UK-based singer-songwriter and recording artist Penelope Darling takes us through the most challenging time in her life with a deeply emotional and vulnerable single, "Tears Run Red."
Venturing into her solo career after taking influence from her father's record collection, Penelope Darling found herself inspired by icons like Etta James, Donny Hathaway, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin. Also growing an affinity with contemporary hip-hop/r&b artists, Penelope Darling uses these influences to create her modern r&b-meets-blues sound that continues to move mountains.
Now releasing her harmonious and emotional single, "Tears Run Red," listeners can catch Penelope Darling in a highly vulnerable state as she opens her heart about a personal story of love and loss. "This song is different. It's my hardest time, sung in poetry. I'm so proud of what we have created with Tears Run Red," says Darling.
Listening to "Tears Run Red," the song opens with Penelope Darling's gentle and soothing vocal stylings alongside a tender keyboard melody that sparkles and shimmers in the background. As Penelope Darling continues expanding on losing herself in fear and self-deprecation, she later elaborates on those deeply introspective moments of letting someone go for the better.
As the downtempo r&b drums begin pulsing their way through our speakers, Penelope Darling continues to remind herself to let someone go in order to get her mental health back in check. We can't get enough of the relatable lyrical content and vulnerability that Penelope Darling has placed into this single, as it allows anyone to nod their head in a state of reflection while accepting their version of reality.
Open your heart with help from Penelope Darling's latest single, "Tears Run Red," now available on all digital streaming platforms.
A warm welcome to BuzzMusic Penelope Darling. What a courageous and relatable single you’ve provided with your latest release, “Tears Run Red.” What inspired you to release your emotions through songwriting and create this deeply vulnerable piece?
About two years ago I wrote a song about a breakup that I didn’t feel like I was over. It was still at the front of my mind and I hadn’t processed the situation properly. After writing a song about it, it gave me the ability to think deeper into why I was feeling a type of way, and actually process the situation in my own time with zero judgment, exactly how therapy helps people.
Seeing that “Tears Run Red” is one of the more personal end deeply emotional pieces you’ve released thus far, did you encounter any personal challenges when opening up and wearing your heart on your sleeve?
Yeah for sure! Showing the song to my family was hard in itself because it affected them in many ways too. But being in the studio having to get everything off my chest to write the song was so hard. Paul Visser, the producer helping me with the song probably knows more about me than I do. So having him by my side made the process so much easier. Even being on set filming the music video was exhausting as I had to put myself back in that moment again and again. I haven’t actually performed the song live yet, so that’s my next hurdle.
Who accompanied you in the studio when formulating the production for “Tears Run Red?" How did you create the sonic atmosphere to match the emotion of your lyrical content?
Paul Visser was the Producer and he was amazing. We had made some other tracks but I’d mentioned I wanted to write about this situation briefly. He came in the next day with a chord progression and a phase that just felt so haunting, so was perfect haha. He said he couldn’t get it out of his mind so got up in the night and wrote it out. He then followed the melody and the lyrics to create the atmosphere around the song. Which I think he did an amazing job of.
How does “Tears Run Red” stand out from the rest of your discography? Would you say that this is the first track that truly allows listeners to get to know you on a more personal and intimate level?
Actually, I’m always super honest in my music so not really. But this song was a step further as it is about something that I never thought I’d have to go through. So my previous songs about breakups or relationships didn’t really compare I guess.