Above the Clouds with Alex Runions

Alex Runions is an award winning singer-songwriter from Saskatchewan. He described himself as a father and a husband who has been “sober for the last five years”. He also wanted people to know that he is “an absolute lover of music”.

He added, “I love going for walks and I am a big-time introvert. I feel that it's important for people to be kind to one another.”

Despite being a “big-time introvert”, Alex always dreamed of playing his music for large crowds.

“….I would write songs and make up songs on my way to school as I walked there by myself. I assumed all kids did this but maybe not?”

“As time moved on, I sang in a couple of local bands. After being kicked out of a band that I truly enjoyed being a part of, I took a couple of years off and decided to write on my own and the rest is history. Overall, I've always loved to sing and entertain.”

Alex’s latest album, Above the Clouds and On the Ground was released on March 7, 2025. For the most part, Alex spent the day with his daughter:

“As a father of a 2 1/2 year old, I was on duty for regular dad duties, while listening to the album in its entirety—which I encourage everybody else to do, if they haven’t yet.” Above the Clouds and On the Ground is available on Spotify.

“Generally speaking, I don't have any major release plans, but I think that is exactly what this album is. It’s not trying to be any bigger than it is or make any major splashes. It is just about the music.” He continued.

As a parent, Alex tries to be mindful of his subject matter when it comes to writing songs. However, it is also important for him to stay true to himself in order to connect with his listeners.

“….Some of the content is pretty heavy but it is true to who I am. I want my daughter to know that it's important to be honest and truthful in what you write and how you present yourself. It's important for me to be honest when writing about my experiences.”

“The music is how I am able to express myself. It's important for people to be allowed to be themselves. It's been an outlet for me in a way for me to get the words out. It truly feels like a project that I was always meant to do for myself and for the people that I care about. I really hope that the audience understands where the songs are coming from. If someone needs a sad song or a happy song, they can use one of my songs to help them get through it. It's important for me as a songwriter to create music that connects with others and their true selves.”

“….For instance, my dog passed away and I was absolutely crushed. I always turn to music to help me through tough times. I could not find any song that helped me through that experience and through the grief. I know there are some songs out there about dogs, but they didn't quite capture how I felt or what I wanted to say. So, I wrote 'A Song for My Dog' in order to commemorate her memory and to help me through the grief. I hope it helps other people who lose a beloved pet.”

Throughout his career, Alex has played at a number of festivals across Canada and The United States. When asked who he would like to share a festival stage with next, two artists immediately came to mind:

“I would like to share the stage with Vince Gill. He is a major influence in all of my music and always has been. Even on this album, there's going to be some influence. I've always tried to emulate his voice, as I'm not your standard baritone male country singer. Vince Gill's music created the hopeless romantic in me. I always connected with his sad songs which were deeply sorrowful.” Runions cited Vince Gill’s song, “I’ve Been Trying to Get Over You” as one of the songs that has shaped his sound the most.

Alex would also like to perform with Donovan Woods. He considers himself to be one of Donovan’s “original fans”!

“Donovan is an artist that I have been a fan of for both his writing and the arrangement of his music for many years. In fact, one of his first albums was the soundtrack to my days in university. I love his writing and he is Canadian, so that's pretty cool….”

In terms of his own fans, Runions has received an outpouring of support from his peers in Saskatchewan. Being recognized by his home province “means the world to him” and it helps him to “keep moving forward” not just with his music but in life.

“I'm looking forward to life. As time moves on and my family grows and I grow personally, I'm loving life. I'm looking forward to being a better person than I was yesterday….”

Lastly, when asked about his advice for other artists, Alex Runions replied: “Do it because you love to do it. Don't chase the money. Go with your gut when you're making decisions and make sure to have a plan in place before moving forward on any major career decisions.”

For more information, please visit www.alexrunions.com.

Photo courtesy of Nolita Studios.

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