Shamir leaves toxic relationships behind in empowering new single “Running”

Ahead of the release of his self-titled album this fall, Shamir shared a third single, “Running,” along with a video animated by Faye Orlove. The new tune addresses mental health and gender dysphoria as Shamir reflects on his own experience of leaving toxic relationships behind, but remains upbeat and fits the songwriter’s vision for the new album, which he describes as 90s pop and rock for the modern world.

“‘Running’ is a song I wrote about a time in my life when I was a part of a toxic friend group where I was the only non-cis person,” Shamir shares in a press release. “The song is from the perspective of me now realizing how much it affected my mental health after being a few years removed and realizing how much I was dulling myself down so I did not stick out any more than I already did — and also how that directly made me experience gender dysphoria for the first time ever.”

Watch below the video. Shamir comes out October 2.