INTERVIEW: Whitney Fenimore Goes There on "Wrong About Jesus"
In our interview, Whitney Fenimore explores her growth as an artist and the need to leave her comfort zone in songs like "Wrong About Jesus"
Whitney Fenimore knows what it means to break through the noise. A semi-finalist on The Voice (Season 13), Whitney has since carved out a name as a fearless and self-aware storyteller. We spoke a few years ago on the Rainbow Rodeo podcast about her coming out experience, getting married (it's a cute story!!!) and settling into Nashville. With her new song "Wrong About Jesus," Fenimore tell us more about digging deeper than she has before.
“This song is my way of pushing back,”Whitneyshares. “It’s not about being critical. It’s about creating a space where I could be honest about what I’ve experienced and witnessed. I didn’t write it to take aim — I wrote it to feel seen.”
Your music has evolved quite a bit since we spoke for Rainbow Rodeo a few years ago. How would you describe your growth?
I think I'm constantly trying to push myself to create what I really want to hear, I'm learning to trust my taste more and to play stuff that I'd love to play live each night at shows. Trying to constantly get out of my comfort zone a bit too.
“Wrong About Jesus” has a refreshing ‘90s palate to me. How would you describe the vision you had going into the studio?
I'll take that! I really wanted to make something that felt fresh but also familiar. We wanted it to also feel like in the vein of gospel/church music but not so much in the lyrics haha. I knew that working with David Gungor (producer) would help tackle the vision 100%. Dave and I have known each other for almost 20 years or more and I've always looked up to his musical taste. I knew he was the right guy for the job... he took the song to the next level sonically. He just has such a great group of creatives surrounding him in New York City and I was so honored that they were all down to play on the song. Something beautiful really came out of it.
Was there one particular moment or image that sparked the song for you?
I sat down to write this song with Lilly Hart and Nell Maynard last September. I think the state of our country at the moment definitely felt uncertain. If I'm being honest there was so much frustration as someone who grew up in the church and seeing some of those same people stand behind issues/people that seem to be the very antithesis of Christianity and what the church stands for. So I think that's definitely what sparked the song and then we just kind of all took from our experiences and built off of that for the rest of the song.
I think when we spoke you had recently moved to Nashville. How do you feel the community has shaped your music since becoming settled there?
Can't believe it'll be 7 years this October living in Nashville. The city has changed and grown so much. There are seriously so many incredible musicians in this town. It makes me want to get better at my craft every day. The bar is really high, and honestly sometimes that's frustrating! But, it's truly a great thing. I'm so thankful to be in a city where I'm surrounded by such insane talent.
Do you feel the current political climate has impacted the way you work as an artist?
1000% . The last single ("Wrong About Jesus") and this next single ("Come Around") were definitely heavily inspired by the current political climate. I feel like as artists it's our responsibility to try and make sense of the world in the state it's in. Maybe not every artist feels that way and I know at times I've wanted to steer clear of touchy subjects... but I don't really want to anymore.
