17-SONG DEBUT ALBUM WITH FEATURES FROM SHERYL CROW, ASHLEY MONROE, AND MORE OUT TODAY
WATCH NOW: “GATLINBURG” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
TOURING FAIRS AND FESTIVALS ALL SUMMER BEFORE RUNS OPENING FOR
MORGAN WALLEN, MADDIE & TAE, COREY KENT
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters’ Lauren Watkins drops the needle on her debut album, The Heartbroken Record, today, available across all streaming / DSP partners now. Listen here.
Fusing a fresh, modern-country shine with the rough-hewn edge of an outlaw, Watkins stands as a neon-lit throwback in the digital age, a born singer-songwriter with a vision for the moment. On her full-length debut, she introduces herself the Nashville way – co-writing the entire project, and stringing together the pieces of a bootstraps story with songs that make an impact and a singular-yet-familiar sound. Throughout the 17-song album, Watkins easily reminds fans that though they may crack easily, hearts heal back stronger, messier, more resilient with every break.
“It makes sense that my debut album would be called The Heartbroken Record; heartbreak songs have always been my favorite,” Watkins smiles. “As a songwriter I feel a responsibility to put my experiences on paper. Whether it’s the loss of love, or a town, or a friendship, we all experience heartbreak. I think it’s really special that we can be brought together by things like that.”
From the breezy first notes of album opener “Leavers Leave,” to woozy, honky-tonking title track “Heartbroken Record” to “Set My Heart On Fire,” where Watkins enlists personal icon Sheryl Crow for a roots-rocking tribute to the self-destructive nature of falling in love, to refreshing focus track “Gatlinburg,” an upbeat tribute to emotional escapism and ode to East Tennessee’s Las Vegas and its Margaritaville-like powers, Watkins centers herself as “a country superstar in the making” (Holler).
“I wanted this album to show every side of heartbreak,” she continues. “It’s a story of the good, the bad, and the ugly. One second, it’s a feel-good car jammer and the next it’s a cryin’ pedal steel waltz…and if that doesn’t describe me and heartbreak in a sentence, then I don’t know what does.”
To pair with the album’s release, Watkins let loose with the playful official music video for “Gatlinburg,” directed by Nicki Fletcher and Mason Allen, out now. Watch here.
As for what’s up next for Watkins? She’s past heartbreak and on to greener pastures, newly and happily married to songwriter / producer Will Bundy. But before the two can ride off into the sunset, the gut wrenching lessons she’s learned along the way needed to be put to bed.
“I did just marry the love of my life,” Watkins says, “but I can’t go into this new chapter without getting the past few chapters off my chest.”
This summer, the newly wed heartbreaker tours fairs and festivals nationwide before taking the stage internationally opening Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour throughout Europe, as well as gigs opening stateside tours for Maddie & Tae and Corey Kent this fall.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LAUREN WATKINS
“There’s an effortlessly smoky quality to Watkins’ voice, with a style of direct-yet-poetic songwriting reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert.” – Billboard
“…it all works. Smart songwriting, a raspy-twangy voice. Definitely a newcomer with a lot of promise.”
– Marissa Moss, Don’t Rock The Inbox
“There’s a sharp humor at play here too, something the genre hasn’t seen since ‘Same Trailer Different Park’ era Kacey Musgraves…” – Entertainment Focus
“Her quiet confidence and authenticity shines through immediately; she’s an artist who has clearly soaked up her history and is an avid student of country. She’s the real deal who deserves her flowers on stage.”
– Exclaim!
“Lauren Watkins…is reinventing the neo-traditional, retro country music of generations past.”
– GRAMMY.com
“There’s the wit of Kacey’s wordplay, the eye-rolling sass of Miranda, the twang of Reba and the no-frills storytelling of Ashley McBryde. All those influences and many more have been combined into one enormous force of country music that has the potential to be even bigger than them all.” – Holler
“Wow. What a debut. The songwriting here is awesome, and her expressive delivery is spot-on.”
– MusicRow
“Enter any Music Row watering hole, mention the name of Big Loud-signed singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins and watch people’s eyes alight with excitement.” – The Tennessean
“Unique, Original And Country As Hell” –Whiskey Riff
THE HEARTBROKEN RECORD TRACK LIST
All songs produced by Joey Moi
LAUREN WATKINS TOUR DATES
June 21 – South Greenfield, Mo. – Baker-Spain Stampede
July 5 – Worcester, Mass. – Off The Rails*
July 6 – Sidney, N.Y. – Southern Tier Music Festival
July 7 – Hampton, N.H. – Wally’s*
July 12 – Fort Loramie, Ohio – Country Concert
July 20 – Pierz, Minn. – Pierz Freedom Fest
July 27 – Plain City, Ohio – Rock The Clock Street Festival
Aug. 1 – Detroit Lakes, Minn. – WE Fest
Aug. 10 – Oro-Medonte, Ont. – Boots & Hearts Festival
Aug. 28 – Stockholm, Swe. – Friends Arena ^
Aug. 30 – Oslo, Nor. – Oslo Spektrum ^
Sept. 1 – Copenhagen, Den. – Royal Arena ^
Sept. 3 – Amsterdam, Ned. – Ziggo Dome ^
Sept. 5 – Glasgow, U.K – OVO Hydro ^
Sept. 7 – Dublin, Ire. – 3Arena
Sept. 27 – Silver Spring, Md. – The Fillmore Silver Spring #
Sept. 28 – Warren, Ohio – Packard Music Hall #
Sept. 29 – Wilkes-Barre, Penn. – F.M. Kirby Center #
Oct. 4 – Salt Lake City, Utah – RedWest Fest
Oct. 10 – Little Rock, Ark. – The Hall !
Oct. 12 – Terrell, Texas – Silver Saloon
Nov. 8 – Wichita, Kan. – The Cotillion !
Nov. 9 – Stillwater, Okla. – Tumbleweed Dancehall !
* headline date
^ supporting Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour
# supporting Maddie & Tae’s Here’s To Friends Tour
! supporting Corey Kent’s Black Bandana Tour
# # #
ABOUT LAUREN WATKINS
Drenched in authenticity and rife with barstool charm with an addictive, Tennessee limestone gravel in her voice, Nashville-born and bred songbird Lauren Watkins writes, breathes, and lives country music. The 24-year-old original grew up on the outskirts of Guitar Town, mesmerized by a jukebox rotation of country music, from outlaws like Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow to chart-toppers Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and Chris Stapleton. Moving back after four years at Ole Miss, Watkins’ unyielding, turn-on-a-dime lyricism quickly caught the attention of GRAMMY-nominated multi-hyphenate Nicolle Galyon, who signed her to publishing and recording contracts with Songs & Daughters / Big Loud Records almost instantly. Honing in on a sound that’s both reverent of the genre’s roots and in lockstep with where it’s headed next, she introduced her take on country music with 17-track, full-length debut The Heartbroken Record, out now, the full-circle companion to previous EP releases Introducing: Lauren Watkins and Introducing: The Heartbreak. Watkins is touring fairs and festivals all summer before opening stadiums for Morgan Wallen internationally, theaters for Maddie & Tae, and dance halls for Corey Kent this fall. She’s previously toured with ERNEST, Conner Smith, Jameson Rodgers, Austin Snell, and Lily Rose.
CONNECT WITH LAUREN WATKINS
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE
Media Contact
Jess Anderson | Big Loud
