New Jersey songwriter Anthony Walker signals the arrival of his forthcoming album, The Wind & The Witness, with his breezy new single ‘Runways’. With his soft-toned blend of indie-folk, soft-rock and americana, this artist has a sound deeply connected to his national identity, with that hopeful optimism, ambitious determination and pursuit of happiness that define the best parts of the USA. Another quality that Walker himself feels connected with is a longstanding romance with wanderlust, especially within music.
What makes ‘Runways’ such an essential listen is that it doesn’t look at wanderlust through purely rose-tinted glasses, but instead it considers whether a traveller is moving towards or away from something. In his storytelling style, Walker crafts this lone, escape-chasing character, whose essence comes through with such striking clarity. One has to wonder if this persona is in some way semi-biographical or based on someone in the songwriter’s life.
This story is weaved into a brisk guitar strums, pedal steel guitar flourishes and swaying percussion that imbues the whole soundscape with a timeless warmth. Walker‘s voice is a soothing and steady presence throughout the track, not offering judgement, but simply being a respectful observer with a touch of melancholy. This careful balance really comes through in the chorus: “riding high, flying blind, he never calls, he never writes, the more he leaves, the less he minds.”
In short, ‘Runways’ is a charming, understated and compelling insight into Anthony Walker‘s next album.
You can also listen to ‘Runaways’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
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