EARLY RELEASE ON BANDCAMP!

On their 2021 debut EP, All We Have is Ourselves, On the Runway reveled in the bright jangle of Southern power-pop. Now, Atlanta, GA based frontman and band leader Dave Norris, former lead singer and songwriter for Memphis, TN 90s/2000s power-pop notables crash into june, builds on that nostalgic fresh-take with the band’s first full-length album, Tell Yourself It’s Pretty, out on February 2, 2024 on streaming services.

Fueled by long-held influences and seasoned collaborators, Norris’ maturity as a songwriter and all-weather fan of the pop rock genre shines through in this ten-track collection. "It's like revisiting an old friend," he confides, "exploring the sounds from Memphis (TN) to Athens (GA) to Manchester (UK) that first sparked my musical fire."

This sonic shift isn't a mere costume change, though. Norris channels the introspective swagger of early R.E.M. in “House is Not a Home,” where yearning vocals and jangly guitars take the listener back to late-80s college radio. But don't be fooled by the melancholy – this album soars with anthemic hooks that mirror the rollercoaster of love and loss we’ve experienced by middle age. “Stuck on You” is a sun-drenched ode to enduring affection, its guitar lines ringing like wedding bells, while the brooding and lyrically biting “The Way it Shouldn't Be” unleashes the raw disgust of a relationship gone sour. “Loser of the Year” is an affecting, powerful pop gem and a fitting kickstarter of an opening number. And track two, the album’s first single, “Consolation Prize,” rolls along confidently towards a memorable, lifting chorus, reminding the listener that this is a record worthy of a front-to-back spinning.

Norris wears his influences proudly. A touch of Gin Blossoms infuses “Bring Yourself Down,” while The Church's shimmering grace adorns “Stuck on You.” Even a subtle Stone Roses echo whispers in the bridge of “Consolation Prize.” "These bands were my mentors," Norris acknowledges, "but this album is my own story, sung with Memphis grit and a swagger of early 90s British pop."

Norris isn't alone on this journey. He's flanked by industry veterans Neilson Hubbard, whose production, bass and keyboard prowess weave sonic tapestries as rich as ever, and Nashville-based Will Kimbrough (Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett, The Jayhawks, Rodney Crowell), whose veteran guitar work adds layers of shimmering brilliance to tracks like Stuck on You and The Way It Shouldn’t Be.

Will’s knack for majestic guitar hooks feature brightly on tracks such as “Loser of the Year,” “This Charade” and “Lifeline.” In-demand session and touring bassist Lex Price (k.d. lang, Neko Case) is a welcome addition and provides a steady, self-assured backbone for the five 2023 recorded tracks. Like a well-rehearsed band, they navigate these tunes with ease and a tight, musical camaraderie.
The result is a vibrant tapestry, fresh yet familiar, and Norris’ confident, creative songwriting makes Tell Yourself It’s Pretty worthy of wear-it-out streaming.

The five songs from All We Have Is Ourselves (This Charade, Lifeline, This Will Be Your Year, The Way It Shouldn’t Be and Stuck on You) feature on the upcoming LP, along with five new tracks recorded in 2023. So these ten songs serve as the full catalog of recorded On the Runway music to date. The album will be released on streaming services on February 2, 2024.

Tell Yourself It's Pretty will be released on CD on February 16, 2024 on the Kool Kat Musik label. Kool Kat Musik is a record label based in New Jersey that focuses on melodic pop music. For more information visit: www.koolkatmusik.com.

Tell Yourself It’s Pretty
Produced and mixed by Neilson Hubbard
Engineered by Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording, Nashville, TN
Mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios, Nashville, TN and Alex McCollough at True East Mastering, Nashville, TN

Tracklisting for Tell Yourself It’s Pretty:
1 – Loser of the Year
2 – Consolation Prize
3 – This Charade
4 – House Is Not a Home
5 – Lifeline
6 – Set for Life
7 – This Will Be Your Year
8 – The Way It Shouldn’t Be
9 – Stuck on You
10 – Bring Yourself Down

The band:
Dave Norris - vocals, guitar

Supporting musicians:
Neilson Hubbard - bass (tracks 3, 5, 7, 8, 9), drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 10), backing vocals, keyboards, piano, percussion, acoustic guitar
Will Kimbrough - guitar, backing vocals
Lex Price - bass (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 10)
John Boswell - drums (tracks 3, 5, 7, 8, 9)