Runaway June has a new label home, and a new single. The trio, made up of Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall and Stevie Woodward, have signed with Quartz Hill Records, already home to Joe Nichols, Thompson Square and Nate Barnes. Runaway June will also release their brand-new single, “Make Me Wanna Smoke,” from their forthcoming new project on May 19.
“We cannot wait to start this new journey with Quartz Hill Records and the amazing team there,” Runaway June says in a statement. “We couldn’t ask for more passionate, talented, hardworking, true believers fighting for us. Benny Brown signed this band from the beginning, and to be together again is a dream come true. We are counting down the days until we can share the new music we are creating together with the world!”
Benny Brown, who formerly helmed Broken Bow Records, Runaway June’s first record label, is equally excited to have Runaway June on Quartz Hill Records, as well as his own Brown Sellers Brown Management, where he is one of the managing partners.
“It’s so great to be working with Runaway June again,” he says. “They’re all so talented and I’ve always been a big believer in them and their music — I think this is some of the best music they’ve ever done and can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Woodward, who replaced Naomi Cooke as the lead singer last year, is eager to share the new music, which in many ways marks a new chapter for Runaway June, with the world.
“This is a total different vibe than what we’ve done in the past,” Woodward explains on The Bobby Bones Show. “It’s really exciting. It’s very edgy, more rock elements. We’re really excited about it. We got pitched the song by one of the writers, Jason Sellers. He’s just a phenomenal writer. We heard it and instantly we were like, ‘We are cutting this song.’ Me and Natalie are more of the rock chicks, and we’re slowly bringing Jen to the dark side.”
“It has a really cool way of incorporating all of our styles into it,” she adds. “We’re really excited about it.”
Runaway June is putting the finishing touches on their debut project with Quartz Hill Records, which will include several songs written by the three singers.
“It’s in the works now,” Woodward reveals. “We’re in the studio and writing a ton.”
Runaway June previously released “Broken Hearts (Do Broken Things),” their first release with the addition of Woodward. After Cooke left Runaway June, the threesome worked hard make a sound that felt authentic to them, and highlighted all three of their vocals.
“We’re actually spending time creating, and creating a sound,” Wayne told Everything Nash last year. “And it’s a vocal group this time. It’s actually a true vocal group. Natalie and I both love The Beach Boys. We’re just huge fans of The Beach Boys. I had come in, and they had worked on one of the songs. I was hearing all the parts that they did, and all the background parts. I’m like, ‘This is so cool.’ With all the stacked harmonies and different voices, they’re trading verses. It’s just really cool. All the voices are heard this time. It’s not like a lead and background singers. It’s a vocal group.”
“Find all of Runaway June’s music and tour dates at RunawayJune.com.