NYCS First Impression: Hailey Whitters ‘The Days’ EP

We love when a strong female artist delivers a record with an undeniably unique perspective and songs with the depth and emotion that we so crave. Rising artist, Hailey Whitters delivered just that with the first part of her newest project entitled The Days.

The EP opens up with arguably the most prolific song off the record, “Ten Year Town.” Our Managing Editor Christina picked this song as her ‘Song of the Month’ back in March, and it’s been one of our favorites ever since. Whitters wrote the song with the exceptional Brandy Clark, during a time in her life, where she was falling out of love with Nashville, after a decade of trying to ‘make it’ in the music industry.

She shared in a recent press release that she was tired of trying to “water herself down to fit in,” and that she was “craving something that [was] raw, real, and imperfect.” Those statements embody the opening track to a ’t.” Although highly personal, the track is as relatable as it gets for anyone who is feeling lost in their current situation. Last Friday evening during her opening slot on Maren Morris’ GIRL The World Tour stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Whitters said “To anyone out there tonight hanging on to the tail end of a dream, and wondering if you should just give it up…don’t,” before playing the track for the audience who hung on to every last word.

“Lesser fools woulda given up / They don’t go for broke like a dreamer does / Gotta get back up when you get knocked down / I’m twelve years into a ten year town.”

Next up, the title track is rhythmic and sonically-enticing. Drawing inspiration from her childhood and all the moving moments since, Whitters sings about all the little things that make up this adventure we call life. She flips the script and focuses on the little moments that we sometimes let pass us by. “The other day it hit me like a hammer / that you can’t get back those moments that really matter.”

“Red Wine & Blue” is a bluesy slow-jam, where Whitters emotes how it feels to go through a break-up, while “Dream Girl” is a more upbeat track with an 80s vibe that uplifts women, encouraging them to know their worth and remember that, “you’re someone else’s dream girl” and to “never settle for less than what you need girl.”

In “Loose Strings” Whitters relies on her gritty, yet beautiful vocals. With a simple instrumentation, she reveals her truth in the breathtaking song. The track was written by Whitters with a team of A-list female songwriters, including Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsay, Nicolle Gaylon, and Brandy Clark.

Rounding out the expressive record is “Heartland.” The final song on the first part of this project was inspired by Whitters’ Midwest upbringing. It’s romantic, nostalgic, and catchy. The play on words is simple, yet effective, as she sings about letting her “heart- land in the middle of nowhere” and despite life not going the way it would have if she stayed in her smalltown, she knows that she can always fall back on her roots.

As Whitters says, “this is the first record that feels 100 percent me. It’s a time capsule of my time in Nashville and coming to terms with dreams and what they mean to you,” and The Days is truly just that. It’s an enticing project that makes you feel like you know exactly who she is, which is both inspiring and makes you want to root for her success.

We recently caught Whitters in her opening spot on tour with Maren Morris and Kassi Ashton at the iconic Radio City Music Hall. Check out some of our highlights from the show here. She will continue to play shows on ‘GIRL The World Tour’, through September. In October, the songstress will open up for singer-songwriter, Brent Cobb. For tickets and more information, head to haileywhitters.com.

To keep up with Hailey Whitters follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Days EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

 

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