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Graham Barham + Lauren Watkins Join Forces on Brand New Song

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Graham Barham and Lauren Watkins collaborate on their brand new song, “Straight To My Heart,” out now, March 29th, on all streaming platforms. Listen to the new track below.

We have said it time and time again, there is nothing like a solid collaboration in country music. Today, singer-songwriters, Graham Barham and Lauren Watkins deliver a gift to our ears with their new collaboration song. “Straight To My Heart” is officially out today.

“Looks bad, I Know // I’m drunk //S o won’t you just go easy on me // You yelled, I used // The end of us // Hit me like a truck at full speed // What else was I gonna do // If I gotta get over you // ten months went straight out the door // A good thing went straight to hell // Pedal went straight to the floor // No coming back I can tell // I shoulda went straight to bed // But I went straight to the bar // Whiskey went straight to my head // Goodbye went straight to my heart”

Written by the artists with Will Bundy and Lydia Vaughan, “Straight To My Heart” will literally pierce your heart after just one listen. The song is a beautiful back and forth between Barham and Watkins. It depicts heartbreak in its truest form and chronicles the stages of grief at the end of a relationship. Both Barham and Watkins give a lot of credit to their fellow songwriters on creating the song.

“The title was Lydia Vaughan’s idea, and I’ve been wanting to write a song with Lauren for a long time. It worked out well that Will Bundy, my best friend and producer, is her fiancé and they were counseling me through a relationship at the time. Lauren was such an important part of writing this song, and of course she and Will knew what was happening in my life. She took the reins, and we wrote the song and cut it all within 36 hours,” shared Barham.

Both Barham and Watkins are exciting rising artists in country music right now. “Straight To My Heart” is an incredible song to add to each of their prospective, growing music catalogs.

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Graham Barham and Lauren Watkins collaborate on new song, “Straight To My Heart,” out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Graham Barham and Lauren Watkins releases.

To keep up with Graham Barham, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Straight To My Heart” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Who is Lauren Watkins? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

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Who is Lauren Watkins? The singer-songwriter joined us to chat about her journey to country music. Get to know the rising star here…

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Lauren Watkins // Photo credit: Brayln Kelly

Quick Facts:

Full Name – Lauren Watkins
Birthdate – 08/25/1999
Hometown – Nashville, Tennessee
Current City – Nashville, Tennessee
Musical Influences – Sheryl Crow, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert
Label – Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters
Current Single – “The Table” as of date of article: 11/27/23

The Beginning:

Today’s spotlight artist is a Nashville local that we truly believe is about to have the biggest 2024. Lauren Watkins, Songs & Daughters and Big Loud Records recording artist shared with us all about her upbringing, her journey to music, and everything in between.

“I grew up in Nashville, which I know is pretty rare. Nobody believes me anymore when I tell them that,” began the songstress, “I grew up with three sisters and my older sister, who is two years older than me, she’s super into music too. She’s a songwriter in Nashville, and I guess just growing up around country, we were around it all the time. My parents are not musical, but they are music lovers. So the two of us got into singing and playing guitar really young.”

At an early age, Watkins recalls always being captivated by the country music genre. “Honestly, country has always been at the top for me. It’s always been my favorite,” she shared. Adding, ” I was born in ’99, so I grew up in the Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band era. That was sort of my middle school.” Watkins also credits artists like Miranda Lambert and Eric Church as some of her biggest music icons.

Additionally, the singer learned to appreciate older country artists, like Alan Jackson and George Jones, from her dad. While her mom brought a different flavor of music to her catalog. She loved entertainers like Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson,” shared Watkins. “I actually have so much of that piano pop influence in my songwriting and even Colbie Caillat, like the early 2000s girls that were killing it.”

With that love of music intact prior to college, Watkins and her sister, Caroline, would play the Nashville music scene as often as they could. “I try not to take it for granted, so we’d play little bars, all the Pucketts locations in Nashville, and then when we got old enough, we’d play the Broadway bars.”

The Turning Point:

Upon graduating from high school, Watkins headed to Ole Miss for college and decided to put music on the back-burner. “When it was time for me to go to college, I don’t know if it was out of fear or what, I was like ‘I don’t think I’m going to do music for a career.’” However, while in school, Watkins never stopped loving music.

“About two years in, I was having the time of my life in school, I realized that I had to go home to Nashville, when it was over. It was in my soul. I couldn’t get rid of this pull that kept saying ‘You gotta do music.'” Still, Watkins decided to finish out her degree, but began posting some clips of her singing and playing guitar on her Instagram. “I would just sit all night in my room and play my guitar, and I would take little videos, and post them on Instagram.”

Serendipitously, Rodney Clawson, famed songwriter saw one of her Instagram posts. At the exact time, Clawson’s wife, Nicolle Galyon just started her venture as the label-head at her record label imprint, Songs & Daughters. “He showed it to Nicolle, who had just started Songs & Daughters, and she reached out to me,” shared Watkins. Adding, “I went home for a weekend, and I met with her, we had breakfast, and she basically introduced me to the team at Big Loud and introduced me to a ton of songwriters, and set me up with a bunch of writes.”

