘—finding ways to get away from a difficult upbringing—is just as important as the accompanying songs.

Keyside’s momentum is driven by Runaway’s sub-three-minute endorphin release of sophisticated guitar lines and shy, softly aspirational poetry, which undoubtedly has echoes of vintage The La’s and The Smiths song writing locked in. ‘Runaway’ masterfully encapsulates the spirit of the scouse music scene. Their raw accent is audible in the voices, maintaining the track’s realism.

Speaking on the track frontman, vocalist and guitarist, Dan Parker, says: “’Runaway’ is about how hard it can before young people growing up in a difficult household. It’s about breaking free from pressures and the liberating effect of discovering life, what the world is really like and who you really are.”

With Ben Cassidy on lead guitar, Max Gibson on bass and backing vocals, and Oisin McAvoy on drums, Parker and Keyside, who are no strangers to the challenges of growing up in a society where nothing is given or taken for granted, explore ideas of flight from adversity in their music. Nikita’s vividly lighted story of helplessness was rife with poetic license, while songs like ‘Runaway’ reveal realities more in line with the band’s local neighbourhood.

The springtime headline shows at YES Manchester and the Arts Club in Liverpool were so popular that they sold out in advance. Other festival appearances that year included Sound City, On The Waterfront, and Cosmic Cape, as well as exploratory appearances at Manchester’s New Century with Seb Lowe and Liverpool’s O2 Academy with Brooke Combe. The current live dates for Keyside this year that are still available, with more exciting announcements to come, include:

Sat 5th Oct–Manchester Neighbourhood Festival

Sun 10th Nov–Liverpool, Favourite Days Festival

Tue 19th – Wed 20th Nov-Liverpool, O2Academy w/The Royston Club

Keep up to date with everything from Keyside HERE

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Keira Knox

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