Lauren Watkins Releases Nostalgic, Slow-Burning Ballad, “Marlboro Man”

Makes you want to smoke a cigarette… or two.

Today, Nashville native and up-and-comer Lauren Watkins released a new single called “Marlboro Man,” which she wrote with Natalie Hemby and Jeremy Spillman, and was produced by ACM and CMA winning producer Will Bundy (“you look like you love me”).

The song is woozy, western, and full of beautiful, pure country instrumentation that has a nod to the rugged westerns and an unattainable romance most only see in movies or daydream about, and Lauren says it’s has a healthy dose of nostalgia because that’s what she’s drawn to:

“I’d had the idea for ‘Marlboro Man’ in my back pocket for a while. I’m a pretty nostalgic person by nature – I’m always reminiscing, missing how things used to be.

I brought the idea to Natalie and Jeremy because I knew they’d go there with me. I’ve always been drawn to this image of the ‘Marlboro Man’ — not necessarily for the cigarettes, but for what he stood for. He was rugged, masculine, quiet and kind of untouchable. There’s something romantic about it, and I wanted to write a song that felt like that.”

I love the old school feel and imagery, and the slow-burning track perfectly captures the longing for an old-school cowboy and nostalgia for a different time and place. Lauren has a great knack for evoking that kind of romantic nostalgia, and this is another winner.

She paints a beautiful picture of the type of man who seems like the last of a dying breed:

“He was rugged as a prairie in the middle of July
Riding tall in solitary, blowing smoke rings at the sky
He was rough around the edges like the outer county lines
If he was here right now, I swear I’d make him mine

What ever happened to the Marlboro man?
Did he finally tame the west? Ride off in that sunset
Was he looking for a wild flame to light him up again?
‘Cause right now I could use a Marlboro, Marlboro man”

The production is simple and it’s a strong single, and I hope we hear more from her soon because really enjoyed her 2024 debut studio album, The Heartbroken Record. If you’re unfamiliar with Lauren and her work, she is a fantastic songwriter, releasing several great EP’s over the last couple years called Introducing: Lauren Watkins and Introducing: The Heartbreak that showcase her unique writing and vintage sound that is always so simple and beautiful.

She has opened for stars like Morgan Wallen and Riley Green, and she is a native of Music City, but left town to attend college at Ole Miss with no intentions of every becoming an artist. Over time, she started to feel the pull towards music and more and more, and before she knew it, she was playing gigs around Oxford and fully embracing being a songwriter, as well.

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, Lauren’s music is for you and she’s certainly a name to keep your eye on.

Check it out:

“Marlboro Man”

The post Lauren Watkins Releases Nostalgic, Slow-Burning Ballad, “Marlboro Man” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.