Whitney Fenimore - Music, Why Not!

MWN: So for the readers that do not know this- Fun Fact! You were on The Voice. I bet that must have been super intense?

Whitney Fenimore: I was super-super nervous. Like honestly, I have massive anxiety so I would get panic attacks. I was doing push-ups before I was going out there. Because I was freaking out, and you know, you are thinking about it for months. Building up to this thing, you’re like “I just need a chair to turn!” And then, when the chairs did turn, I almost lost my shit.

MWN: Oh no nerves! When the chairs turn what did you feel?

Whitney Fenimore: I actually started laughing. Adam was like “Chill out!” and I was like “I’m sorry!” Also. You’re Adam Levine, I CAN’T chill out!

MWN: It worked out!

Whitney Fenimore: Yeah, it worked out!

MWN: Well, how was that experience?

Whitney Fenimore: Adam Levine is so fun. He’s like super goofy and really really down to earth. He really cares about you. When we were off camera, he said some really nice things to all of us that didn’t up going into the play offs. He was like, “Hey guys, don’t worry about it. This show is only the start of it all.

MWN: You grew a lot from this experience?

Whitney Fenimore: You grow so much and really make a lot of friends. The show I’m doing tonight, two of the girls were on my season.

MWN: Wow I bet that is awesome! So this is your first SXSW, how did you prepare for the festival? Were you nervous at all?

Whitney Fenimore: This is weird, but I kind of like not practice too much before. I like to get on stage. I write my own music, so I know how the songs go. I like to get on stage and see. Not “see what happens” I know a plan, and I have an outline. But, I like to see what happens. I’ve always dreamed of playing here. I am 28. I was 18 when wanted to come out here. Every year I would submit music, nothing. It’s been 10 years of trying to get here, and now I’m here and it’s super cool.

MWN: When did you start making music, was it from your parents or something you just found on your own?

Whitney Fenimore: I started making music when I was 12. I grew up in a religious family in the church, and I put together a little church music worship band when I was a little kid. I remember seeing the movie “Josie and the Pussycats” and I loved that movie so much. I remember watching that and wanting to be them. I put my first band together at 12/13 and I just kept doing music. Throughout school I was in different bands and college. It hasn’t stopped since I was 12. I think, even before that though, my dad played guitar. He always had guitars laying around the house. Even as a little girl, as early as I could remember, I would pick them up and pluck different strings. It wounded really bad but I loved it. I’ve always really loved music. It’s just been a huge part of my life ever since I was a little kid.

MWN: Something that was inside you..

Whitney Fenimore: It was definetley a normal thing. I thought everyone was obsessed with music. Obviously that was my perspective. For some people, it might be art of whatever. But for me, I was obsessed with music. It made me feel something. So many different emotions. I really wanted to somehow music be a part of my life. I feel like it transcends languages, language barriers, whatever. Music is the things that brings everyone together. I wanted to do music for the rest of my life.

MWN: I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock. What were the artists you grew up listening to?

Whitney Fenimore: I have to give a lot of credit to my dad. He kind of brought different bands like Chicago and America and Fleetwood Mac and Kansas. I think the trending theme with all those different groups is they all have really good harmonies. That is something I’ve always loved too is appreciating a good harmony. I feel like I pull from all of that music. Even gospel music, because I grew up in the church. Even that music has influenced me in some way.

MWN: Now when it comes to harmonies, when you make your music, do you start off with a guitar and it comes to life? Or do you sit with your guitar and have a jam session, how does that work?

Whitney Fenimore: Honestly, it is different every time. When I come up with a song, sometimes it’ll have some sort of melody on the piano and I’ll go to that first. Or I’ll be playing guitar and words will come. It is different every single time. I’m not really one of those writers at a coffee shop writing all my feels, which is totally great. I wish I was, because I’d probably have more content. But I typically am sitting in the studio playing my acoustic guitar and something comes from that.

MWN: It’s a very natural process.

Whitney Fenimore: Yeah! I think so. I have to work at it. Songs don’t just…if I wait till I’m inspired I’ll get a song a year. I learned I have to force myself to sit down and really try to force that creative process out of me. I enjoy it but it’s not songs flow every day. I feel it’s good for an artist to know that not every songwriter has songs flowing out of them. I heard someone once say you have to get through a lot of shit to eventually get to gold, the good stuff. If you are too afraid to make shitty music, then you’ll never make good music. I would know, I have some shitty music I made when I was really young. I’m sure I still have some shitty songs, but you grow.

MWN: Now we’re going to play a fire round. We’ll start with what is your dream festival?

Whitney Fenimore: Coachella.

MWN: What is your favorite love song?

Whitney Fenimore: Love song? Hm…it’s gotta be something from John Mayer. I’m thinking “Gravity” but I feel like “Gravity” isn’t a love song…

MWN: It COULD be a love song…

Whitney Fenimore: Yeah, I want to dance to it when I hear it. So “Gravity”

MWN: Wherever home is, what song reminds you of it?

Whitney Fenimore: This is super weird, but I grew up going to Hawaii a lot. It felt like a second home to me. The song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Iz. Every time I hear that, I am instantly with my family. It’s not my style music, but it is a song that instantly takes me to being with my family on an island. It’s my favorite feeling every. When I’m depressed or down I’ll turn on IZ.

MWN: If you could meet an artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Whitney Fenimore: That’s so hard! I don’t want to be basic and say John Mayer, but he pulls from Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix… and with John you are getting all of those influences. I did have an opportunity to meet him but I made a fool of myself. He was at a really small venue in LA at 1am, and somebody told me. I jumped out of bed and went there, he got off stage and walked past me and all I said to him was, I sang “Hey John Mayer” He did not hear me or ignored me. I just remember looking at him. I didn’t want to ruin the moment of “Is this the right time.” My friend took a selfie of him and I’m in the background staring at him. I’m an idiot but it’s ok. All that to say, I need a re-do meeting with John Mayer.

MWN: Haha, trust me we have all had those moments. Is there anything you’d like to say to people watching this?

Whitney Fenimore: I have a single coming out, “Find Your Love” is coming out. We’ll release little singles throughout the next couple months.

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