Indie Singer Jenn Grinels Releases Collaborative Single 'Always on the Run'

The track marks the start of a new album created through a long-distance songwriting partnership.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:53pm

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An extreme close-up of shimmering, reflective sequins and shards of broken glass, creating a high-contrast, glamorous texture that evokes the celebratory mood of indie music.The vibrant, textured visuals of Jenn Grinels' new single 'Always on the Run' reflect the joyful energy of her collaborative songwriting process.San Diego Today

Indie singer-songwriter Jenn Grinels has released a new single called 'Always on the Run,' which she co-wrote with poet and lyricist Alfred Howard during the COVID-19 pandemic. The song came together quickly, despite Grinels' initial doubts, and has resonated strongly with fans on social media and at her live shows.

Why it matters

Grinels' collaboration with Howard represents a new creative approach for the artist, as she had never worked extensively with a co-writer before. The success of 'Always on the Run' has led to a full album's worth of songs written in this long-distance, back-and-forth style, showcasing Grinels' ability to adapt her songwriting process.

The details

After Howard reached out to Grinels during the pandemic, she was immediately inspired by his lyrics and wrote the music for 'Always on the Run' very quickly. However, Grinels initially doubted the simplicity of the song, thinking it might need to be more complex. Her husband convinced her to stick with the original, more straightforward arrangement, which was then produced by Mike Butler and featured on Grinels' Instagram, where it gained significant traction with new listeners.

  • In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alfred Howard reached out to Jenn Grinels to collaborate.
  • Grinels wrote the music for 'Always on the Run' shortly after receiving Howard's lyrics.
  • Grinels posted a video of herself singing 'Always on the Run' at home, which gained a large response on Instagram.
  • While on tour in 2021, Grinels performed 'Always on the Run' at a soundcheck in Boston, where the venue manager recognized the song from Instagram.

The players

Jenn Grinels

An indie singer-songwriter who has released a new single called 'Always on the Run' as part of a collaborative album project with poet and lyricist Alfred Howard.

Alfred Howard

A poet and lyricist who reached out to Jenn Grinels during the COVID-19 pandemic to collaborate on a new song, which became 'Always on the Run.'

Mike Butler

The producer who added instrumentation and brought in additional musicians to complete the production of 'Always on the Run.'

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What they’re saying

“This song is special, and, in many ways, kind of groundbreaking for me! I had never really worked with a co-writer before Alfred Howard sent me his lyrics.”

— Jenn Grinels, Indie Singer-Songwriter

“When he sent it back to me, I had no notes! It was honestly one of the easiest and most joyful production experiences I've ever had.”

— Jenn Grinels, Indie Singer-Songwriter

What’s next

Grinels and Howard plan to release a full album of songs created through their long-distance collaborative process in the coming months.

The takeaway

Jenn Grinels' success with the single 'Always on the Run' has shown her ability to adapt her songwriting approach, embracing a new collaborative model that has yielded an album's worth of material and connected her with a wider audience.