Runaway June has a sound that may seem similar but not quite like the way they do it, making this trio unique to the country radio scene. With an organic, bluegrass vibe to their three-part harmony, they tell stories through songs that women around the globe can relate to. When they play, with lead singer Naomi Cooke on guitar, Hannah Mulholland on the mandolin and singing along with Jennifer Wayne also on guitar, you know you are listening to a powerhouse group of ladies.
Cooke, Mulholland and Wayne (yes she is the granddaughter of The Duke, Hollywood legend John Wayne) all met as writers working together. They soon became fast friends, discovered how much they had in common and Runaway June was born. Their debut single “Lipstick” and follow up “Wild West” garnered enough attention to earn them a 2018 ACM nomination for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, leading the way to more appearances. One of which was at Stagecoach where they performed their new single “Buy My Own Drinks.” Cooke recalls how exciting it was to perform for the first time and have the crowd singing along by the second chorus.
“Buy My Own Drinks” was written by Runaway June along with Hillary Lindsey and Josh Kear. The song is about a young woman who is fresh out of a relationship. She isn’t bitter or sad; she’s just content to be herself, take care of herself and celebrate being herself. She is how every woman should feel all the time: independent, self-reliant, and happy about who she is even when she is single:
I can buy my own drinks
I can pay my own tab
At the end of the night when they cut on all the lights
I can call my own cab
I can drop my own change in the jukebox
I can dance all by myself
‘Til I can stop thinkin’ ‘bout drinkin’ ‘bout him
I don’t need nobody else
Yeah I can buy my own drinks
Runaway June is set to release their self-titled debut EP on September 7. Cooke says that “This is a group of songs that really expresses us as a band.” Two years in the making, the EP is a project that has seen them grow and evolve. Mulholland adds, “It was really fun and diverse to look into our sound. The EP incorporates the fun of a live show and fans can relate to that.”
You can find Runaway June on the road this year and next year they will join Carrie Underwood on her Cry Pretty 360 Tour. To find all their tour dates, music and more visit RunawayJune.com.