Sitting somewhere between rock muscle and country cool, WHIT makes the sort of music that, given its major sonic componants, on paper at least, you might expect to equal up to an Americana sound. But while there is undoubtedly more than a hint of such a sound pulsing through the sonic backdrop of her songs, the pop awareness with which she constructs them makes them much more chart-friendly and commercially astute than such a tag might suggest. Still, she navigates this cross over territory without sacrificing any authenticity and connections to such roots sounds.
It worked for Taylor Swift, a popular country girl who became the world’s biggest pop star, so why not WHIT, even if she does seem to be heading down a slightly more rock-infused path?
With previous singles, “Black and Blue” and “Ready Or Not,” having already set the roots-rock tone for this self-titled EP, the former Miss Texas adds two more tracks to showcase her music perfectly. “Go To Hell” blends raw guitars with buoyant country grooves and an anthemic, killer chorus designed to set stadiums alight. At the same time, “Grass is Greener” takes a more considered route, taking in pop addictions and dance energies, and showing that she has plenty of sonic tricks and a variety of sounds and styles to call on. WHIT is the sound of music coming from more niche outer realms yet able to take the mainstream by storm.
Rock fans will love the low-slung groove, and country kids will dig the rootsy traditions it is built on. But if such a crossover is on the cards, it is the pop-pickers and chart watchers that you need to impress. But fear not. I doubt if there is a mainstream music consumer alive who won’t love its blend of accessibility and integrity, its clever wordplay and sing-along-ability, its outsider feeling, and the intelligent way that it blurs the lines between cult favorites and commercial hits.
Watch your back, Taylor and co; there is a new kid on the country-rock-pop block!
