Alex Runions

Ashley Martin, Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, February 17, 2011
After eight years of plugging away at his music, Alex Runions could be in for the ride of his life.

Runions' song "Rollercoaster" is one of 12 regional winners in the Canadian Radio Star national songwriting contest at Canadian Music Week (Toronto, March 9-13). If Runions wins, it means studio recording time, an extra $10,000 in his pocket and potential exposure at radio stations across the nation.

"My mom, she was almost in tears I think," Runions says of his regional victory. "She was pretty happy about that because she knows that music isn't easy and that I've been plugging away at this; it's nice to catch a break.

"Myself, the first thing I was really excited too, because I've been songwriting for so long and . it's just nice to get a bit of recognition for it."

The Regina-based singer/songwriter was told very little about his win but, according to contest rules, "Songs are judged equally on originality, lyrics, melody and composition."

Runions' melody-driven country song "Rollercoaster" certainly fits the bill, but as one of 12 songs chosen in the all-genre competition, how he'll fare is a mystery.

"I'm not really sure what to expect because some are rock songs and some are really pop songs, and 'Rollercoaster' in a way is a pretty poppy type of song, not so much country like I'd normally write. So honestly I just don't know what to expect because there's really good songs; they're all really radiofriendly," says Runions. "Pretty stiff competition, for sure."

Runions wrote his prized song two years ago when he was working on his self-titled full-length album.

"I didn't honestly write it about anything in particular, but I wrote it kind of in the sense that I would eventually like to run into somebody who would affect me the way the person in the song is affected. . It's really those feelings that you first get when you meet someone that really take your breath away.

"I've always been kind of a sucker for love songs."

Anyone who's ever been in love should be able to relate to the chorus of "Rollercoaster": "So many ups and downs/ So many twists and turns/ The only one who can stop me in my tracks is her/ She's like a rollercoaster."

Between songwriting, recording and working at RBC -he recently finished a finance degree at the University of Regina -Runions doesn't have much time to stress about Radio Star.

"I just went into the studio with Bart McKay (Saskatoon producer who also worked on Runions' last album) and we recorded three more songs on Saturday . I'm extremely excited for them; they turned out so good," says Runions. "I think my songwriting is getting much stronger, which I'm excited about."

Regardless of how he does in the competition -the finalists will perform for a panel of judges the morning of March 12 during Canadian Music Week -Runions will enjoy his free ride to Toronto.

"I haven't been there before except for layovers going somewhere else, so I'm pretty excited just to go to Toronto and have sort of an adventure all paid for."

-Watch for Runions' song "The Open Road" on the SaskMusic compilation In Tune, to be released in March. Listen to the Radio Star regional song choices at www.radiostar.ca.



© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2011 - The Regina Leader-Post

Ashley Martin, Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, February 17, 2011
After eight years of plugging away at his music, Alex Runions could be in for the ride of his life.

Runions' song "Rollercoaster" is one of 12 regional winners in the Canadian Radio Star national songwriting contest at Canadian Music Week (Toronto, March 9-13). If Runions wins, it means studio recording time, an extra $10,000 in his pocket and potential exposure at radio stations across the nation.

"My mom, she was almost in tears I think," Runions says of his regional victory. "She was pretty happy about that because she knows that music isn't easy and that I've been plugging away at this; it's nice to catch a break.

"Myself, the first thing I was really excited too, because I've been songwriting for so long and . it's just nice to get a bit of recognition for it."

The Regina-based singer/songwriter was told very little about his win but, according to contest rules, "Songs are judged equally on originality, lyrics, melody and composition."

Runions' melody-driven country song "Rollercoaster" certainly fits the bill, but as one of 12 songs chosen in the all-genre competition, how he'll fare is a mystery.

"I'm not really sure what to expect because some are rock songs and some are really pop songs, and 'Rollercoaster' in a way is a pretty poppy type of song, not so much country like I'd normally write. So honestly I just don't know what to expect because there's really good songs; they're all really radiofriendly," says Runions. "Pretty stiff competition, for sure."

Runions wrote his prized song two years ago when he was working on his self-titled full-length album.

