featuring @navyjuneband
Some situations are easier to avoid than confront, but eventually, the things left unresolved have a way of catching up with us. Sitting in that uncomfortable space between holding on and moving forward, Boorloo/Perth-based band navy june return with their bittersweet new single, ‘routine avoidance’, out Friday, August 21.
Following the release of ‘mister’ in January, navy june have spent the year building serious momentum. The band has appeared at Bloom Fest, Blues at Bridgetown and Spaced Out Fest, while sharing stages with the likes of Old Mervs, Great Gable, The Vanns, Fool Nelson, Cheeky Leash, Death By Denim, Sophian, Ruby Hoo, Nana’s Pie, Devon Street and Darcie Haven. Their growing presence has also earned them a WAM Song of the Year nomination.
With ‘routine avoidance’, navy june explore the emotional aftermath of heartbreak through a sound that moves effortlessly between intimacy and release. The track begins with an understated, acoustic-led folk softness, evoking the warmth and vulnerability of a bedroom recording, before gradually blooming into fuzzed-out electric guitars, pounding drums and aching vocals. Layered harmonies add another emotional weight, pulling the listener deeper into the song’s bittersweet centre.
Beneath its warm melodies, ‘routine avoidance’ carries an undeniable sense of uncertainty. The song dwells in the aftermath of heartbreak, exploring what it means to grow beyond someone while still being haunted by unanswered questions, lingering emotions and everything that was left unresolved.
Rather than searching for a neat ending, navy june embrace the messy space between heartbreak and healing. It is a song about learning to move forward without necessarily having all the answers — finding resilience one difficult step at a time.
Speaking on the track, Ruby Barton-Taylor explains:
“‘routine avoidance’ tells the story of heartbreak, resilience, and taking back control. It’s about being torn between wanting their validation and needing to let go, spiralling through grief, anger, and obsession while searching for a way to move forward.”
The title itself captures the contradiction at the heart of the song. Avoidance can be an effective coping mechanism in the moment, but it rarely provides the closure we are searching for. With ‘routine avoidance’, navy june instead confront the uncomfortable realities that come after heartbreak, turning uncertainty and emotional turmoil into something warm, vulnerable and deeply relatable.
After its release on Friday, August 21, navy june will celebrate the single with a launch show at Lunar Fest in Fremantle on Friday, September 4, followed by an intimate acoustic performance at Sullivan Hall on Sunday, September 6.
Upcoming Shows
Friday, September 4 — Lunar Fest, Fremantle
Supports: Symmetrical Dogs, Jack Hamilton, Slow Horse, Oakabella Mae, Clare Perrott, Free Aviary, CNTR and Nugzy
Tickets
Sunday, September 6 — Sullivan Hall, Fremantle
Supports: Caitlin Mias and Nadya Kadisha
Tickets
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
