Divergent drops “Runnin’ Free” music video

Iowa-based trio Divergent are living proof that passion doesn’t fade with time, it just waits for the right moment to resurface. Their story is one of dormancy and revival, of teenage dreams revisited decades later with new creative spark and a mission of making music that’s accessible but entirely their own. Formed by James Richards on guitar, keys and vocals, Mike McAlister on bass and vocals and later joined by James’ brother Paul Richards on drums and vocals, the band carry forward a shared history that stretches back to their high school days, when James and Mike first linked up in the Chautauqua Road Band.

That first project burned bright through their teenage years but fizzled as university and adult life pulled them in different directions. For nearly 40 years, their passion for writing and performing sat in the background, existing as the ever-present “what if.” It wasn’t until they reunited Chautauqua Road Band for an eight-year run of playing classic rock covers that the fire truly reignited. When that chapter closed, James, Mike and Paul made a decision to strip away the covers, focus exclusively on original music and finally chase the creative ambitions they had once set aside. Thus, Divergent was born.

The name couldn’t be more fitting; Divergent signals their refusal to stick to one lane or be boxed in by genre or style. Their sound stretches across rock, pop, alternative and progressive, sometimes leaning into hard-hitting riffs, other times breaking into soaring ballads or groove-focused cuts. It’s music that reflects their individuality but also shines through collaboration, distilling a democratic spirit where every idea is welcome.

Their single “Runnin’ Free” epitomises that ethos via a track nearly 20 years in the making, it began as a chord progression and syncopated rhythm before developing through countless reworkings into a fully realised anthem of determination and rebellious young love. With Paul’s driving rhythmic touch, the track bursts with the adrenaline of classic 70s and 80s rock anthems, complete with soaring harmonies and a climactic guitar solo. Thematically, it captures the all-consuming rush of two lovers refusing to be held back, enveloping listeners in the liberating spirit of reclaiming one’s story and charging forward into the unknown.

Recording at Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Divergent found the perfect environment to capture their sound. Beyond access to top-tier gear, the space offered a sense of intimacy that seeps into their music. That context is also reflected in the “Runnin’ Free” music video which takes viewers inside this creative sanctuary, lifting the curtain on the process and inviting fans to witness the spark where ideas become songs.

Now with their debut album behind them and new projects on the horizon, Divergent are entering a phase defined by freedom and ambition. They’re no longer haunted by what might have been, they’re seizing the moment, channeling years of experience, reflection and pure enthusiasm into music that feels timeless yet primed for a modern audience. In Divergent’s world, it’s never too late to reinvent, to create and to finally become the band you were always meant to be.

Watch the music video for Runnin’ Free below

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