Jenn Grinels has a haunting vocal quality that gives her songs warmth and relatability. It’s a pleasure to listen to, and her new single, “Always on the Run,” is more of the singer-songwriter we’ve come to know and love. Grinels, who wrote the music, collaborated on the song with Alfred Howard, who wrote the lyrics, and it’s a match made in dusty-backroads, yearning-Americana, slow-burn, gritty heaven. If this is a taste of what her forthcoming album, “Western Heart,” will be like – “Always on the Run” is the first single from it – we’re already all in. We sat down recently with Grinels to get the details on this stunning song.
Hi, Jenn! You have an absolutely amazing new single out in April called “Always on the Run.” Please tell us about the song in a big picture sort of way. What inspired you to write it?
This song is definitely a bit of a shift for me in tone and vibe. It’s also the first time I’ve worked with a lyricist. Alfred Howard sent me the lyrics, and I immediately found the theme really relatable.
The music actually came together very quickly. The melody and the basic demo instrumentation all happened fast, which I think is because the lyrics had such vivid imagery. Al writes with a meter and phrasing that just makes sense to me, so it felt very natural to turn it into a song.
I’ve also never experienced the kind of response on social media that I’ve seen with the demos from this album, so I’m really excited to see how that translates when the single comes out and then the full album, “Western Heart.”
What was it like recording this single? Any great studio stories? Who played on it with you?
This song kind of just tumbled out of me, almost like it wrote itself. I was recording it at home as I was writing it, just with a microphone plugged into my laptop while looking out at the Willamette River from my condo in Portland.
Because it came so easily, I actually started writing a second version that was much more complicated. In the end, though, I went with the original version, and I’m so glad I did. It was a good reminder that just because something comes easily doesn’t mean it isn’t right for the song.
I sent that demo to Al, who then passed it along to our producer, Mike Butler. Mike built out the instrumentation – he did the lap steel and some cool percussion, and brought in some other incredible players – Jason Littlefield on bass and Jake Najor on drums. I eventually flew to California to meet Mike in the studio, but the vocals from the demo and Jake’s home recorded drums just had a rawness and a vibe we couldn’t quite recreate in the studio, so they ended up staying in the final track.
What do you hope this song’s message is to those who listen to it? What does it mean to you?
I don’t really think of it as a big “message” song. It’s more of a vibe.
The way I interpret it is that I’m constantly chasing success and contentment and my ambitions, or maybe they’re chasing me. I’m always hustling for the art.
A lot of people have told me they love this song, but I’ve never actually asked them why, so I’m not totally sure what people are connecting to. I just know they are.
Have you played this song live? If so, what has the reception been like?
Yes! It’s one of those songs where I hit the first chord and people immediately get excited, which is always a great feeling.
How do you feel you’ve changed or grown as an artist, writer, or creative person since you started making music?
Earlier in my career, I felt like I had to draw inspiration from my personal life, and I found happy songs really difficult to write. That’s not true for me anymore.
I used to worry that if everything in my life was going well, I wouldn’t have anything to write about. Now that’s exactly how I prefer life to be, and I’m actually much more prolific.
Back then, the joy came mostly from performing. Writing was often about processing something emotional. Now I still wouldn’t say writing itself is always joyful, but I love having written. Finishing a song and getting to experience that moment much more often has become its own kind of joy.
During the writing process for this upcoming album, “Western Heart,” and for much of my work with Siren Songs, which was all fueled and driven in large part by monthly Patreon deadlines, I’d often finish songs late at night. I have such a vivid memory of those times, listening to the finished demo on repeat in my living room in the dark and dancing to it. That became my little test. If I wanted to keep dancing and keep listening, I knew it was a good one.
Are there any artists who inspired what you did on this song, be it lyrically, musically, or both?
Al’s lyrics definitely inspired the music, but in terms of other artists, I honestly can’t point to a specific influence. This Western-y vibe just came out; I’d never written anything like it and never expected to! Usually, I can trace things back to artists I’ve been listening to, but with this one, it’s a bit of a mystery to me, which is kind of cool.
How does it feel to be releasing this single into the world for all to hear?
Honestly, it feels like a big exhale. This song has been around for a while, and the response to the demo online was bigger than anything I’d experienced before, so it’s felt like I’ve been holding my breath about it for years. It’s really nice to finally let it out into the world.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for you in the past year? What are you most looking forward to in the coming months in 2026?
While I was writing this album with Al, I also started working on a historical musical that has a bit of an Americana or Western feel. It may have been influenced a little by the world I was living in with this album.
Last year, that show was chosen from more than 500 musicals from around the world to be featured in the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in New York City, which was a HUGE honor. That’s actually part of why finishing the album took longer than expected – there were a lot of things competing for my attention.
Looking ahead, I’m really excited to get back on the road.
Website & social media links:
Website: https://www.jenngrinels.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenngrinelsmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenngrinels
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenngrinels
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jenngrinelsmusic
