The new duet marks the final track ahead of Watkins’s sophomore album
Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters songstress Lauren Watkins teams up with Grammy-nominated, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville/Night Train Records hitmaker John Morgan for “Slippery Slope,” a smoky duet that embraces the layered complexity of partnership. The track is the final preview of her upcoming album, In A Perfect World, due October 10th.
“I’ve been so excited about this song,” shares Watkins. “And to get to have one of my good friends, John Morgan, be a part of it makes it that much more special! I really wanted this song to feel young, light-hearted and more than anything — relatable. I think we’ve all been there, when you run into that one person you definitely don’t need to be running into. And you both say all the things that make you take it a little too far. Sonically, I wanted it to feel old school and nostalgic but also really fresh at the same time. I’m so proud of this song and thankful to John for singing it with me!”
Written by Watkins alongside Will Bundy, Mark Trussell and Lydia Vaughan, “Slippery Slope” leans into the irresistible pull of an on-again, off-again flame. Drenched in late-night barroom detail, the track captures the moment a harmless drink turns into another backslide. Watkins and Morgan’s harmonies heighten the tension as they knowingly tumble toward heartbreak, making for a country confessional that feels lived-in, raw and all too relatable.
In A Perfect World is poised to capture the songwriter in a season of balance, where the fast lane of life on tour meets the quiet calm of the front porch. “I’ve lived so much life in the past couple years, from playing shows all over the world and spending half of my time on the road, to building a sweet little life in a farmhouse with my husband,” shares Watkins. “It’s made me appreciate so many parts of all of it. I’ve started embracing the simple things just as much as the chaos. And that’s what inspired these 10 songs. It paints a good picture of what my world looks like these days, but I really hope people can see their own world within it too.”
Produced by CMA/ACM Award winner and husband Will Bundy, with additional co-production from Joey Moi, the album features ten songs co-written by Watkins with writing contributions from Trannie Anderson, Rodney Clawson, Natalie Hemby, Mark Trussell and more. Fans have already gotten a glimpse into Watkins’ new chapter with several early standouts including the pulse-racing “Lose My Cool,” the heartfelt “Average Joe & Plain Jane,” which finds magic in the mundane, the gritty anthem “I’ll Get Through It” and the wistful “Marlboro Man.”
Watkins’ 2024 debut, The Heartbroken Record, introduced her as a mainstream maverick with a thirst for lyrical truth. With In A Perfect World, Watkins marks her next chapter, leaning further into her natural storytelling capabilities and confident point of view.
After earning her stripes on the road with Zach Top and Riley Green throughout 2025, Watkins will celebrate release week opening up for Lainey Wilson’s The Whirlwind World Tour, which will make a stop at Madison Square Garden on album release day, before joining Kameron Marlowe’s Seventeen Tour this fall.
