Catch Up Vol 6

Marian Runk

Marian Runk’s life-long fascination with storytelling evolved from book arts and comics to songwriting and performing. A dancer, birdwatcher, visual artist, political activist, writer, and musician; the breadth of her creativity is felt in every aspect of her music. Dallas-born, Chicago-based Runk’s youth was filled with dance, poetry and singing along with the eighties ladies in the car with her mom. In her thirties, those passions converged when she first joined a queer choir started by friends in Chicago, then fell in love performing and songwriting. Two Wires and a Spark - out on September 13 - is filled with the powerful imagery you expect from someone with such a diverse artistic background. Drawing comparisons to Karen Dalton and Gillian Welch, Runk’s music covers an expanse of themes, including loneliness, (mis)communication, living alongside addiction, dealing with grief, and road trips through the Rust Belt.