For Runaway June, the past few years have been a whirlwind of change, growth, and rediscovery—and their brand-new album ‘New Kind of Emotion' captures every bit of it. Hailed by ourselves as a triumphant reemergence (full album review here) the project glimmers with modern country-pop polish while staying rooted in the trio’s traditional influences of fiddle, mandolin, and pedal steel. From friendship anthems and girl-power barn burners to tender love songs and joyful odes to independence, the record embodies exactly what founding member Jennifer Wayne describes: “Even the sad songs are fun!” With 11 of the 13 tracks co-written by the band and five top-tier Nashville producers lending their talents, the result is a collection that feels both adventurous and authentically Runaway June.
The group—Jennifer Wayne (vocals, rhythm guitar), Natalie Stovall (vocals, fiddle, mandolin), and Stevie Woodward (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica)—poured three years of their lives into ‘New Kind of Emotion,' pulling from different stages, influences and stories along the way. Highlights include the Latin-inspired ‘Drink Champagne,' the heartfelt fiddle-led ‘Come Home to Me,' and the empowering ‘Sad Girl,' alongside the shimmering title track that’s already making waves at country radio. As Stevie puts it, “Runaway June are friends, and we want the listeners to also feel that girlhood, that sisterhood and for our male listeners too. We want people to know that they’re not alone in whatever phase they’re going through.” With that energy in mind, the trio sat down with us to talk about the making of the album, the stories behind the songs, and why this chapter feels like their most joyful yet.
Thank you for your time on what I imagine is a terrifically busy release week! I was expecting ‘New Kind of Emotion' to be good but, blimey, not that good!!
Stevie: That's so nice, thank you for your lovely review!
Natalie: That review really boosted our spirits because we haven't released the album yet so we haven't really had any feedback as yet!
It's been six years since the debut album – so much has happened to the world and the band in that time! This feels like a reset and re-invention. Is that how you three feel too?
Jennifer: Yeah – this album really, truly shows who we are. When Stevie joined the band we had so many dates already pre-booked that we just went out on the road and so it took a little while for us to actually write together and figure out who we were now. That's kinda what took the time but once we locked into who we were, the flow started and we wrote this album over the last three years and we're so proud of it.
Stevie joining the band seems to have given the band a real kick up the arse in some respects. Her vocals are so powerful, she's got writing credits all over the place – did you know you were getting that from her when you brought her in?
Natalie: I feel like we did. Jen and I became Instagram stalkers and anytime we heard someone singing we're imagined what they would look like in the band! You're also looking for chemistry and someone who you are going to write well with and you don't necessarily know those things ahead of time but we had a really good feeling about Stevie…….. and then we started writing together!! (laughing)
Our review states you've emerged bigger and bolder. What do those words mean to you in terms of the palette, the style and the performances?
Stevie: I love that so much. We wanted to create something that felt genuine to who we are right now. I'm so glad it sounds that way to you because I think we were really able to hone in on what our strengths are as a group. We really took a lot of chances with this and went outside of our box a little bit – we hope everybody else feels the same way that you do!
Let's start outside of that box with ‘Drink Champagne' then! Tell me about that song and where the Latin influences came from on it!
Jennifer: That's my favourite song on the album!
Natalie: Me too, Jen!
Jennifer: It started out just as a melody. We were in a management meeting and the label had been saying that they'd like a few more uptempo songs and I don't know why but I just started singing this melody and Stevie grabbed a guitar and Natalie grabbed a fiddle and all of a sudden the meeting stopped! (laughing) It wasn't meant to be Latin – it just came out that way. We've always wanted to do a song with a Latin singer or with that kind of feel – my Grandma is from Peru so she's been bugging us for years to so a Spanish song!
Natalie: It's such a fun song to play in the live shows. It starts and you can see people going, ‘Ohh, what are they doing now?' and then you can just see the crowd start dancing! (laughing) We started popping champagne before shows so it fits with our vibe too! (laughing)
Alongside ‘Drink Champagne' ‘Sad Girl' is also a boundary-pushing sound for Runaway June – it gives the vibe of Fleetwood Mac at a disco!
Stevie: Actually both those songs were done with a producer called Ron Fair. We call him ‘The Mad Scientist' or ‘Mad Genius' because he takes so many risks in his production and we really admired and appreciated that. You have to be brave to be able to do that! He took chances with us and took us on a real journey. Those songs have such a good feel to them.
What fascinates me is that this album, rather than being guided by a single hand like Dan Huff, Jay Joyce etc, has a number of producers across the 12 tracks but it still feels like one whole cohesive listen and so joined up Did that bother you, at any point, that it might not feel like that?
