Grunge Is Not Dead in the Heartland as TUNT Delivers a Fierce Seven-Song Debut EP Recorded in Indianapolis with Grammy nominated Engineer Eric Klee Johnson
Indianapolis four-piece TUNT makes its recorded debut with Runaway, a seven-track EP that revives the visceral spirit of 90s grunge and filters it through a contemporary Midwest rock sensibility. The project, engineered by Eric Klee Johnson at The Pop Machine, is accompanied by a video and visualizer for the title track.
For those who believe that loud guitars, unvarnished emotion, and a refusal to compromise still have a place in modern rock music, TUNT offers a compelling answer. The Indianapolis-based four-piece has released Runaway, its debut seven-song EP, and the record makes its case with force and clarity. This is a band rooted in the raw traditions of 90s grunge and alternative rock, but one that sounds unmistakably present, drawing its energy from the Midwest independent music community that raised it.
The members of TUNT bring distinct musical identities to the project. Talon handles guitar and vocal duties, delivering performances that balance melodic instinct with an unrestrained edge. Zak Abdul contributes second guitar, adding layers of texture and noise that give the songs their depth and weight. Alexis Santana anchors the low end on bass with lines that are as rhythmically assertive as they are melodically aware. Oliver Purrington rounds out the lineup on drums, providing the propulsive force that keeps the EP moving with urgency from start to finish.
The choice to record at The Pop Machine in Indianapolis was central to the identity of the project. Working with engineer Eric Klee Johnson, TUNT captured Runaway in an environment that understood what they were trying to achieve. Johnson's approach preserved the roughness and dynamism of the band's sound without sacrificing clarity. The guitars retain their bite, the bass rumbles with authority, and the drums hit with the kind of impact that smaller, less experienced productions often fail to deliver. The result is an EP that sounds like a band playing together in real time, with all the intensity and imperfection that implies.
The title track, Runaway, has been selected as the lead single and is being supported by a video and visualizer designed to extend the song's themes into a visual space. The track encapsulates the EP's overarching mood, a volatile mix of frustration, yearning, and the determination to move forward regardless of what stands in the way. It is a sentiment familiar to anyone who has ever felt trapped by circumstance or geography, and it hits with particular resonance coming from the heart of the American Midwest.
Thematically, the seven tracks on Runaway explore territory that feels deeply personal yet widely relatable. There is anger here, but also vulnerability. There is noise, but also melody. TUNT does not shy away from the contradictions inherent in being a young band trying to make something real in a music industry that often rewards the superficial. Instead, they lean into those contradictions, finding creative fuel in the tension between what they want and what they are told is possible.
The band's promotional strategy reflects the same independent ethos that shapes its music. TUNT is pursuing a local-first campaign centered on the Indianapolis area, building an audience through live shows, community engagement, and word of mouth. Simultaneously, the band is pushing Runaway through streaming platforms, playlist pitching, social media content, and direct outreach to fans who connect with guitar-driven, independent rock music. The target audience spans lovers of alternative rock, grunge, punk, and indie rock across the United States, with particular emphasis on Midwest listeners attuned to the DIY rock tradition.
Runaway is available now on all major streaming platforms. For more information about TUNT, to stream the full EP, or to follow the band's journey from Indianapolis outward, visit the official website at www.tuntband.com.
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