Speedrun knights her inner hero

Photo Credit: Ave Davis

New York indie artist Speedrun, or Nina Lüders, began playing music as an escape. Soon after, though, it became a way for her to explore feelings and create new sounds that reflected her musical influences. Picking up the guitar and bass during the COVID lockdown, the self-taught musician began uploading videos of covers onto TikTok. After she got used to the instrument, she started writing her own songs. Blending elements of indie rock, Cameroonian makossa-influenced riffs and Lüders vocals, she created a unique style, manifesting itself in Speedrun’s early singles “Hysteria” and “L’Appel du Vide.” Along the way, she picked up a Fender sponsorship and was contacted by Frank Corr (Morning Silk) and producer Gordon Raphael, known for his work with the Strokes. All this culminated in Speedrun releasing her debut EP Love’s Latest News this year.

The 6-track EP, released in February, touches on multiple facets of love. The work is inspired by the French poet Jean-Michel Maulpoix and his book Une histoire de bleu. On “Daydream Delusion” Speedrun sings “trace the tear in my wine glass/tiny waterfalls/I’m swimming in mud.” During the chorus, a guitar mimics Speedrun’s melody before she rips a solo. “Nudie Cutie,” she says, “spins a fun tale of infatuation & desire.” Then, on “What He’s Used To,” Lüders offers, “In this one I narrate the story of a lost and enigmatic creature (known affectionately as “the f**kboy”) as he winds and wrestles his way through the chasmic streets of NewYork.” The compilation of songs glued together, is her “personal hero’s journey” she writes, “encapsulating love as both a call to action and an exodus, the adventure and the path back home.”

We connected with Speedrun to discuss her songwriting methods, prioritizing mental health over social media, balancing solo creative endeavors with collaborative practice, and more. Read our Q&A with the singer-songwriter below!

Congrats on your new EP Love’s Latest News! Let’s go back to the beginning. When did you get into writing music?

Thank you! I initially got into writing music by accident – I mainly started learning electric guitar/bass just to do covers, not necessarily to become an artist myself. The songwriting came a couple of months later, after getting more familiar with the fretboard, different kinds of chords, etc. I’ve really always loved writing poetry, so thankfully it was seamless enough to kind of translate that medium into music. 

What does your songwriting process look like?

Instrumentals definitely come first always. I’ll usually begin with a little riff or chord progressions that I conjured up, and then, from there, layer on drums, bass, and finally, vocals. I like to build out the song instrumentally before adding a vocal melody. From there, I’ll record a scratch vocal. Lastly, I’ll replace the cadence of the scratch melody with actual, fully fleshed-out lyrics. Before I write them, I’ll have an idea of what the song is about based on how [the instrumental] sounds and go from there, rather than starting with an idea and having the song fit the mood. 

I record all my demos in Logic Pro. I like to play with different slowed-down and sped-up versions to determine the key. Once I figure that out, I’ll take my demo to my producer Frank Corr (Morning Silk). From there, we re-record/flesh it out in the studio.

The EP was influenced by 2000s post-punk/indie rock. Were there any specific sonic examples you referenced while recording?

For sure! I have the biggest affinity for Sonic Youth, The Strokes, Metric, Le Tigre, Phoenix, The Cribs, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc. But I’m honestly such a fan of so many more bands from my childhood era–it would be hard to list them all. 

You’ve discussed your eclectic musical background, including influences from Cameroonian Makossa and 60s French pop. What was the first album you purchased (or connected with)?

The first album I ever bought was Favorite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys, back in 2011. I asked my dad to buy it for me on iTunes since I was only around 11/12 when I discovered them, and you could not get me to stop playing that record – “Old Yellow Bricks” still lives in my mind rent-free. It holds up so well to this day, and I think is really the apex of their sound.

As for the first album I ever connected with, I was much younger but it was actually Beyonce’s B’Day album from 2006. It was my first time as a small child really understanding what an extended work was and perceiving music as a sequenced experience rather than just singles on the radio. Beyonce also made a video for every single song on the album, so it married strong visual concepts & music together–for the very first time in my eyes. From there I got a rudimentary understanding of who an artist is, what an album is, etc. 

Peter Suski shot the cover art photo and features you in a full suit of armor. How did you come up with the concept for the EP’s artwork? 

Aside from just always wanting to wear a suit of armor, the main inspiration came from figures like Joan of Arc and other medieval motifs. The concept of the album being centered on “chivalric love” begot visuals that would suit the theme – so I figured why not depict something people haven’t seen much of before: a black girl with a sword, covered in armor. The suit itself represents how music in a way has become “my armor,” i.e. what’s protected me and guided me the most. I also really love medieval RPGs, and since “Speedrun” is a gaming term, I wanted to give a cheeky nod to that as well. 

Artists face pressure to create a constant stream of social media content to stay top of mind. How do you balance making content and your mental health? 

I really do need to get better at this! Before I made my own music, I was a lot better about posting consistently on TikTok. Now that I’m an artist, I find myself a lot more self-conscious online – probably as a result of getting used to sharing my work and the intimacy of my thoughts with the world. 

I regularly delete my social media to give myself breaks or peace of mind when it becomes too overwhelming, but I think it really is a struggle for independent artists like me these days to find the balance. You want to promote yourself and maintain media literacy with the rest of the industry, but also at the cost of constantly exposing yourself to the toxicity of social media and subsequent comparison. It’s hard, but I think doing it in piecemeal (recording/posting a bunch and then taking a break) is how I best manage.

How has your experience navigating the music industry as a self-taught artist influenced your approach to creativity and collaboration?

It’s made me not just open to, but really reliant on creative collaboration! I wouldn’t have been able to make this record without help from great friends like my producer Frank or my drummer Zack Pockrose, who played all the live drums on this EP. In all honesty, I do prefer to work alone and do most of the writing/visuals for Speedrun by myself, but I cannot deny how crucial it is to have people in your corner supporting you or lending a part here and there. It makes the music-making process more affordable, more fun, and more rewarding. Having no industry connections at all, I really had to DIY Speedrun from the get-go – and I’m so thankful to have met so many cool and like-minded people along the way who rock with my project and want to collaborate.

What are your long-term aspirations for Speedrun, and how do you envision your artistic evolution?

My long-term aspirations for Speedrun include not just making a splash in music, but hopefully also venturing into film, fashion, and book publishing. I’m really inspired by other multi-hyphenate creatives like Nadia Lee Cohen, Donald Glover, etc. I would love to make Speedrun and “indie chic”  into a movement, not a moment. I’m always trying to better myself at many crafts (photography, design, filmmaking, etc.) – to keep life fun and exciting. So hopefully in a few years, I’ll get to travel the world playing my music, and be recognizable from a few other ventures as well! 

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Love’s Latest News is out now. You can also listen wherever you stream music. Follow Speedrun on Instagram.

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