Jennifer: I don't think we were. At the core of this project it is just the three of us. Producers can bring out different elements but those songs are our songs, written, by and large, by the three of us. It was cool experimenting with different producers and seeing the different things they heard and brought out in our music. ‘Drink Champagne' really needed someone outside of Country music to get the best out of it and that's why we intentionally wen to Ron Flair.
When you are in the studio how easy would it be just to give a fiddle to Natalie and tell her to play the hell out of it! You've deployed her when needed on the album but have showed great restraint in not just giving in and relying on that too much.
Jennifer: I want her to be fiddle everywhere! (laughing) We do have to rein it in!!
Stevie: It's so cool having such a talented fiddle player in the band and I think we stand out because of her….
Most artists have booked Jenee Fleenor for the next 2-3 years and have to wait for her and you've got Natalie on hand 24 hours a day!
Jennifer: Yeah! Move over Jenee! (laughing)
Natalie: That's very sweet!
Stevie: It gives us so much opportunity when we are in the writing room. She'll pull out a lick on the fiddle out of nowhere and we'll be like, ‘Well, now we have to put that in the song!' (laughing) She's definitely a secret weapon………
Natalie: Stevie is also a secret weapon! She can play multiple instruments. I mean, just her work on the harmonica brings something new to the band. We've had real fun going back and forth on different instruments, looking for different textures and sounds. We don't want to force a fiddle or even an electric guitar into a song where it doesn't belong but when it calls for it…. we've got a lot of tools in the tool belt! (laughing)
Taking the original incarnation of the band back to that Carrie Underwood tour where you did those 52 dates supporting her through the arenas – ‘Miss Me' sounds like you've channelled her spirit into this big, dramatic song. Is that Stevie's best vocal performance on the album?
Jennifer: I heard multiple people say that! It's unbelievable what she does and the notes she hits on that song.
Natalie: You get to really hear Stevie do what Stevie can do on that song – it's not just that ability to be part of the three-part harmonies on that song, it's her moment to break out and break loose! We're a trio so we will always try and ensure there's a lot of three part harmonies in what we do but Stevie needs to be able to soar too.
Stevie: It's definitely a fun song to sing live! People love that song when we play it live, it's such a big rock song.
Have you been holding back any songs from the album in the live show till after it is released?
Jennifer: I feel like ‘Real Good Night' is going to be our show opener going forward and we haven't been playing that one yet. It's such a great song, feel-good and gets the party started so I'll be excited to add that one into the set after the album is out.
Songs like ‘Real Good Night,' ‘He Ain't My Problem' and even ‘Make Me Wanna Smoke' have got a playfulness and a humour to them – how important is that levity to your writing and sound?
Jennifer: I think it's important for the authenticity because that's who the three of us are. We're fun and we're funny and we have a sense of humour so I think it's great to let that come out in the music. That makes our live show great too because we are up there having fun together too. When you watch someone have fun you want to be part of that and have some fun of your own, too.
Jennifer – you've existed in the band from the very beginning, the founding member through line up changes and record label turbulence. Did it ever crossed your mind to walk away and start all over again or was this always going to be your baby?
Jennifer: Of my gosh! The thought of starting all over again….. on top of having a three year old daughter…… (laughing) I always say that god opens and closes doors and for me, I've just always listened to my own gut and instinct. I love this band and the last three years have been really fun working with Natalie and Stevie – I'm so proud of this album that we've made that I hope people like it as much as we do.
Have you ever thought about going into A&R because you've clearly got a good nose for talent recognition!
Jennifer: I would make more money! (laughing)
Stevie: I always tell Jen she would make a fantastic A&R representative! She's got a great feel for who has talent and who is going to be a star! She can hear it.
You've been over to the UK enough to know that we are deep-cut lovers – we don't just listen to the hits so where is the deep cut on this album? The song that you'd like to shout out and steer the fans towards so that it doesn't get overlooked by the bigger, showier ones?
Jennifer: We have a song towards the end of the album called ‘Come Home to Me' that Natalie and Stevie wrote which I think is the most beautiful song. I can hear so many different types of people relating to it so that would be the song I would steer people towards.
Natalie: That was the one I thought of too, Jen!
I guess your year is really going to get busier after release day. What's the plan for the rest of the year in terms of shows, touring and goals that you've set yourselves going into 2026?
Stevie: We're just gonna ride the wave and see what happens after the album comes out!
Jennifer: This weekend we're presenting at the iHeart music festival which is an al-genre event so that's a pretty cool way to celebrate the album release!
If you could land a plum arena tour support slot with an artist who would you choose?
Jennifer: Ed Sheeran!
Stevie: Ooohhhhh thats good. Great one.
Natalie: Is Bruno Mars heading out on the road anytime soon because that would be fun!
Check out Runaway June's fabulous new album ‘New Kind of Emotion' which is released TODAY!! Our review is right here to help you!
