One of the biggest lessons we’ve all learned in the past year is being content with what we’ve got. On “15 Minutes,” the Atlanta-based band ponders whether superstardom is really what they want — and what they’d even do with it if they got it. The song is straight-ahead folk rock at its finest, with a pulsing beat and a melody you can sing along to with the windows down. The song’s breezy feel and contemplative lyrics bring to mind the ’90s pop that lead singer, writer, and guitarist Kate Coleman grew up on.
With the song’s premiere, Coleman spoke about its meaning and how its delightful video came together. True to form, Run Katie Run chose to share their 15 minutes of fame with their friends and spread the wealth around. The result is a sincere community effort to create something beautiful in the midst of enforced isolation.
What is the story behind this song? What prompted you to write it?
I realized that I’d rather have my life be about achieving love and peace instead of fortune and fame. Instead of making my life, and my music career, about obtaining success or milestones, I wanted it to be about liking myself, feeling like I’m being true to who I am so other people can see me as an authentic inspiration to be exactly who they are. I confess, though, a lot of mistakes and repeating the same behaviors for 30 years is what got me here and what made this song possible. I noticed I was keeping people around who constantly needed to be lifted up without any strength to lift me up in return. It’s hard to change the people you surround yourself with, your behaviors, and your beliefs, but this song marks the beginning of me doing so.
What do you love best about this song?
Oh man, that’s a hard one; there’s so much I love about it! When I listen to it now, what I love most is knowing my husband and three best friends are the ones who made it with me. Not to be too mushy, but these men really believe in me and make me better. I think the reason the song comes across so beautifully and powerfully is because of that.
Tell us about the video — who produced and directed it? Whose idea was the video treatment.
Me, me, and me, ha ha! I knew I wanted to make a video for this song, but I didn’t know what I wanted. One day, I was dancing in my dining room — where I have a legitimate dance floor, LOL — and it hit me: “I want to literally give away my 15 minutes of fame and show off my friends!” So I reached out to a bunch of my extremely talented friends/acquaintances, and, a month later, they got me back their videos. I remember wanting it to be a cross between Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” video and Dawes’ “All Your Favorite Bands” video.
How did this all come together?
Strangely, I had this idea RIGHT before the pandemic/quarantine happened, so it gave all of us something to do at the beginning of a very turbulent time. With most elaborate DIY projects, you aim really high and you usually end up with something a bit more grounded but still really good. That was not the case with this video: I couldn’t have been happier when everyone sent me their videos! I mean, for the people lip-syncing: what an honor! They all took the time to learn the song word-for-word. And the beautiful dancing, WOW! So much talent, technique, and devotion. I even had a friend do animation for this video; that takes SO much time and patience. Something that is very understated and undervalued in our culture is the amount of time and dedication it takes to get excellent at something like music, dance, or anything artistic and creative. I really wanted to show people who deserve acknowledgement who may not get it as often as they deserve.
When I sat down to edit the footage, it was incredible to see how so many people had the same instincts at certain parts of the song. I highlighted those moments as much as possible. It made me see, again, how music and movement really are supremely universal.
What is your favorite part of the video itself?
My favorite parts are when everyone gets really silly during the guitar solo, and then, at the end, when I get to introduce who everyone is, what they do, and where you can follow them on Instagram. My favorite thing about the video as a whole is that all these people embody exactly what I only recently began to realize: be exactly who you are and that is the greatest gift you can give yourself and anyone around you. I’m honored to know all these wonderful people, I’m thrilled they are in our video, and I hope people will check out what they do and support them!
I loved it!
This was a great video and song! Loved it. Definitely lifted me!