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Photo: Aaron Mendoza 

After a two-year hiatus, Ethan Healy, better known as Healy, makes a striking return with "Running Laps." The song is a beautiful exploration of self-sabotage, the struggle to break old habits, and the yearning for self-reinvention.

The track's opening collage of summery rhythm guitar riffs and upbeat, pop-infused percussion starkly contrasts with the lyrics' more melancholic mood. Healy vulnerably depicts a troubling mental state, whereas the song's overall tone is optimistic and lively. This creates a mesmerizing paradox between the excitement of growth and healing and the all-too-real struggle to move on from past feelings and tendencies.

His warm, vibrant vocals croon lines like, "Am I running from it / Or am I running laps?" and "Begging the sky for rapture / Anything to get me to the next chapter / Won't put up a fight, it don't even matter," effortlessly guide the listener through the arrangement, showcasing Healy's impressive vocal range, from his rich, deep tone in the verses to his charming, brighter tone for the higher melodies in the bridge and hook.

The official music video, directed by Healy and Aaron Mendoza, is a stunning visual that opens with the singer-songwriter running on the beach. Footage of him sprinting through various nature scenes follows, with it being undetermined if he's running to or from something or someone.

"Running Laps" will be featured on the artist's forthcoming album FORCE OF NATURE, set to release July 18. After going sober and receiving his doctorate, Healy plans to take his buoyant indie-pop sound melded with groovy R&B beats to the next level with a collection that works as a self-sustaining ecosystem encompassing elements of all these genres. At its core, it's set to be a pulsing, gorgeous suite of eight tracks replete with thunder, shifting tectonic plates, and young love.

Watch the "Running Laps" video below: