Unlocked

At just 28 years old, Lauren Alaina has already logged 13 years in country music, with a string of hits and awards to show for it. With *Unlocked*, Alaina hits reset, reintroducing her sassy, soulful brand of country and making her debut as an artist with the massively successful Big Loud label. Produced by Big Loud go-to Joey Moi, the six-track EP is a sampler platter of Alaina’s strengths, particularly her proficiency and versatility as a vocalist. Opener “A Walk in the Bar” is a swaggering kiss-off bursting with hooks and plays on words, giving Alaina ample room to play with her agile voice. “Hangovers” likens heartbreak to a particularly rough morning after, with Alaina exploring her lower register at each verse. And Alaina caps off the EP with the delightful Lainey Wilson duet “Thicc as Thieves,” a feisty pairing worthy of consideration alongside songs like Elle King and Miranda Lambert’s “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).”