Speedrun on Dream Logic, Duality and the Hazy Truths of “Memory”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
FOR NYC-BASED ARTIST SPEEDRUN, MEMORY IS MORE THAN A MENTAL ARCHIVE - it’s a prism through which emotion, identity and storytelling all refract. Her latest single, “Memory”, is a lush, layered track that blends nostalgic indie rock textures with existential introspection. What began as an attempt to write a duet evolved into something far more introspective: a fragmented, deeply personal conversation with the self. Fuzzy guitar lines, spoken-word interludes, and dreamlike production collide to explore the ways our minds reshape the past, and how the stories we tell ourselves aren’t always the truth, but rather the last time we remembered the truth.
With nods to early 2000s indie (Metric, TV Girl and Makeout Videotape) and the romantic haziness of French cinema, “Memory” marks a sonic evolution for Speedrun, one that hints at bigger experiments still to come. The track also features a French poem tucked into its structure, a new synth sound and some of the artist’s most reflective lyricism yet. It's the kind of song that lingers in the atmosphere long after it ends, like a dream you can’t quite shake.
In our conversation, Speedrun opens up about the philosophical roots of “Memory”, the freedom and tension in writing something so personal and how their creative process is shifting toward something more cinematic, emotional and playful.
LUNA: “Memory” is such a beautifully layered track. What was the first spark that led you to write it?
SPEEDRUN: Thank you! I wrote this song originally as a duet (since I’ve never had a feature on a song before and I wanted to try it out). Unfortunately, it didn’t come to fruition with another artist—so I decided to record both parts myself to play on the subject matter of “memory,” and have the speaker sort of narrate their thoughts to themselves, constantly reflecting. So what was originally a story of two people having a conversation with one another became a cool and trippy psychological journey of one person that I think really lends itself to the song’s theme.
LUNA: You’ve described the song as a reflection on the double-edged nature of memory. Can you talk more about what inspired that theme?
SPEEDRUN: I guess I spend a lot of time thinking about the past, whether it be childhood, relationships, friendships—things that have come and gone in my life. I remember as a kid hearing that every time you remember something, you’re not actually referencing the original event itself, but rather the last time you remembered it. That could totally be an exaggeration, but it inspired me to really grapple with questions that led to the song’s core: why do we remember certain things in different ways? Why can we sometimes not wholly remember someone’s face but remember exactly the scent of perfume they wore? Why do we misremember, and what constitutes remembering something “wrong”?
I think all those questions led me to realizing that our memories can never be divorced from our own imaginations, wants, desires, and self-perceptions. And therefore, what is our greatest asset as a species also tricks us—all the time.
LUNA: There’s a dreamy, early 2000s indie rock vibe to “Memory.” Were there any specific artists that inspired you?
SPEEDRUN: Of course! For this specific track I was inspired by artists like Metric, Makeout Videotape (Mac Demarco’s old project), and TV Girl, but I always make sure to keep 2000s-indie guitar motifs in all my songs.
LUNA: You included a short poem in French. What made you want to incorporate that, and how does it connect to the song’s emotional core?
SPEEDRUN: I realized I love when songs are a bit campy and break the classic “rock” structure, and having a spoken interlude was an element I hadn’t yet introduced in any of my songs. To do it in French was a shot at doing something kind of cinematic and giving it a nostalgic, hazy vibe with a bit of intrigue (think Nouvelle Vague type vibe). The poem itself also adds an extra layer to the song’s meaning, which I thought could be a cool easter egg for anyone who understands the words!
LUNA: What was the recording process like for this one?
SPEEDRUN: I recorded this song in three different sessions, months apart from one another, because I had been traveling so frequently this past year. Any time my producer Frank Corr and I had an overlap in our schedules, we headed straight for the studio! It was super straightforward since I had a complete demo of the song ready and I wrote all the parts.
Frank also produced my last EP, so he and I had a great working system already. We experimented a lot with new tones and even added a synth (my first synth, guys!) to explore where the new Speedrun sound could go. I recorded all the parts live except the drums, which were played by my longtime collaborator Zack Pockrose. Frank and Zack are a dream to work with, so once everything was smoothly tracked, I had Strokes producer Gordon Raphael complete the mix and he reached out to Dom Richmond to master it.
LUNA: Who have you been listening to lately?
SPEEDRUN: This month I’ve been listening to a ton of GloRilla, Paris Texas, New Young Pony Club, 2oo7, Iliona, Black Girls Glow, French Kicks, and The Coathangers.
LUNA: When you're writing about something as personal and abstract as memory, how do you decide what to keep in and what to leave out?
SPEEDRUN: That’s a really good question and also a tough one to answer. I think as I gain my footing as an artist, something I’ve had to work through is how transparent or direct I like to be in my work. Make no mistake - my songs always derive from my real lived experiences, but especially with social media, it can be super nerve-wracking to be specific about your personal life, especially sometimes when trauma informs the music. That said, I think all artists should strive for truth in their music—and the truth can just as easily be an abstract sound or an image as it can be a direct, unambiguous explanation.
I might not use specific names of people who inspired the song or who was supposed to sing on it, but my feeling within it is all authentic. Which ultimately, is what memory is, right? To blur the details and focus on the bigger picture?
LUNA: How does “Memory” compare to upcoming music?
SPEEDRUN: “Memory” I think is the perfect bridge between my older stuff and the new music I’ll release soon! It still sounds like a classic Speedrun song—with the live drums, guitars, etc.—but then I’ve sprinkled elements that give it more texture and romance than usual. I’m starting to get more playful with production in my new music, so if you like Memory, you’ll definitely be excited for the more adventurous stuff I have planned.
LUNA: If this song were a scene in a movie, what would that scene look like?
SPEEDRUN: This is so fun! I’m imagining two strangers going to sleep in their separate homes, but when they fall asleep, they enter a dreamstate where they’re together. As the song starts to play, maybe there’s like a montage of them falling in love or being together in the dream, but when the song ends, they wake up puzzled and realize they’re alone again. The rest of the movie they have to figure out if the dreamstate was real or just their imagination. And you know what—it’ll be directed by Gregg Araki because he’d definitely nail the dreamy and angsty aesthetic.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this summer season?
SPEEDRUN: My intentions are to tour, travel, and keep working on my next releases! I’m already carving out space for my next major project, and I’m so excited to keep on adding to the Speedrun sonic universe.
