
Good country music is dipped in tradition and driven by modern sensibilities; Julia Cole’s Day Late & a Buck Short EP arrives crackling with this attitude. The Nashville-based artist’s latest release is a bold six-song EP wrapped in storytelling. Each selection has her signature blend of fierce vocals and unapologetic modern country energy. It’s a fiery anthem for the betrayed, the bold, and the unapologetically strong—an EP that pushes Cole further into the spotlight as one of country’s most electrifying new voices.
The title track, “Day Late & a Buck Short,” is everything fans have come to expect from Cole—razor-sharp wordplay, unrelenting sass, and a kickass attitude. Written by Cole, Andrew Bloom, and Bonnie Dymond, the song opens with a story that is as cinematic as it is biting. Cole’s lyrics are clever in their emotional punch, weaving humor with heartbreak. The protagonist catches her lover red-handed, his deceit exposed with the line, “Camo can’t cover up the smell of her sweet Dior.” It’s a metaphor so pungent, it’s practically a slap in the face, and the delivery makes it sting just right.
Musically, the track plays like a perfect marriage of country grit and modern swagger. It features a tight, driving rhythm, with steel guitar and heavy percussion giving the track a grounded, visceral power that underpins Cole’s fiery delivery. She doesn’t just sing the words; she speaks them—emphatic and defiant, as though she’s daring you to doubt her strength. And the chorus? It’s a sing-along ready to erupt in arenas, a battle cry for anyone who’s ever been wronged and stood up to their betrayer: “You’re a day late and a buck short.” Already a viral hit, with over a million streams, the song has struck a chord with listeners who relate to its themes of empowerment and independence.
The EP’s tracklist is a compelling mix of sassy anthems and poignant ballads, showcasing Cole’s versatility as an artist. “Diamondback,” written by Cole, Bonnie Dymond, Eddie Eberle, and Cole Miracle, is a snakebitten love song that combines a sense of danger with raw emotion. Its sweltering guitars and sharp lyrics create a palpable tension between lust and danger, a theme that has become a hallmark of Cole’s musical signature.
Then there’s “Daddy Daughter Dance,” a track that highlights a softer, sentimental side of Cole. The song, co-written with Austin Taylor Smith and Rachel Wammack, taps into the emotional bond between a father and daughter, but with a twist that makes it uniquely Cole—an acknowledgment of the way that relationships evolve, sometimes heartbreakingly so. The haunting steel guitar and gentle percussion give the song a reflective quality, while Cole’s vocal performance, full of tenderness and yearning, grounds it in an authenticity that’s hard to ignore.
On the flip side, “Spicy” and “Tequila Helps” inject the EP with a dose of fun and flirtation. The former, written with Bryan Kennedy, is an upbeat, tongue-in-cheek ode to a fiery, no-nonsense personality, while “Tequila Helps,” a collaboration with Cole Miracle and Austin Taylor Smith, is a cheeky anthem about using liquid courage to forget the heartbreak and just dance the pain away. These tracks bring balance to the EP, offering moments of levity amidst the heavier themes.
If there’s one thing that stands out in the entirety of Day Late & a Buck Short, it’s Cole’s ability to channel emotion through clever singing and songwriting. She has a way with words that’s as much about wit as it is about substance. Whether she’s drawing comparisons between a cheating lover and a hunter who’s forgotten his gun, or exploring the emotional aftermath of a failed relationship, her storytelling resonates on a visceral level. She doesn’t just write for herself; she writes for anyone who’s ever felt the sting of betrayal, the triumph of moving on, or the empowerment of knowing your worth.
“Day Late & a Buck Short” has already earned comparisons to iconic country anthems like Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead” and Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” and it’s easy to see why. The song is a mix of sass, swagger, and a touch of humor that echoes through the corridors of country’s legendary storytelling tradition. It’s a perfect reflection of Cole as an artist.
With over 30 million views across social media platforms, a growing, dedicated fanbase, and millions of streams to her name, Julia Cole is more than just a rising star—she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her journey, from singing at high school volleyball games to opening for some of the biggest names in country music, is nothing short of inspiring. As a self-made, independent artist, her success speaks volumes about her resilience, her talent, and her ability to connect with fans on a deep and personal level.
With Day Late & a Buck Short, Julia Cole delivers a collection of songs crafted to give you a modern country experience that’s raw, real, and unapologetically honest. This EP is the sound of a woman who knows her worth and isn’t afraid to let the world know it, and it’s exactly what country music needs right now.