Dying Scene is thrilled to bring you yet another exclusive release, this time from St. Louis-native-turned-Nashvillian Mike Bay, better known by his solo moniker Borrowed Sparks. Bearing the title “Run ‘Til You’re Dust”, Bay’s first studio single since 2020 encompasses a hopeful optimism that rivals the hardship that his songs often allude. In a world that is still coping with the seemingly never-ending burrow of dread that COVID brought about, “Run ‘Til You’re Dust” assures the listener of the light at the end of the tunnel.
“[This song] was written while I was coming out of a low spot,” explains Bay. “Grappling with all of the changes that occurred since 2020, I was pretty bummed with life and what seemed like a lot of new limits and restrictions.”
“The title lyric came from a mantra that a friend gave to me during a hard time. It stuck with me and kept coming back during the times I felt low, helping me pull myself out of that dark place. This is an anthem for those who want to get every ounce of what our short lives have to offer.”
Borrowed Sparks’ catchy blend of working class, punk-inspired Americana draws comparisons to some of the industry’s best, and some of my personal favorites, including the likes of Brian Fallon, Ben Nichols, and, dare I say, Tom Petty and The Boss himself. Although Bay has hit the nail on the head with achieving the Americana sound, his thoughtfully sincere and honest lyrical reflection is what primarily roped me in and made me a fan of the ridiculously talented songwriter who I now luckily call a friend.
For many readers, “Run ‘Til You’re Dust” may be the first glimpse into one of Nashville’s best, but I assure you that Borrowed Sparks has an entire back catalogue of catchy, yet profound anthems that are sure to give the heart strings a nice tug. One moment, driving guitars on tracks such as “Marie’s Dress” and “Man With A Different Name” will knock you ass back into your seat, yet the next leads to introspective contemplation with tracks such as “The Prettiest One Left” and “Patron Saint”. “Run ‘Til You’re Dust” seems to be a combination of both, and serves as a great introductory point for the ever-growing genre of punk-inspired Americana.
The current single, along with some of my previously released favorites are linked below. A lyric video for “Run ‘Til You’re Dust” is due out exactly one week from today, May 10, so don’t miss out. Be sure to keep Borrowed Sparks on your radar as they’ve got a busy Summer ahead. As always, thanks for checking out the site, Cheers!
(Mortensa, 2023)
