Passenger's Runaway is an album for all the feels

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: BLACK CROW RECORDS AND NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP
Get ready to hear a beautiful collection of songs with intricate melodies and songwriting, with Passenger's new album, Runaway.

Singer-songwriter,Passenger (Mike Rosenberg), will be releasing his ninth studio album Runaway on Aug. 31, in preparation for a North American tour which will see several stops in Canada.

Interrobang listened to the album, which is nothing short of what’s to be expected from an artist as seasoned as Passenger.

It takes more than musical aptitude, to create an album that can move a listener, the way Rosenberg seems to do with every song he releases. It takes a lifetime of unique experiences and a passion to share these stories with the world, both demonstrated strongly by Rosenberg throughout the music of Runaway.

The album is aptly named as several songs on the album, such as the title track “Runaway,” “Why Can’t I Change,” or “To Be Free”, deal with a longing to open a new chapter in life, while finding a way to keep the core aspects of one’s identity intact.

In this way, the album forms an introspective look on the past three decades of Rosenberg’s life. As each lyric is delivered with a strong conviction and emotion, the listener can’t help, but feel nostalgic as they find themselves pulled into Rosenberg’s world.

Although the album was recorded in Passenger’s home of the U.K., as well as Australia, many of the songs point geographically to North America, particularly the United States, both lyrically and sonically.

This theme comes from Rosenberg’s childhood when his American father would take him on regular trips to visit the United States when he was growing up in Brighton, U.K.

The album harkens back to this lyrically in many tracks, especially the song “Eagle Bear and Buffalo” which paints the picture of a classic American road trip to Yellowstone Park.

The production on the album also follows this North American theme, adding strong elements of Americana to enhance the musical scenery of Rosenberg’s tales. Throughout the sonic structure, you’ll hear instruments such as slide guitar, mandolin, organ and banjo, which create a musical environment unlike Passenger’s past albums.

Although this new flavour may be somewhat jarring and unexpected at first, after listening to one or two songs, it becomes a welcome addition to Rosenberg’s songwriting.

According to a 2018 press release by Nettwerk Music, “Mike imagined all the new songs unfolding against a backdrop of American landscapes, which led to a month long road trip across the U.S. to create a series of live acoustic versions of each album track, and videos to match”.

Several of these videos are already available for viewing online and with musicianship, that is just as breathtaking as the scenery, they are well worth checking out.

Although Rosenberg introduces many new themes and production elements on this album, the stripped down live versions of these songs prove that the core of what Passenger’s music has always been about remains the same. That is, enchanting guitar riffs and beautiful storytelling, with an emotional deliverance that makes you want to listen to every single word Passenger has to say.

Runaway should definitely be on your radar come Aug. 31, but if you’re feeling impatient, you’re in luck. Several singles are already available for listening on all major music streaming platforms. More information on this and Passenger’s upcoming tour can be found at PassengerMusic.com.