Doomed Confessionary: Darren White (Running From Shadows)

Running From Shadows is an alternative rock/grunge/punk band based out of Olla, Louisiana.

The line-up currently consists of Darren White (vocals, guitar) and Adam Sanders (bass) with Ty Del Rose from Smile Empty Soul on drums.

Running From Shadows are in process of recording their first album, »Negative Nancy«. They are working with producer Indri Schaelicke of Hammock Hill Studio to mix their album. Indri is known for working with the band, Sap, on their album, »Lard Baby«.

Can you say a few words about your band?
We are from Olla, Louisiana. Technically, we are a two piece. We don’t have an actual drummer yet, but we are working with Ty from Smile Empty Soul to finish recording our first album, »Negative Nancy«. Also, we got an artist from Garbage Pail Kids working on the cover for the record, super excited about that.
I honestly can’t say what genre we are. Not to sound like every other artist, but I really just write what I think sounds cool. I don’t really think too hard about doing anything in a specific way. Honestly, I can’t even name that many subgenres. I just listen to what I like and don’t really think about it. I’ve been telling people lately that we are “Heavy Grunge.” Especially the self-titled EP I released back in 2021. I do a lot of screaming, but it has a grungy feel to it.

What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Finding a drummer to record the album! I used a drum machine for the EP and past singles, and that’s always bothered me. I just went ahead with it on the EP because I couldn’t find people to commit, and I didn’t want to wait around for anyone. For the album, I really wanted to find an actual drummer who understood what I was going for and help the track to feel like an actual person played it.
I would also say the mixing part is super challenging. I’m in the process of mixing the singles I plan on releasing, and it’s kicking my ass. I’m trying to learn how to mix the best I can, and I just upgraded to Pro Tools. Trying to learn how to actually use compression and where to fit all the instruments in the frequency range has been frying my brain.

What can you be most proud of so far?
I’d definitely say this album so far. Even though it’s not finished, I took a lot of time getting it to where I want it to be. It has more of a clear message to me than the EP does. It feels more consistent in meaning and more dynamic in tone. I wanted to mash a bunch of my favorite styles of rock and metal together and try to make something that felt familiar, yet still fresh and unique.

What was your biggest regret?
Honestly, I wish I was so much further than where I’m at now. I feel like I’ve been army crawling my way to get literally anything done. It feels like every time I start hitting the ground running, something else comes along to trip me up, whether it be money, jobs, relationship issues, etc. It feels like so many things have been holding me back. I wish I was able to actually play shows and already have more music out. I feel a lot of pressure to do so much more than what I’ve done at the age I am now. I feel like I’m being timed or something. All my heroes were way ahead of me when they were my age, and I’m worried I’m too far behind now. I know that everyone has their own timeline, but that’s been my biggest struggle.

What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
I haven’t got to play yet, so I can really only speak as an audience member, but local shows definitely have to be the best shows. It just feels so much more personal, and the people there that show up time after time really bond together and feel like family. I saw Weeping Hour a couple of times, and it was phenomenal! People were going crazy. From The Gallows always knocks it out of the park as well! Both those bands sound so damn good live, I’d argue, even better than their records, which are also pretty damn good. Also, living in Los Angeles for a couple of months, I got to see this punk band called Spunk; it was fuckin’ crazy! Everyone would line up against the walls and then just go for each other. My favorite shows are the ones that feel dangerous, like anything can happen at any moment. With that kind of atmosphere in a personal setting and a band that has such a great stage presence, I’d take that over a stadium any day!

What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It feels like everyone is exactly the same. Everyone is trying to fit into some kind of mold. Everyone sounds the same in the local scene, but definitely more in the mainstream as well. Artists seem to just believe and stand for whatever they think people want to hear so they can be relevant. When times change, they jump on whatever other bandwagon they can to get attention. God forbid you actually have your own beliefs or opinions on something. Music is now all about image. It seems like most people don’t care about originality or what’s actually good, just as long as it sounds like whatever else is selling or like everything else on the radio. Artists will either sell their souls by selling out their beliefs, selling out their music, or doing the dumbest shit just for attention. Everyone is selling their souls for a few seconds of spotlight.

What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Balance and Composure, The Smashing Pumpkins, Seether, and Nirvana; mainly their demos from With The Lights Out. I would say my music taste isn’t that crazy. I don’t go down a lot of rabbit holes into anything crazy. My favorite stuff is 90’s and 00’s rock, and I like a lot of older country songs from around the 70s and 80s. I just always go back to the music I grew up on; it’s been such a foundation for shaping who I am.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
My brother told me once, “Know your limits.” At first, that sounds super depressing, but I get what he meant. What he was really saying was to play to your strengths and don’t be something you’re not. I don’t know; that always stuck with me. It gave me a different perspective and approach to how I write. It helped me because I don’t have to write all this super complicated stuff or be as heavy or soft as other bands. I just have to be me.
I try to use my limitations as my strengths and turn them into my style. I don’t know music theory or really any of the technical side of music. Honestly, anyone picking up a guitar could learn one of my songs in five seconds, and I’m completely okay with that. I actually really like simple songs—not from being lazy, but it’s just what I gravitate to. There’s something really powerful about simplicity.

What are your guilty pleasures?
Rom-coms. I’m a sucker for the most sappy romantic comedies. I’d actually say they are my favorite kind of movies. »You Got Mail« is so good. I also really like all the Adam Sandler rom-coms. I don’t get the hate behind them. He’s got such good chemistry with Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston. I really like »Just Go With It«; that’s my go-to comfort movie.

Can you say something more about the music scene in Olla / Louisiana?
It kind of goes with what I said before, but I will say that the scene in Louisiana is crazy. You either play old-style country or the new kind you hear on the radio, or you do super heavy metal. There’s like no gap in between. I love country and I love metal, but I feel like there’s not enough originality in the Louisiana music scene. There is nothing that makes it stick out, besides Blue Grass and the older stuff, of course. I’m referring to the more modern music. I don’t mean to shit on anyone’s taste, because I bet a lot of people could easily pick apart my stuff, and everyone is entitled to like what they like. I just feel like artists in the Louisiana scene try too hard to sound like someone else instead of stepping out and trying something new. Weeping Hour is a really good example of being heavy but still doing something that feels new and fresh. I can’t recommend them enough.

Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
I’m hoping that by the time the album is done, I can start getting ready to play. I want to play as many shows as possible. My main focus is learning to mix and getting the record done, but when that’s over, my focus will be on getting ready to play shows. I really want that small venue experience. I hope I can at least build a fanbase that feels like a family.

What are your plans for the future as a band?
To find a permanent drummer and hopefully move back to Los Angeles or at least Texas. Louisiana will always feel like home, but there’s just not that many places to play around here or anything to do in general. You start feeling trapped after awhile.

How can people best support your band?
Getting our merch! I have a t-shirt campaign going to get some money together to finish the recording of the record: bonfire.com. I designed them myself.
It’s Pepe the Frog working at Sonic singing the chorus to our song »Loser«. I thought it would be fitting since that’s exactly where I’m at with my life right now. I also love memes.

Do you have any message for your listeners?
Keep hanging in there. Whether you’re making music or doing whatever, I know everyone is well aware, but life can be so shitty at times. It won’t always be like that; you gotta keep enduring until it all gets better and you find out what it all means. There’s always a reason for everything, and I do not believe anything happens by accident. Hang in there, and don’t let life harden your heart to the things that you do have going for you. Super cheesy and generic, but I’m only giving advice that I need to be listening to right now.

Links:
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Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well