Lauren Alaina‘s Unlocked EP is out! The six-song project is Alaina’s first release on Big Loud Records, after announcing last year that she was leaving her longtime label, Mercury Records.
“I’m so proud to have Unlocked out in the world today,” Alaina says. “Five years ago, I don’t know that I would’ve cut any of these songs; it took slowing down, getting to know myself, digging deep in the writing room, and living some life to bring me to this place with this new music. I feel like I’ve fully embraced and stepped into who I am as a woman, an artist, a songwriter, and I’m so excited for my fans to get to step into this next chapter with me.”
Alaina, who is engaged to Cameron Scott Arnold, says the new set of tunes is also very representative of her own life, especially now.
“This project is so important to me. I’m getting married, I’m on a new label — I feel like I’ve unlocked myself completely,” Alaina tells Entertainment Tonight. “I feel at home and at peace in my life.
Unlocked includes a duet with Lainey Wilson on “Thicc As Thieves,” a song that also features both Alaina and Luke Bryan as co-writers.
The American Idol alum, who previously dropped both “A Walk In The Bar” and “Hangovers” from the project, tells her fans that Unlocked is a culmination of the past few years, when she worked hard to rediscover herself again.
“It’s been 13 years since we first met, and until a couple of years ago, I don’t know that I ever slowed down for more than a day or two at a time,” Alaina says. “I spent more time with the people that matter most to me – my family, my fiancé, my friends – during that period than I had in years.
“This music comes from my heart and my hometown,” she continues. “I am who I am because of where and who I come from, and I’m more me today than I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to unlock this next chapter with you.”
Ahead of the announcement of Unlocked, the Georgia native hinted that the new album would also be a new sound for her as well.
“I’m always really proud of my music and I always feel like I say the new project’s the best project, but this one’s just really different and refreshing, and feels like it represents me as a woman and a new sound just in general,” Alaina said (via Country Now), adding that it would be a “whole lot more country” than what she has released in the past. I’ve always kind of leaned a little bit [to] power pop country and this, it’s very different.”
See a track list for Unlocked below. Find music and tour dates at LaurenAlainaOfficial.com.
Unlocked Track List:
1. A Walk In The Bar (Lauren Alaina, Casey Brown, Lydia Vaughan, Parker Welling)
2. 3Hangovers (John Byron, Greylan James, Josh Osborne, Matt Roy)
3. Don’t Judge A Woman (Autumn McEntire, Joybeth Taylor, Sarah Allison Turner)
4. Smaller The Town (Zach Crowell, Joel Hutsell, Cole Swindell, Hunter Phelps)
5. Like Her (Trannie Anderson, Joe Fox, Emily Landis, Ella Langley)
6. Thicc As Thieves (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Lauren Alaina, Rocky Block, Luke Bryan, Dallas Davidson, Jacob Durrett, Parker Welling)
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Big Loud Records / Robby Klein