For six months, Galyon and Watkins stayed in touch before Watkins landed her publishing deal and later,  her record deal. “I had a lot of developing to do as a songwriter and an artist, and eventually it led to a publishing deal. Then for another year, they just kind of let me work. I just hustled and wrote a bunch, and played shows when I could. I was just sorta booking my own shows, and just tried to play to whoever would listen. And then that turned into a record deal.”

Today:

Flash forward to today, Watkins is quickly becoming one of the most buzzed about newcomers on the block. With only two EPs to her name, she already boasts opening spots on Conner Smith’s headlining tour, as well as, Morgan Wallen’s record-breaking stadium tour this spring. We also anticipate more new music coming down the pipeline soon.

For Watkins’ current EPs, while they are different, they each tell a story that connects. Her debut EP, Introducing: Lauren Watkins came first and was followed by her latest EP, Introducing: The Heartbreak. “Accidentally, all the writing turned into ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins’. […] Those seven songs that we put out felt like the perfect fit for ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins,’ because it’s about where I went to school, things I have gone through, and the way I think about things. It was just the perfect little touch of what’s to come next.”

After writing some more, her second EP fell out. “I kept writing, and that’s where ‘Introducing: The Heartbreak’ came in, and without saying too much, I kind of feel like this one is going to be the middle ground for what’s to come next, because I wanted to introduce me and introduce what I’ve gone through, and I feel like that’s the perfect set-up for whatever else comes next.”

Watkins’ catalog of music continues to impress both fans and the industry, and it is only a matter of time before everyone knows her name!

Connect:

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news and announcements about Lauren Watkins releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Lauren Watkins’ music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Lauren Watkins: ‘Introducing: The Heartbreak’ – EP Review

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Lauren Watkins releases her new EP, Introducing: The Heartbreak, out now, November 17th on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand new project here.

For country singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins, her personal highs and lows have inspired her newest release, Introducing: The Heartbreak. On her Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters sophomore project, the follow up to April’s Introducing: Lauren Watkins, she offers a clever continuation of that debut project.

“Introducing: The Heartbreak is basically the next step in introducing myself and my music to the world,” shares Watkins in a statement. “First, I released Introducing: Lauren Watkins, which was just saying, ‘Here’s me, here’s where I came from, what I’m influenced by.’ This is the next step, going even deeper into who I am, what I’ve gone through, how I think about things. It’s truly introducing the heartbreak I’ve experienced, which will eventually roll out into something much bigger.” 

Featuring six new tracks, all of which she co-wrote with heavy hitters like Nicolle Galyon, Jessie Jo Dillon, Ashley Monroe, Rodney Clawson, and more, the EP takes listeners on a journey through the end of a relationship. Produced by Joey Moi, the project takes listeners through the emotions of a heartbreak, ranging from jealousy, acceptance, denial, and blame.

The Nashville native kicks things off with “Fine County Line,” a catchy and twangy pop country tune about a will-they-won’t-they relationship. “It’s a real fine county line In between your lips and mine // This kiss I know you want it // But that fence we’re stuck here on it,” She sings. “Halfway off the map // Falling hard and walking that // Real fine county line // I think it’s ‘bout time We crossed it.”

Likewise, the uncertainty continues on “The Table,” offering a unique spin on an old phrase, as a couple ponder all of the options on the table before them. On the stirring ballad, she sings, “The way he looked at me // Halfway held my hand // Didn’t have to say a thing // For us to understand // What was on the table.”

Jealousy pairs with confusion on tracks like “Jealous of Jane” and “Fly on the Wall,” both which find the singer grappling with her emotions over not wanting someone in her life, but not completely accepting that he’s moved on. On “Fly,” she trades verses with Jake Worthington, whose pristine baritone perfectly complements her emotive twang. Meanwhile, on “Jealous of Jane,” she muses that she “don’t want him back, but I don’t want him to want her.” The track is a quintessential mid-tempo country song, full of  fiddle and steel for an especially special moment.

The Ole Miss grad joins forces with Carter Faith on “Cowboys on Music Row,” which is an immediate highlight of the project. Here, the pair muse over the sorry state of today’s cowboys and country singers, longing for the days of the “redheaded stranger” or a “real rodeo man.” It’s a modern take on Paula Cole’s “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?,” as they lament “Where oh, where oh, where did they go, There ain’t no cowboys on music row”

“We wrote ‘Cowboys On Music Row’ with our friends. Sitting around a tv, watching old videos of our old favorites. We looked at each other and thought “they really don’t make ‘em like they used to,” and this song is what followed,” Watkins shared on Instagram. “Although I’m proudly in the era of *new country* I’ll forever keep trying to make the old *Cowboys On Music Row* proud.” 

Lastly, “Stuck In My Ways” finds Watkins embracing who she is. It’s a 90’s tinted celebration of all of her best qualities, take ‘em or leave ‘em. “I keep a six pack in the Fridge // And a rocking chair out back // I keep a light on, on the porch // And a key under the mat // I don’t park in that spot where you parked your Chevrolet // I ain’t sitting ‘round hoping you’ll come back someday // I’m just stuck in my ways // Yeah I’m stuck in my ways.”

