Emma Ruth Rundle is a chameleon. Every album I listen to of hers showcases a whole new face I’ve never seen before. Her forthcoming studio album These Killing Times is a reactive anthology, bristling, full of life and full of resistance, the musical epitome of anti-patriarchal feminist rage.
These Killing Times, her sixth full-length, recorded by Sonny Diperri (My Bloody Valentine, Trent Reznor, These New Puritans), is out on September 18th via her own imprint Errant Child. Already ready for listening is the incredible album opener ‘Powerless’. Starting off with gentle piano and her inimitable voice, it quickly descends into a dissonant chorus, noise and melody blending together for an unsettling powerful effect.
With ‘Powerless’ – I invoke the hammer; both to destroy and to build – something better. I want people to know they are not alone – they are not insane – I wanted to name the thing that has been causing me so much mental, emotional and spiritual anguish. Sometimes singing – especially repeating phases – can work to fortify one’s self and I think that’s where the bridge of ‘Powerless’ comes in – I refuse to let my agency and resolve become corrupted or diluted by the powers that be and I want others to feel empowered too.
This song was initially titled ‘Noam Chomsky is Dead to Me’ – as his relationship to Epstein and the billionaire class was being exposed – just another massively disappointing headline in a time where we are incessantly confronted with an onslaught of news and headlines which are endlessly demoralising and dehumanising.
She continues, “This song – like most of the songs on These Killing Times – is a reaction to the horrors we are seeing laid bare on a daily basis – the clear and painful reality of the myriad injustices levied upon the working class people of earth – from climate collapse to genocide to the miscarriage of justice on a scale- the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes- the collapse of empire, the demise of democracy, the erosion of women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ rights and black rights, the attempt to dehumanise immigrants and people of colour, the concentration camps in the USA – the list is so long I don’t think I can accurately cover it all here.
These Killing Times returns to a full-band set up for a fuller sound, a more sonically powerful accompaniment to her now more direct vocal style. The album features drummer Jess Gowrie (Chelsea Wolfe, Mrs. Piss), long-time friend and collaborator Troy Zeigler, Patrick Shiroishi, Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos), Gina Gleason (Baroness), Marissa Nadler, Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Amelia Baker (Cinder Well). Bringing others into the fold was both a stylistic choice and one that strengthened her community-first approach to making the record. “I wanted to feel fortified by friendships and to be in community with other musicians – to make something that pushed back against the isolation“
These Killing Times is out September 18th via Errant Child, preorder HERE.
Catch Emma live on tour solo and with All Them Witches on their House of Mirrors tour this October.
Jun 19-21: Cascading Midsummer =
Oct 10: Chattanooga, TN – The Signal ~
Oct 11: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall ~
Oct 12: Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club ~
Oct 13: Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall ~
Oct 14: Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre ~
Oct 15: Norfolk, VA – The NorVa ~
Oct 16: Harrisburg, PA – XL Live ~
Oct 17: Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony ~
Oct 18: Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall ~
Oct 19: Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace ~
Oct 20: South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground ~
Oct 21: Albany, NY – Empire Live ~
Oct 22: Buffalo, NY – Electric City ~
Oct 23: McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre ~
Oct 24: Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex ~
Oct 25: Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection ~
Oct 26: Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom ~
Oct 27: Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ~
Oct 28: Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s ~
Oct 29: Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre ~
Oct 30: Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s ~
= Performing solo
~ Performing solo, supporting All Them Witches