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"One of the most beautifully sincere pieces of music of the year." - When the Horn Blows
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Run Remedy, the project of New Jersey-born, Manchester-based artist Robin Koob, unveils her new single, Kerosene. Known for blending intimate storytelling with experimental textures and folk influences, Koob's latest offering is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on love, loss, and resilience. The track also serves as a preview of Run Remedy’s highly anticipated debut album, which is set to be released in June.
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Kerosene recounts the tragic loss of Koob’s first “puppy love”, Lily, when the pair were involved in a tragic car accident during her teenage years. Raised in a strict Evangelical Christian household, with two preacher parents, Koob spent her adolescence lost and closeted, struggling to understand her identity within the confines of a conservative community. On Kerosene, she reflects on how the tragedy reshaped her life and pushed her toward self-discovery and a broader world beyond the confines of her upbringing.
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On her new single, Koob shared:
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“Losing Lily so young is a big part of what gave me the courage to really live. It was a face-slap way to learn how short and precious life is. Kerosene is about that bright flame of being young, filled with the promise of life. It’s about the destruction and terror of that day, as well as the brightness and life that come afterward.I don't know if I ever would have been brave enough to leave the comfort of my world or risk being my true self without that experience.
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I have a tattoo for Lily now. We used to talk about what we wanted to get, and after her death, when I finally got my cliché violin back tattoo, I got hers on my hand too—so I wouldn't ever forget that lesson.”
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Through Kerosene’s striking “lo-fi / hi-fi” production and layers of atmospheric instrumentation, Koob evokes the tender innocence of young love, the devastation of the accident, and the hope that emerged in its aftermath. “There are different 'light motifs' throughout,” she explains, “like the dreamy cloud-like synth for the feelings of a first crush, a fast, scattered telecaster for the flames of the accident, and a rising piano sequence played by James Davis in the outro for the acceptance that comes after loss.” Harmonies by Niamh Feeney (The Deep Blue) amplify the song’s emotional depth, creating an anthem of grief and renewal.
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The video for Kerosene layers live-action footage, real fire and animation by Luca Shaw to illustrate themes of memory and healing. Shot in one take in a friend’s backyard, the visuals contrast with the innocent joy of youth with the fiery aftermath of tragedy, reflecting Koob’s journey of reconciling her past with her present. “It felt important to have these physical layers… literal layers of paper, but also of interaction,” Koob explains.
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Having grown up steeped in the teachings of Christianity, Koob’s music often explores themes of identity and self-discovery. Her ability to weave profound, personal narratives with universal resonance has drawn comparisons to artists like Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Weyes Blood.
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Kerosene follows the release of ‘Disciple’, which delved into her complicated relationship with faith and queerness. Together, these songs paint a vivid picture of an artist who transforms life’s hardest lessons into powerful, evocative art. As a rising force in the indie music scene, Run Remedy has performed alongside acts like Francis Lung, PIJN, Melanie Baker and Dilettante.
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