Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters’, Lauren Watkins drops the needle on her debut album, The Heartbroken Record on Friday (21st June) available across all streaming/ DSP partners now which you can listen to here.
Fusing a fresh, modern-country shine with the rough-hewn edge of an outlaw, Lauren 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, Lauren 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,” Lauren 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,” Lauren 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, Lauren let loose with the playful official music video for “Gatlinburg” directed by Nicki Fletcher and Mason Allen out now which you can watch here.
As for what’s up next for Lauren? 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,” Lauren 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.
THE HEARTBROKEN RECORD TRACK LIST
- Leavers Leave (Lauren Watkins, Lance Miller, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
- Mama, I Made It (Lauren Watkins, Rocky Block, Lauren Hungate)
- Heartbroken Record (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Caroline Watkins)
- Sad Songs And You (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate)
- Set My Heart On Fire (feat. Sheryl Crow) (Lauren Watkins, Emily Landis, Summer Overstreet, Lydia Vaughan)
- Stuck In My Ways (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, David Garcia, Emily Landis)
- Gatlinburg (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
- Anybody But You (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
- Settling Things (Lauren Watkins, Lauren Hungate, Luke Laird)
- One Trick Pony (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Lydia Vaughan, Caroline Watkins)
- Fly On The Wall (feat. Jake Worthington) (Lauren Watkins, Andy Sheridan, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
- Shirley Temple (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Meg McRee)
- Pretend You’re Coming Home (feat. Ashley Monroe) (Lauren Watkins, Ashley Monroe, Mark Trussell)
- Jealous Of Jane (Lauren Watkins, Brad Warren, Brett Warren, Caroline Watkins)
- Cowboys On Music Row (feat. Carter Faith) (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)
- Burn The Bridge (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, Emily Landis, Mark Trussell)
- Too Much To Dream (Lauren Watkins, Forrest Finn, Nicolle Galyon)
All songs produced by Joey Moi
Country Music in the UK 
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