Did you know that Smith‘s first job was as a lifeguard? And she loves movies?

Minimalism defines this enigmatic artist, which I point out chiefly because I know nothing about the songwriter/producer known simply as Smith, and details online are sparse. But none of that matters; I’m here today to talk about her 2023 single “Run,” which continues to linger in the Top 40 as I write this in mid-2024.

“Run” was released in the last week of October ’23 leading up to Halloween – our favorite macabre holiday. The darkness of both the lyrics and instrumentation are perfectly moody for that time of year.

“Run” immediately strikes at the first drop, hitting a hard 80s drum-and-bass beat, then layering the sparse, retro-appropriate synths to create a shadowy, foggy, horror-movie mood. It feels like Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller” sloshed in a blender with Laura Branigan‘s “Self Control” with dash of drunken Joy Division. I can’t find an official music video for “Run,” but if one exists I hope the visuals are equally compelling (not that it matters; who really cares about music videos these days?)

Smith’s breathy, cold vocal is also striking from the start, underscoring the minimalist feel of the track. Her breathiness is intentionally brought to the fore, relating to the listener as if to say, “I’m recording myself through this plastic karaoke mic in my bedroom studio. Hang out with me. I know your pain; I feel it, too.”

“Run” sears with its dark lyrics: “Call me crazy, don’t call me baby / What if maybe, you end up Dead alone – Dead and alone,” goes the early verse, followed by equally dark storytelling in the chorus: “Run run run as fast as you can / don’t look back, don’t you take that chance, no. Hide hide hide best as you can / If I catch you I’ll have blood on my hands…”

That’s dark! That’s bloody! That’s Halloween! Where did it come from?

I’ll let Smith herself provide some insight:

“Usually my songs start with an emotion that I need to get out, but ‘Run’ came from a beat that [frequent collaborator justdoitBRISK] brought in, which instantly put that melody in my head,” she states on her official website. “It turned into a song about how I’m not that great with relationships—I’m bad at checking in with people, I’m not that into socializing. I’m an artist and I’m weird, probably even weirder than you’d think.”

A quick listen of Smith’s other singles reveals a range of styles and genres, something she’s gained notoriety for (she was nominated for a Grammy for her production work on Jack Harlow‘s 2022 album Come Home The Kids Miss You). If “Run” is the first Smith track you’ve heard, you may be surprised at how varied her output is: the 2023 viral TikTok hit “Lemon” is fun, singalong, playful pop while “Pathetic” – her first 2024 single and the follow-up to “Run” – is raw and punky, like a down-and-dirtier Pink track.

But “Run” is the perfect mainstream intro for me. In an interview, Smith cites “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson and Peter Gabriel‘s “In Your Eyes” as her desert island songs. That 1983-1986 era of pop music is personally my favorite range, which might explain why “Run” has drawn me in.

I missed it last year, but this Halloween, “Run” will be on the midnight tracklist.