Beth Whitney
Beth Whitney, a uniquely gifted singer/songwriter from Snohomish, Washington, is definitely an artist to watch. At 23, she shows a remarkable mastery of wordplay and a genuine love of language, along with a pop sensibility rarely seen in a songwriter so young. Growing up in a rural town 30 miles outside of Seattle, Beth spent her childhood running through the long grass, climbing trees and spending time along the river near her family home. These early experiences led her to begin writing poetry at a young age. “As I learn and experience the world—God, life, love, all of it—I write it down and arrange it, figure it out. I love doing that. It’s how I write songs,” she says.
Beth’s latest offering, Leave Your Shoes, is a musical gem that artfully weaves dreamy, energetic acoustic folk-pop melodies with thoughtful lyrics, creating tunes you’ll soon be humming like old favorites. Her milky-sweet vocals and powerful magnetism will turn the most unlikely listeners into instant fans. Leave Your Shoes’ well-wrought musings range from the butterflies of first love (“Kickin’ Pinecones”) to angsty, post-teen self-reflection (“Miss Misery”), and spiritual awakenings (“Busy Bee”) to the tragedy of a loved one taken before his time (“Lights Out”).
A self-taught guitarist, Beth’s own musical heroine, and a great influence on her sound, is Mindy Smith. “She has a beautiful soul and writes/sings songs that rip me to pieces,” says Beth. Her other influences include singer Jennifer Knapp, hip-hop soulster Lauryn Hill and jazz great Diana Krall.