Brittany Howard on Thursday released an official music video for “Running With The Angels”, a song she wrote as a hype anthem for L.A.’s Angel City Football Club. The Alabama Shakes singer also shared a video explaining the inspiration behind the song, which celebrates the power and resilience of women.
Featuring marching band horns, a drumline, and a verse from rapper Tia P., “Running With The Angels” is intended to inspire the team’s players and fans.
“Early inspiration for me was HBCUs [historically black colleges and universities] because when I was in marching band we would watch the videos and I always thought, ‘I wanna be in a marching band like that. I want the swerve, and I want the modern songs and their take on ’em and things like that,’ Howard said. “I just knew that’s what it needed to be because it had that energy. It makes you feel elevated.”
The song also features hard-grooving drums programmed by Howard and a chorus of gang vocals that captures the team’s spirit of collectivity.
Angel City Football Club is the first majority women-funded, owned and operated pro-soccer team. Founded in 2020, the soccer franchise has many high-profile owners, including Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, Mia Hamm, and Serena Williams.
“Angel City Football Club is one of those achievements that is going to open the door for many more other female run sports teams,” Howard said.
Produced in partnership with Johnny Walker’s First Strides initiative, “Running With The Angels” is a high-energy hype anthem that will fire up fans whether they’re driving down the field or driving to work, but with its powerful lyrics, the song’s message is clear: as Howard declared in the video, “This is more than a song. This is music to a movement for women’s equality.”
Brittany Howard, Tia P. – “Running With The Angels” (Official Music Video)
Brittany Howard – “Running With The Angels (Inspiration Behind The Song)”