Entertainment
LAUREN WATKINS PRESSES THE HEARTBROKEN RECORD; OFFICIAL ALBUM VINYL OUT AUGUST 23RD
NASHVILLE, TENN. – When Lauren Watkins released her full-length debut album The Heartbroken Record in June, she knew that having it pressed on vinyl would be a critical part of telling its full story.
“This is a record that calls out being a ‘record;’ we knew we had to make the official vinyl a moment,” Watkins says.
“My granddad used to love playing records,” the rising country star remembers. “I have a memory of him playing albums on his record player around Christmas time and those underscoring the soundtrack to so many good times. Then, my dad bought me my own record player when I was a teenager, and I just fell in love – listening to an artist’s project how they intended for you to, hearing the little imperfections and scratches that give each record its own character. Vinyl feels like the purest form of listening to me; I just love how real it makes an album feel.”
Bringing the 17-track set to fans the way she’s always wanted to, Watkins will release the official vinyl for The Heartbroken Record on Aug. 23. Pre-order here.
Celebrating the moment, she doubles down two-fold with both a performance and signing at Nashville’s The Groove record store on vinyl release day and a crop of new live audio videos shot at The Groove to pair.
“I believe in albums,” Watkins continues. “I believe in listening to them how the artist laid them out, and this gives listeners that experience. The first time I heard my own album on vinyl was so surreal and full circle. I can’t wait for you to hear it how I always hoped you would.”
The Heartbroken Record has already begun etching its verses onto the hearts of fans and critics globally, propelling Watkins to over 36 million on-demand streams upon release. This fall, she brings the album on the road supporting tours with Morgan Wallen, Maddie & Tae, and Corey Kent.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE HEARTBROKEN RECORD
“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
“being ‘messy’ has never been so cool.” – Country Central
“authentic stories pulled straight from her real-life experiences.” – Country Now
“The strongest mainstream debut since Ashley McBryde’s…She has the goods as a songwriter with a thoroughly modern POV but a mind for genre traditions.” – Country Universe
“…it all works. Smart songwriting, a raspy-twangy voice. Definitely a newcomer with a lot of promise.”
– Marissa Moss, Don’t Rock The Inbox
“‘The Heartbroken Record’ will establish Watkins as a major contender amongst a crowded market of artists all vying to solidify themselves as the next generation of country superstars.” – Entertainment Focus
“This project draws inspiration from music industry veterans like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, while also infusing influences from contemporary artists like Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. Each track from the album underscores stories of love and loss, woven together by the overarching theme of heartbreak.” – Grammy.com
“Watkins transforms heartbreak into song, pressing its tragedies, trials and lessons – like fading flowers between worn pages – into 17 poignant tracks.” – Holler
“Wow. What a debut. The songwriting here is awesome, and her expressive delivery is spot-on.”
– MusicRow
“Lauren Watkins has just released her full-length debut, ‘The Heartbroken Record,’ and even with the usual mainstream production values very much in evidence, it still sounds like a country record, one inhabiting the same neighborhood as, say, Kacey Musgraves (a few albums ago) or Ashley Monroe (one of the record’s guest artists).” – The Boston Globe
“If you like the stylings of old school, classic country, the effortless listening of 90’s country hits, and timeless, brilliant songwriting that hits you right in the heart with both humor and deep emotion, this album is for you and Lauren is a name to keep your eye on.” –Whiskey Riff
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. The Boston Globe praises the record as “inhabiting the same neighborhood as, say, Kacey Musgraves (a few albums ago) or Ashley Monroe,” while Billboard calls out the “effortlessly smoky quality to Watkins’ voice, with a style of direct-yet-poetic songwriting reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves or Miranda Lambert.” Country Central smirks, “being ‘messy’ has never been so cool.” 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.
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