"I didn't honestly write it about anything in particular, but I wrote it kind of in the sense that I would eventually like to run into somebody who would affect me the way the person in the song is affected. . It's really those feelings that you first get when you meet someone that really take your breath away.

"I've always been kind of a sucker for love songs."

Anyone who's ever been in love should be able to relate to the chorus of "Rollercoaster": "So many ups and downs/ So many twists and turns/ The only one who can stop me in my tracks is her/ She's like a rollercoaster."

Between songwriting, recording and working at RBC -he recently finished a finance degree at the University of Regina -Runions doesn't have much time to stress about Radio Star.

"I just went into the studio with Bart McKay (Saskatoon producer who also worked on Runions' last album) and we recorded three more songs on Saturday . I'm extremely excited for them; they turned out so good," says Runions. "I think my songwriting is getting much stronger, which I'm excited about."

Regardless of how he does in the competition -the finalists will perform for a panel of judges the morning of March 12 during Canadian Music Week -Runions will enjoy his free ride to Toronto.

"I haven't been there before except for layovers going somewhere else, so I'm pretty excited just to go to Toronto and have sort of an adventure all paid for."

-Watch for Runions' song "The Open Road" on the SaskMusic compilation In Tune, to be released in March. Listen to the Radio Star regional song choices at www.radiostar.ca.



© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2011 - The Regina Leader-Post

ALEX RUNIONS
Alex Runions
Independent

Rating 3 (out of five)

It took Alex Runions five years to get his debut album made but country music fans will find it was worth the wait. Runions, who grew up in Kipling, is currently multi-tasking, chasing his music dreams while at the same time attending the University of Regina as a Finance major. The self-titled album has a good mix of material that Runions delivers with a voice full of character.

Runions should be given credit for two decisions which impacted the album greatly -- the number of tracks on the disc and the number of songs he wrote or co-wrote on the album. Many independent artists, due to financial implications and/or the lack of support from a record label, choose to release albums with a maximum of six songs. Although this does get the artist's music into the public domain, there is some backlash from fans who are expected to pay full price for what may be considered less than a complete album. Runions apparently decided not to rush into the album and the result is a disc with 10 strong tracks.

Runions, who wrote five of the tunes himself and co-wrote four more, has a good grasp on what country fans want to hear in a song. There is a depth to his emotional lyrics and he doesn't get caught using cliches. Runions displays a great deal of potential and if he's fortunate enough to catch a break or two, he'll be able to make his living fulfilling his childhood dream.

-- Jeff DeDekker
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post - Jeff DeDekker

"Alex Runions-Ain’t What It Used To Be

I’ve always loved country music, especially the songs that have that good old vocal twang, fine pickin’, and a good story to tell. There are two of those this week. This one manages to include some sweet rock chording, a terrific fiddle player, and some Byrds-like jangly guitar. Mellencamp or Seger could easily take this into classic rock territory, and probably would if classic rock still looked for new recordings that fit in with the staples." - Bob Segarini

"Alex Runions-Ain’t What It Used To Be

I’ve always loved country music, especially the songs that have that good old vocal twang, fine pickin’, and a good story to tell. There are two of those this week. This one manages to include some sweet rock chording, a terrific fiddle player, and some Byrds-like jangly guitar. Mellencamp or Seger could easily take this into classic rock territory, and probably would if classic rock still looked for new recordings that fit in with the staples." - Bob Segarini

1) Nice, good production, sort of Keith Urban. 2) Just enough twang to kick ass in the country rock scene. 3) I like this a lot; Saskatchewan's Keith Urban.
- SaskMusic submission jury
- SaskMusic

1) Nice, good production, sort of Keith Urban. 2) Just enough twang to kick ass in the country rock scene. 3) I like this a lot; Saskatchewan's Keith Urban.
- SaskMusic submission jury
- SaskMusic

"50 Saskatchewan Musicians You Should Know About."

Alex was interviewed in the magazine as one of the top 50 rising stars in Saskatchewan. - Prairie's North Magazine

"50 Saskatchewan Musicians You Should Know About."

Alex was interviewed in the magazine as one of the top 50 rising stars in Saskatchewan. - Prairie's North Magazine