“You seem to be everywhere, everywhere but in front of me”
Heartbreak. It’s a concept sprawling with layers. To some, heartbreak is equated to relevance, freedom from a torn apart fabric that stopped becoming a place of love, a sanctuary of comfort. On the other side, heartbreak is related to the literal experience of having your heart broken, knowing that the person you once loved didn’t reciprocate those feelings back, or that they hurt you under that guile of love, or love that is still strongly felt, but for reasons out of either party’s control, cannot have room to blossom.
For Runo Plum, the indie singer-songwriter from Minneapolis, those feelings of heartbreak became centre stage, both for her life, and for her writing. Runo had just been through a breakup, her ex whom she is now back to being close friends with, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t an experience. Combine that with an ongoing covid pandemic, and a retreat into the Minnesota woods, arose the debut LP, “Patching”
Patching is the first of a two-part project, whilst this album is meant to represent a gentler, soother vibe and sound, the second album would be heavier, what Runo Plum referred to as the “Rage Album”. Despite this intention, Patching as an album feels very much like a soft album, with dashes of heavier elements and themes throughout.
Opener ‘Sickness’ was written during the pandemic, so in a literal sense the song is about the fear of not knowing if a caught illness was more serious or not, but the song also represents the feeling of being lovesick, missing the affection and warmth that a loved one provided. Even when relationships end in a non-amicable manner, the loss of the feeling and comfort provided can still be largely felt. Aiding the song is a soft and intimate performance by Runo, on top of sweet instrumentation with occasional flourishes of sharp guitar lines, combining especially well during the chorus.
The bulk of Patching as an album is filled with songs that are hypnotically sombre, as Runo comes to terms with the relationship that has once encapsulated her work and life. Runo also took inspiration from her woodsy environment when recording, so there are many references to nature. The contrast of a bright acoustic guitar with more blooming electric touches on ‘Lemon Garland’ and ‘Halfway Up The Lawn’.
‘Elephant’, touches on the experience of persisting with a relationship that is not bringing anything good to you, but being unwilling to say anything or let yourself go. If Elephant focused on the frustration that waned in a doomed relationship, the next track ‘Locket’ looks at the aftermath of a breakup, as the singer is given constant reminders of their ex, whether it be an object or a place that bring memories of an experience back.
In Patching’s twilight, it evolves into the softer album that it was initially intended to be. ‘Darkness’ muted, atmospheric sound gives off the feel of Runo coming to terms with the relationship that befell her, and closer ‘Outro (Angel)’ continues that trend. The two songs contrast each other, where Darkness ponders if everything was worth it, Angel asks if there was a bigger reason behind the relationship falling out, did it serve not just Runo but her partner for the better?
The most telling part about love, to me at least, is the ways in which one responds to the challenges posed by it, and how they allow a person to grow and develop. You can tell if someone has not allowed love to ruin them but rather enhance them and their character. Runo Plum and her poignant songwriting show that, even with the dashes of frustration that can boil over, the road to recovery takes time, it isn’t some quick fix up, that you will feel all sorts of conflicting emotions, recovery comes from how one handles those emotions. And in Patching, is an album that isn’t afraid to confront those emotions, no matter how strong they may be.
Runo Plum: Patching – Released 14 November 2025 (Winspear)
plum – Lemon Garland (Official Video)
