Esther Rose Searches for Three Chords and the Truth on “Spider”

Safe to Run is out April 21 via New West Records.

Esther Rose Searches for Three Chords and the Truth on “Spider”

Safe to Run is out April 21 via New West Records.

Words: Margaret Farrell

Photo: Brandon Soder

April 06, 2023

Esther Rose is a formidable songwriter, doling out country-folk music as roughly textured as denim hem. Today, she's shared a new single called "Spider," following "Chet Baker" and the Hurray for the Riff Raff–featuring title track from her forthcoming album Safe to Run. “Lonnie in my band calls this one an ‘emotional dump truck,’” Rose shared of the newest single. “We tracked vocals live and tried to redo them later, but they didn’t hit as hard as the original take. There’s something kind of deranged happening in the third verse, the situational complexities, you can feel it. It’s our favorite to play live.”

The single comes with a video directed by Anthony Simpkins which contrasts Rose's music with the violence of a fight. "When Esther approached me to make this video, she had an idea to involve a boxing match," Simpkins explained. "I thought, why not film it at a real MMA event? I love the stark contrast in the on-screen action and Esther's song. It is somehow both the polar opposite and perfectly matching the journey each person is going through from the beginning of the night to the end of the fight. Love, anxiety, pain, triumph, anger, defeat...you feel everything at a fight. Esther captures the same emotions in her songs."

Watch the video for "Spider" below, and pre-order Safe to Run here.