Katie Runnels Turns Healing Into a Sonic Journey on “Imperfect Beauty”
Katie Runnels isn’t just releasing a new single — she’s redefining what healing can sound like. With “Imperfect Beauty,” the Flagstaff artist transforms personal growth into a slow-burning, atmospheric experience, creating music that feels less like a performance and more like a breath you didn’t realize you were holding.
Runnels approaches songwriting the way some people approach meditation: with intention, patience, and awareness. Instead of chasing big climaxes or dramatic peaks, she lets the track unfold gently. Soft electronic textures shimmer around her voice, moving in waves like someone processing emotion in real time. The production leaves space for the listener, space for reflection, space for truth.
This approach didn’t come from studying trends. It came from living through them. After releasing her debut album Reality Cloud in 2010, Katie Runnels stepped away from the stage to focus on teaching and developing tools for students with ADHD. That chapter changed the way she understood people, energy, and communication. When she eventually found her way back to music, she wasn’t interested in creating something loud — she wanted to create something honest.
That honesty radiates through “Imperfect Beauty.” The track captures what healing actually looks like: not linear, not flawless, but soft, slow, and deeply human. Runnels allows imperfection to be part of the music, treating vulnerability as texture rather than a flaw. Her delivery is calm but firm, like someone who has learned to stay present even when emotions rise.
Beyond the single, Katie Runnels extends this perspective to her Education Channel on YouTube, where she speaks about ADHD, self-love, limiting beliefs, and emotional wellbeing. The same grounded voice you hear in her music comes through in her podcast-style videos. She uses lessons from her life and teaching career to guide listeners through their own internal landscapes. It’s rare to find an artist who can make healing accessible in both sound and speech.
In “Imperfect Beauty,” you can feel the alignment between her music and her message. She isn’t asking for perfection — from herself or from her audience. She’s offering a moment of stillness, a reminder that growth doesn’t always happen in loud breakthroughs. Sometimes it happens quietly, in the small shifts that move you closer to yourself.
For fans of emotional electronic music, introspective soundscapes, and artists who create with purpose, Katie Runnels brings something refreshing. “Imperfect Beauty” isn’t here to overwhelm you. It’s here to meet you where you are — gently, honestly, and with an open hand.
Listen to “Imperfect Beauty” on all streaming platforms.