For Lauren Watkins, Introducing: The Heartbreak shows that the singer-songwriter has no plans of slowing down. In fact, she’s taken a heartbreak and translated it into art.

Introducing: The Heartbreak EP Tracklist:

  1. Fine County Line (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
  2. Jealous of Jane (Lauren Watkins, Caroline Watkins, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
  3. Fly On The Wall (Lauren Watkins, Andy Sheridan, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)*
  4. Stuck In My Ways (Lauren Watkins, Will Bundy, David Garcia, Emily Landis)
  5. Cowboys on Music Row (Lauren Watkins, Jessie Jo Dillon, Carter Faith, Lauren Hungate, Ashley Monroe, Caroline Watkins)**
  6. The Table (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)

Country Swag Picks:

  1. Cowboys on Music Row
  2. Stuck in My Ways
  3. The Table
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Lauren Watkins shares brand new EP, ‘Introducing: The Heartbreak,’ out now on all streaming platforms.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lauren Watkins releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Introducing: The Heartbreak EP is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Lauren Watkins: ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins’ – Debut EP Review

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Big Loud Records’ newest signee, Lauren Watkins releases her debut EP, Introducing: Lauren Watkins out now on all streaming platforms. Listen to the brand-new project here.

Equal parts storyteller and songwriter, country newcomer Lauren Watkins is ready to introduce herself to country music. The Nashville native has just released her debut EP, a collection entitled Introducing: Lauren Watkins, featuring 7 new tracks she co-wrote.

For her Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters debut project, Watkins enlisted songwriters like Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, Tofer Brown, and more, to bring her musical vision to life. Produced by heavy hitter Joey Moi, Introducing takes listeners through all of the things that make life unique, magical, and messy.

“Sleeping in My Makeup” may be your first taste of Watkins’ music, and what an introduction it is, her smoky voice punctuating classic country instrumentation as she deals with a breakup by drowning her sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. However, the lyrics here are exceptional, as she’s “too drunk to care ‘bout the smoke in my hair,” and “way too gone to take off my Luccheses.”

“There’s tequila on my breath // And a pounding in my head // I’m a dive bar shit show // Downward spiral lately // And I’m even more a mess when I wake up // He’s sleepin’ in her bed //  And I’m sleepin’ in my makeup”

Meanwhile, “Ole Miss,” “Grain of Salt” and “Shirley Temple” offer some of the EP’s most clever lyrics, as she finds herself dealing with her own heartbreak and jealousy as an ex is moving on. “’Shirley Temple’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve written,” Watkins shares. “It’s just a classic song about jealousy. You want someone you can’t have. As much as we don’t wanna admit it, I think most of us have been there.” 

Likewise, “Camel Blues,” “Dark Places” and “Anybody But You” have her doing things she shouldn’t with people she shouldn’t. “Camel Blues” is a surprisingly bittersweet ode to the nostalgia found in coping by lighting up a cigarette, while “Anybody But You” has her desperate to move on. “The only way to fall out of love is to hate you,” She sings here. “I’d do anything with anybody but you.”

“Ole Miss” is a 90’s-infused midtempo ballad that provides a moment of country greatness that finds her longing for her college days and the heartbreak that went along with an old love. “Four years and a few more beers ago, Two kids fallin’ in like they didn’t know,” She sings nostalgically.

“It’d end up in the rearview fadin’ slow // But dammit I’m still seein’ // Those powder blue eyes looking into mine // You breaking my heart at the twenty yard line // Said I was fine guess all this time ain’t healin’ // The same Ole Miss you feelin’”

While much of Introducing: Lauren Watkins finds Watkins dealing with heartbreak, this isn’t a sad album. Instead, it’s a celebration of clever lyrics and country instrumentation as she mixes unique phrasing with 90’s-inspired riffs, truly making her a standout female star on the rise.

Introducing: Lauren Watkins EP Tracklist:

  1. Sleeping In My Makeup (Lauren Watkins, Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Meg McRee)
  2. Camel Blues (Lauren Watkins, Jonathan Gamble, Lauren Hungate, Matt Morrisey)
  3. Anybody But You (Lauren Watkins, Rodney Clawson, Mark Holman, Ernest Keith Smith)
  4. Grain of Salt (Lauren Watkins, Andrew DeRoberts, Lauren Hungate)
  5. Shirley Temple (Lauren Watkins, Nicolle Galyon, Meg McRee)
  6. Ole Miss (Lauren Watkins, Adam James, Mikey Reaves)
  7. Dark Places (Lauren Watkins, Shane McAnally, Caroline Watkins)
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Lauren Watkins releases her debut EP, ‘Introducing: Lauren Watkins’ out now.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Lauren Watkins releases.

For tour dates and more, visit the singer-songwriter’s website here.

To keep up with Lauren Watkins, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Introducing: Lauren Watkins EP is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.