New York-born and bred musician and singer-songwriter Speedrun, aka Nina Lüders, recently released her debut EP, Love’s Latest News, a six-track collection of songs blending indie rock, bluesy vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and Cameroonian makossa-inspired riffs.
Love’s Latest News probes medieval ideals of courtly love and how they relate to the modern world. Each track, ranging from chill to upbeat, delves into different types of love before culminating in self-love.
Self-describing the project as “indie chic,” Speedrun explains, “I wrote this EP as a love letter to 2000s indie rock, with the cover art of me in a suit of armor to both highlight the medieval theme and introduce imagery of a young black woman empowered in her own hero’s journey. The Strokes producer Gordon Raphael found me on TikTok and offered to join the project as the lead mixer and really drove home the nostalgic garage rock sound while keeping it contemporary for all kinds of listeners.”
Regarding the EP’s title, Speedrun shares, “‘Love’s Latest News’ is the translation of the title of a French poem from a book called A Matter of Blue by Jean-Michel Maulpoix. I’m an avid reader, so I liked the idea of naming it after a poem in one of my favorite collections. In addition, the idea of love as something dynamic that always updates – like the news – was also a cool concept I wanted to integrate.”
Entry points include opener “Hearsay,” brimming with electrifying, edgy guitars topped by Speedrun’s smooth, dreamy vocals. A personal favorite, “What He’s Used To” features layers of gleaming guitars exuding grunge-lite flavors and a finessed bassline as Speedrun’s vocals imbue the lyrics with warm surfaces.
“They ask him if he’ll do them in / He says he won’t but he will / All his lovers burn just like candy on his tongue.”
“Cruel Heart, Tender World” ties the EP off with aplomb, revealing platinum-colored guitars riding a pushing rhythm as a virtuoso bassline infuses the rhythm with fat textures. At once lustrous and velvety, Speedrun parades her beguiling voice, silhouetted against the toothsomeness of the harmonics.
Innovative and stylish, with Love’s Latest News, Speedrun offers listeners an alluring, ooh-la-la sonic experience.
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