After releasing the sticky alt-pop single 'Wake Up', Run River North shares 'OKAY COOL', the latest single from 'Monsters Calling Home, Vol. 2', the second installment of the double-EP collection (Out November 1 via Nettwerk Records).
Alex Hwang (guitar/vocals), Daniel Chae (guitars/vocals), and Sally Kang (keys/vocals) have come into their own as a 3-piece, forging a complementary axis from which to write, record, and play. Taking a fresh feeling-driven mentality into their recording sessions and coming out with five songs that fit its epic scope with similar vibes and feel. 'Monsters' is a supremely catchy banger co-written with the husband-and-wife pop duo Vinyl Pinups that is propelled by a frenetic energy and anthemic chorus. 'OKAY COOL' is a fun, poppy jam that stems from a Michael Jackson-inspired beat created by Chae, and 'I’m Amazing', co-written with POP ETC’s Chu, maintains the EP’s level of bravado, confidence, and exuberant enthusiasm. The closing piano ballad 'Let Me Down' was co-written with producer Derek Fuhrmann (Andrew McMahon, KYGO, O.A.R.) and ends the record on a sentimental yet sweet note. Vol. 2 is produced by engineer Miro Mackie, who worked as the drum tech on the band’s previous full-length, Drinking from a Salt Pond. With Miro’s assist, the beat-driven sound of the EP and its attention to sonic details serves as an extension of the joyful, feeling-based songwriting.
“To us, the record feels new and youthful and at the same time very pure and happy,” Hwang says. “That contagious, genuine sense of joy is something we’ve been wanting to get to, and it’s been really fun to discover while working with other musicians we respect and looking inside ourselves as well.”
For Run River North, that sensibility serves as their guiding principle and has allowed them to finally reach the musical heights to which they have always aspired. With the collaborative, communal effort of 'Monsters Calling Home, Vol. 2', the band will surely see themselves atop the airwaves for many years to come.
About Run River North:
Monsters Calling Home, Vol 1 & 2, follow sophomore album Drinking From A Salt Pond, led by lead single “Run Or Hide.” The album landed at #6 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #3 on the Alternative New Artist Albums chart. Working with producer Lars Stalfors (Cold War Kids, Deap Vally, HEALTH, Matt and Kim), the band left behind its familiar folksy roots to craft an ambitious rock album. The band performed the single for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, MTV’s Wonderland and landed in the Top 30 of the Alternative Radio chart. Their self-titled debut album (2014) landed at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Produced Phil Ek (Built To Spill, The Shins, Father John Misty), NPR wrote, “Run River North stays the course – and finds success,” and Esquire said, “Because modern folk this richly layered has a high degree of difficulty. And [Run River North] nail the landing.” The band has also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, VH-1 Big Morning Buzz, CMT “Concrete Country,” Last Call With Carson Daly, and Emmy-winning PBS series Artbound. All this follows features with The Wall Street Journal, NPR ‘Weekend Edition,’ NPR ‘All Things Considered’ NPR ‘Here & Now,’ Entertainment Weekly, American Songwriter, Daytrotter, American Way, KPCC 89.3 Southern CA Public Radio and TeamCoco, the official website of Conan.
Tour Dates:
October 16 Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto Theatre
October 18 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
October 19 Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre
October 20 San Francisco, CA @ The Filmore
