LOS ANGELES, CA- With their new album Syndicate set to arrive October 3 on Ultra Records, The Midnight have been steadily building anticipation with a string of singles. The latest, “Runaways,” stands out not only for its widescreen synth-pop grandeur but because it features, and was co-written by, none other than Bonnie McKee, one of pop’s most decorated hitmakers.
McKee’s resume speaks for itself. As a songwriter, she’s helped craft generation-defining anthems for the likes of Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Kesha, cementing her reputation as someone with a natural knack for infectious hooks. On “Runaways,” that talent is unmistakable. From the very first chorus (“You wanna run away / Before the summer fades”) the track radiates McKee’s melodic stamp, the kind of sticky refrain that lingers long after the final notes fade.
The Midnight, known for weaving cinematic synthwave textures with Tyler Lyle’s emotive vocals and Tim McEwan’s lush production, have never shied away from pop impulses. But teaming with McKee elevates those impulses into something undeniable. Her performance here is not just a guest feature. It’s the engine that drives the song into proper anthem territory.
It’s worth noting that “Runaways” is already the fourth single from Syndicate, following “Shadowverse,” “Digital Dreams,” and “Love Is An Ocean.” But dropping this one so close to the October 3 release feels strategic. If Syndicate is, as the band suggests, a 17-track opus, then “Runaways” hints that it could also be their boldest embrace of full-on pop extravagance. Even if this turns out to be McKee’s only co-write on the record, it’s a memorable one — a reminder that when you bring in a songwriter of her caliber, the results tend to sound like a hit.
For Blurred Culture, this isn’t just another entry in The Midnight’s catalog. “Runaways” is the kind of track that demonstrates how powerful a great collaboration can be. It’s a banger.
Follow The Midnight on Facebook, Instagram and X. Follow Bonnie McKee on Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Midnight’s 2025 UK/EU Tour Dates:
17 Sep – Helsinki, FI – House of Culture
19 Sep – Stockholm, SE – Fållan
20 Sep – Oslo, NO – Rockefeller
21 Sep – Copenhagen, DK – Vega
23 Sep – Wrocław, PL – A2
24 Sep – Leipzig, DE – Werk 2
25 Sep – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg Ronda
26 Sep – Antwerp, BE – De Roma
28 Sep – Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall
29 Sep – Munich, DE – Backstage Werk
01 Oct – Toulouse, FR – Le Rex de Toulouse
02 Oct – Madrid, ES – La Riviera
03 Oct – Barcelona, ES – Sala Apolo
04 Oct – Lyon, FR – Le Transbordeur
06 Oct – Paris, FR – Casino de Paris
08 Oct – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton
09 Oct – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow
10 Oct – Sheffield, UK – Octagon Centre
12 Oct – Dublin, IE – 3Olympia Theatre
