Runaway June is stepping into a new era.

The Gold-selling trio – Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall, and Stevie Woodward – have officially released their sophomore album, New Kind of Emotion, via QHMG / Quartz Hill Records. Out now on all streaming platforms, the 13-track collection gleams with modern country-pop energy while holding tight to its roots with fiddle, mandolin, and pedal steel. It’s a vibrant celebration of girl power, friendship, independence, and love that’s wanted but not needed. As Wayne declares with a smile, “Even the sad songs are fun!”

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When we sat down with the group, the excitement around the release was impossible to miss.

“It’s so exciting,” Wayne told Fandom Daily. “Just to be able to say that you’re releasing an album in today’s world is so cool. We’re so lucky to be able to do it.” Woodward echoes that energy, admitting she can hardly believe release day is here, “This whole album has been an accumulation of us finding our sound. We worked with different producers, wrote songs at different stages of our life. With three of us, you’re going to have a lot of different inspiration. It’s been a fun, exciting journey, and I honestly can’t believe it’s out now.”

That sense of discovery is at the heart of New Kind of Emotion. Stovall reflects, “I feel like we’ve taught each other a lot in this process and helped each other through life. One of the themes of the album, which is true to who we are, is just not taking ourselves too seriously. Even when bad things are going on, if you can embrace the beauty that’s happening around you, that’s what we try to do. When we wrote "He Ain’t My Problem" with Jen, it wasn’t a fun subject in her life, but we wanted to make sure we had fun with it.”

The group hopes listeners will feel the bond between them. Wayne explains, “I don’t want to speak for the girls, but I hope the album gives people what we give them in our live show. We’re up there playing music we love, having fun together, and that’s what this record feels like. Even the sad songs are fun, because we want people to be able to listen and escape for a little while. If you’re going through tough things, we’ve been through them too, and it’s going to be okay.”

That desire to connect shines especially bright when the women describe the album’s emotional journey. “Discovery,” Woodward says without hesitation. “It’s the discovery of who we are as Runaway June, what we want to say, and also growth.” Stovall immediately adds, “Emotional growth. We’ve all been through that individually, and when you’re on the road with people and this close, you can’t help but grow together.” Wayne sums it up simply..."Three independent friends on the road together, doing life, sharing life, and writing about it.”

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That authenticity translates powerfully on stage. Stovall says, “We’ve been playing a lot of these songs live, and the response has been amazing. Sometimes people already know the words to songs we haven’t even released yet, which is the best feeling. Anytime we’re really excited about a song, it translates.”

Across the record, Runaway June co-wrote 11 of the 13 tracks, working with acclaimed Nashville producers Kristian Bush, Ron Fair, Mickey Jack Cones, Stone Aielli, and Austin Moody. One of the highlights, “Drink Champagne,” reflects both Wayne and Woodward's Latin heritage and the band’s pre-show tradition of opening a bottle of bubbly.

“We were actually in a management meeting when we wrote that song,” Wayne laughs. “One of us started singing the hook, then all three of us dove in. We had so much fun writing it that we canceled the meeting. I think that’s the theme of the whole album—we’ve just been having so much fun together.”

Other standout tracks include “Stars on the Ceiling,” which transports listeners back to childhood wonder, “Sad Girl,” a danceable pick-me-up for anyone needing a lift, and “Come Home to Me,” a tender Irish-inspired ballad that showcases Stovall's fiddle and offers comfort to anyone needing a safe place to return.

With the album finally in the world, the trio know exactly what they want fans to take away.

“I hope they find something that relates to them,” explained Woodward. “We sing about so many things on this album, and I think everyone can find something to connect with.” Stovall adds, “Know that you’re not alone.” Wayne finishes the thought, “All the things we’ve gone through, if you’re going through them too, you’re not alone. It’s going to be okay.”

New Kind of Emotion is more than just a collection of songs, it’s the story of three women discovering themselves, leaning on each other, and inviting fans into their world. With equal parts heart, humor, and harmony, Runaway June’s new chapter proves that their bond and their music is stronger than ever.

Photo Credit: Acacia Evans