Live performances have always been the highlight of the music scene -a place where artist and audience exchange energy and emotions, experiencing the magic of the moment together. But with the arrival of technology and social media, everything has changed. Today, concerts are meticulously planned shows, parts of media empires that artists build around their brands. But here’s the question: can you truly feel the magic of a live performance when surrounded by screens, and interaction disappears beneath layers of virtual reality? Nonetheless, for some performers, live performances remain sacred – a moment when music comes to life and art finds its meaning. After all, is there anything more powerful than the feeling of a genuine connection with the audience through music? The artist in question is Alex Runo, a talented singer and songwriter from Sweden.

Photo by Alex Runo

For him, the stage is his element, his oxygen, without which he cannot exist. The Swedish artistic elite unanimously call him the best singer in the country. And it’s no surprise, as in 2023 and 2024, he performed on the same stage with Sweden’s brightest stars: Måns Zelmerlöw, Carola Häggkvist, and Sarah Dawn Finer. These concerts became a true triumph of live performance and the artist’s personal mastery.

Now, he takes a step forward, presenting a new EP titled “Living & Breathing”. This release is sincere, alive, and brimming with emotions. “Living & Breathing” includes five tracks that have not yet been released on digital platforms. The only exception is “White Flag,” previously available on YouTube as a studio version recorded during a live performance.

This small musical cycle begins with the song “I Am More Than This”. Its tender chords slowly unfold like morning mist over a river, as Alex carefully reveals his emotions. The song feels like a confession. The melancholic depth of the lyrics intertwines with the overall sound, while Alex’s vocals shift from restrained at the start to an anxious climax, conveying the inevitability of internal conflict. It’s a song about the complexities of love, where pain and joy intertwine in a single breath.

And when the melody fades like cooling ashes, the sound comes alive again, transitioning into the powerful beats of “No Good Gone”. This track is like a gust of wind bursting into a quiet room, bringing movement and strength. The rhythm and melodies of “No Good Gone” sweep away sadness, transforming it into rage, struggle, and the drive to break free from doubt. Bold melodies and assertive percussion hit with force, while a guitar solo pierces through the sonic storm like a ray of light in the dusk. There’s no room for regret here, only a fight. This song is about how hard it is to admit your mistakes – about how often, trying to hide from responsibility, you come to realize that the only way to survive is to face your fears.

Photo by Alex Runo

At the peak of this tension, the mood softens with the track “Paper Love”. Its airy a cappella introduction, like a warm breeze, muffles the storm’s noise. But the most interesting part of this song happens near the end, when brass instruments and backing vocals join in. Everything sounds like the final scene of a drama – the melody envelops, its layers becoming almost tangible. The grandeur of the moment is mesmerizing. Yet behind this beauty lies fragility: “paper love” symbolizes ephemeral feelings you want to hold onto but inevitably slip away.

The album concludes with “White Flag”, where Alex vividly showcases his versatility. The EP features two versions of the track. The first, a live version, sounds sincere and exposed, as if Alex is standing right beside you, sharing his thoughts. The second, a studio version, is powerful and rich, yet in both lies a single truth: the white flag waves as a reminder that sometimes a battle ends not because you’ve lost, but because sometimes it’s better to let go.

Listening to “Living & Breathing”, I received a solid dose of enjoyment from Alex Runo’s work. I would love to attend his live performances, where his masterful control of his voice, flexible and vine-like delivery, is enhanced by his exceptional artistry. It is then that you fully fall under the influence of this vocal master’s craft, proving that sincerity and the way an artist delivers their music determine the impact of their songs. Alex Runo doesn’t need to invent anything special for this – he just needs to keep singing and creating.

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