In conversation - Runaway Club
Just over a year after forming, Runaway Club are already making waves across Europe. With a headline tour on the horizon and a rapidly growing fanbase, the quartet continue to establish themselves as one of the most exciting emerging bands on the scene
Pictures by Victoria Krug
"Worldwide. That's the clue."
It's a bold answer to a simple question. Ask Runaway Club where they hope to be in five years, and there's no hesitation. Just two words that perfectly capture the ambition, confidence, and momentum surrounding one of the UK's most exciting emerging rock bands.
Just over a year ago, Runaway Club was little more than an idea. Today, Angel, Reece, Charlie, and Sammy are performing all over Europe, opening for Maggie Lindemann, announcing their first headline tour, and cultivating a rapidly growing fanbase.
Formed in Glastonbury, the quartet describe themselves as "a glitch in the English countryside," but there's nothing accidental about the world they're building. Behind the electric stage presence, the bold fashion choices, and the infectious energy of their live shows lies a simple philosophy: freedom. "More than anything, Runaway Club stands for freedom — freedom to express yourself, think for yourself, and be exactly who you are," they explain. "We want people to feel like there's no right or wrong way to be part of this community."
That sense of belonging sits at the heart of everything they do. While many young bands chase numbers, Runaway Club seem more interested in connection. Their measure of success isn't just ticket sales or streaming figures; it's whether someone leaves a show feeling "a little more confident, a little more understood, and a little more themselves."
© Victoria Krug
Considering how quickly things have happened, it's understandable that the band's rise still feels surreal. "A little over a year ago, Runaway Club was just an idea," they say. "Now we're looking out at rooms full of people singing the words back to us." The band's music occupies the emotional space between heartbreak and healing. They write for "people caught between missing someone and moving on," drawing heavily from personal experiences, relationships, and emotions. Songwriting, they admit, is often a form of therapy. "A lot of our lyrics start out as thoughts in our journals," they say. "Sometimes it's the only way we know how to properly express how we're feeling."
That honesty has become one of Runaway Club's greatest strengths. Their songs may begin as intensely personal reflections, but onstage they transform into something shared. During their recent run supporting Maggie Lindemann on the European leg of her I Feel Everything tour, the band witnessed that transformation firsthand. "It was unbelievable," they say. "We still can't believe it happened." Every city brought a different energy, but a few moments stand out. Manchester delivered the biggest room they'd played at the time and a crowd reaction they still talk about today. Paris provided a memory they'll never forget: hearing audience members chant for an encore after the band's opening set had ended. "That completely blew our minds," they recall.
The tour also reinforced something they'd already suspected: their music resonates far beyond their immediate circle. Night after night, strangers who had never heard of Runaway Club before were singing, dancing, and connecting with the songs by the end of the set. "When you take those songs on the road and watch complete strangers connect with them night after night, it gives them a whole new meaning." Musically, Runaway Club refuse to be boxed in. Their influences range from Prince and Aretha Franklin to Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, AC/DC, Måneskin, Eminem, and Beyoncé. They cite cultural icons as inspiration too, particularly people who challenge conventions and leave a lasting impact beyond their chosen medium. "We don't really believe in putting music into boxes," they say. "If a song makes us feel something, we'll listen to it."
© Victoria Krug
That eclectic approach extends beyond the music. Fashion plays a central role in the band's identity, particularly for frontwoman Angelica, whose striking stage outfits have become a fan talking point in their own right. "I've always loved the idea that what you wear can tell a story before you've even said a word," she says.
Drawing inspiration from everything from vintage markets to high fashion, Angelica sees style as an extension of the music itself. The visual world of Runaway Club isn't separate from the songs; it's part of the same creative language. Offstage, creativity comes from movement, curiosity, and spontaneity. The band members speak fondly of long walks, unexpected adventures, discovering hidden venues, and simply experiencing life together. It's these unplanned moments, they say, that often spark the best ideas.
With their first headline tour approaching this autumn, including a date at London's O2 Academy2 Islington, Runaway Club find themselves entering a new chapter. Dream venues include Glastonbury, Red Rocks, Wembley Stadium, Coachella, and Lollapalooza — ambitions that might sound lofty for a band only a year into their journey.
Then again, many of the milestones they've already achieved once seemed impossible too.
If there's one thing that becomes clear after speaking with Runaway Club, it's that their ambitions stretch far beyond the next release cycle or tour announcement. They talk openly about world tours, major festival stages, and even Grammys. Yet beneath those aspirations lies something more meaningful. "What matters most is that we're still happy, healthy, making music we love, and surrounded by an unshakable community that's grown with us every step of the journey."
© Victoria Krug
In an industry obsessed with metrics, Runaway Club are building something different: a space where music, fashion, self-expression, and community coexist. Whether they're playing a packed venue in Manchester, hearing encore chants in Paris, or dreaming about stadiums and festival headlines, their vision remains remarkably consistent.
Success, they insist, isn't just about getting bigger. It's about building something that lasts. And if their trajectory so far is any indication, Runaway Club are only getting started. So yeah, worldwide…that's the clue.