Hailey Whitters Draws From Heartland for Upcoming Album ‘Raised’
Hailey Whitters is a really important artist to this whole thing. With Americana-level writing chops and a traditional-leaning sound, yet mainstream-level appeal and acceptance, she’s vital to the effort to save country music. She illustrated this with her last album The Dream, and the deluxe edition released in 2021, which ended up being her breakout moment after years of paying dues in Nashville.
Now Whitters has a new album on the way called Raised out on March 18th via Big Loud, which takes her back to her Midwest roots in Iowa for inspiration, specifically the town of Shueyville, population 731.
“It’s been 14 years since I’ve lived in Iowa, but more and more I’ve been going back there mentally and being pulled to the people and the places that raised me,” Whitters says. “‘The Dream’ was about my time and experience in Nashville and ‘Raised’ is about taking the road back home to the Heartland. If ‘The Dream’ were my wings, then ‘Raised’ is my roots. This feels like the record I was always supposed to make, but it took ‘The Dream’ to put me on the radar of this town and this team. Now that I have it, I’m excited for my fans to connect more personally with who I am.”
Raised finds Hailey Whitters collaborating with an impressive list of co-writers including Lori McKenna, Brandy Clark, Craig Wiseman, Jordan Lehning (a.k.a son of Randy Travis producer Kyle Lehning), and others. It was produced by Whitters with Jake Gear, who also worked on The Dream and the Living The Dream deluxe edition. Whitters also collaborates with American Aquarium who backs her on the song “Middle of America.”
“This record is where I’m from, this is me,” Whitters explains. “These are the people and this is the place that made that 17 year old girl leave everything she’d ever known to pursue a career in country music and not give up over the last 14 years. ‘Raised’ is a celebration of the heartland, but I think it’s a common story no matter where you’re from. My experience growing up in the middle of the country is very relatable to a lot of people. We’ve all lived in a similar way—the only thing that’s different is the scenery.”
RAISED tracklist:
1 – Ad Astra Per Alas Porci (Jordan Lehning, Pedro Palomino)
2 – Raised (Hailey Whitters, Nicolle Galyon, Forest Glen Whitehead)
3 – Everything She Ain’t (Hailey Whitters, Bryan Simpson, Ryan Tyndell)
4 – Big Family (Hailey Whitters, Cameron Bedell, Nicolle Galyon)
5 – Middle Of America (feat. American Aquarium) (Hailey Whitters, Bobby Pinson)
6 – Plain Jane (Hailey Whitters, Hillary Lindsey, Cary Barlowe)
7 – College Town (Hailey Whitters, Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins)
8 – Interlude (Hailey Whitters, Pedro Palomino)
9 – Boys Back Home (Hailey Whitters, Brandy Clark, Jessie Jo Dillon)
10 – Everybody Oughta (Matt Roy, Craig Wiseman)
11 – Pretty Boy (Hailey Whitters, Scooter Carusoe, Tom Douglas)
12 – The Neon (Hailey Whitters, Rodney Clawson, Lori McKenna)
13 – The Grassman (Hailey Whitters, Aaron Raitiere)
14 – Our Grass Is Legal (Hailey Whitters)
15 – Beer Tastes Better (Hailey Whitters, Lori McKenna)
16 – In A Field Somewhere (Hailey Whitters, Jeff Hyde, Bryan Simpson)
17 – Ad Astra Per Alas Porci (Reprise) (Jordan Lehning, Pedro Palomino)
January 15, 2022 @ 10:54 am
REALLY looking forward to this.
January 15, 2022 @ 12:29 pm
Really Good voice.
Love the Sass in this song.
The money in the bank line – a little snotty/scary.
The everything she is and everything she ain’t, line – Brilliant. & Hilarious.
Here’s hoping it rockets to the top!
Get it Hailey!
January 15, 2022 @ 12:42 pm
This should be good.
Trig, I suspect you are also aware that Ray Wylie’s Co-starring 2 album is soon to be released and Ray has been cleverly announcing who is going to be on it for the past week on Twitter. List includes some greats, including, Willie, Steve Earle, Dalton Domino, Hayse Carll, James McMurtry, and even the metal guitarist John 5 among others.
Should be another great one.
January 17, 2022 @ 1:06 pm
John 5 huh? That should be an interesting collaboration. Dude is just as good a chicken picker as he is a shredder, so it should be excellent.
January 15, 2022 @ 1:13 pm
I ADORE Everything She Ain’t!
January 15, 2022 @ 1:13 pm
Ya know ironically enough I’ve spent the last week or so delving into Hailey Whitters as she’ll be here Feb 10. I’m not going to lie the original 12 songs on The Dream were a little too poppy for me but the 5 new tracks on the deluxe I’ve really come to love. That and the fact that I always sing along with her part when I’m listening to Flatland Cavalry’s …….Meantime…lol I thought ok I must be missing something………..then I went and listened to her first album Black Sheep…..I went ahhhhh that’s more like it and upon hearing this new one I’m smiling ear to ear. Love the song, Jakes production……and it’s Country!!! Now I’m really looking forward to the album and the show…..Welcome To Chicagoland!
January 15, 2022 @ 11:53 pm
I bought Black Sheep when she opened for High Valley and Martina McBride in 2016. It’s a solid effort. Ms Whitters set was short (maybe 20 minutes), but impressive.
January 15, 2022 @ 3:00 pm
This has nothing to do with nothing but when I get to feeling bad I go to Netflix and watch norm Macdonald interview billy Joe shaver
The two coolest people I never got to meet
Sorry I just didn’t no anywhere I could post this where some one may appreciate it
January 15, 2022 @ 3:04 pm
This might be a good place:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/the-fascinating-friendship-of-norm-macdonald-billy-joe-shaver/
January 15, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
Loose strings is a great song. Prefer the Brent Cobb version but hers is still strong.
I have worn out the bonus tracks. Lori McKenna is incredible
January 15, 2022 @ 11:09 pm
laundry list crap! generic pick me song like taylor swift puts out
January 16, 2022 @ 11:36 am
This song is slightly addictive…..not profound but light hearted and catchy. The combination of that and the organic sound makes me want to hear more and look forward to the full album…especially in light of the enlisted songwriters. If I remember correctly 10 Year Town was on one of your playlists, I liked it, and meant to listen to more of her but never really did. Time to fix that.
January 16, 2022 @ 2:53 pm
Her and Kaitlin Butts are my top two favorite female artists. Can’t wait for the album. Something about her voice
January 16, 2022 @ 4:46 pm
She’s incredibly talented. Great music, great songwriting, great production, great everything. I listened to Apple Music’s ‘Nashville Countdown’ and she’s light years better than the soulless dreck on there. If she had good representation she’d be huge. I hope this next album takes her to the next level!
January 17, 2022 @ 11:39 am
Loved her living the dream deluxe album. Really looking forward to this new album. She`s such a good songwriter and singer and her music is diverse and very appealing. Hope this album does well. Am hoping for a new album this year from brandy clark,another top notch singer/songwriter.