With the release of her full-length album, Leaving Ashwood, around the corner (out September 23), Nashville-based singer-songwriter Whitney Fenimore gives us one last glimpse into what’s to come on this personal project with her final single “Way Back Home” out today. The upbeat tune is “An ode to the good ‘ole days. Remembering the past and respecting what was, but realizing that for growth to take place, change is necessary” Whitney explains.

“‘Way Back Home’ is all about nostalgia. Those feelings of when you come back into a town that you grew up in and passing all the different places where you had your first kiss, said I love you for the first time, or had your first break up,” shares Fenimore. “Roll your windows down in your car and remember the good times kina shit. It’s also about acknowledging how good you have it in the present moment.”

Born and raised in The Bible Belt of America (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Whitney was engulfed by Christian music; coming from a very religious Christian family, she grew up in the church and attended a Christian high school and college. Although that style of music shaped much of what she knows about music today, after college she ultimately decided Christian music wasn’t what she wanted to pursue. “I really wanted to do music that would relate and reach more people than just the Christian community,” Whitney explains. “My faith was changing and I wanted to dig deeper into my songwriting and felt like I couldn’t if I continued down the path I was on.” 

Her experiences and influences from being immersed in music-heavy cities such as Los Angeles and Nashville, have greatly shaped what her forthcoming album, Leaving Ashwood, is all about. Since moving to Nashville four years ago, Whitney explains, the city “has pushed me to be a better musician and songwriter, since everyone here does the same thing, you have to keep up! You’re a small fish in a huge pond, but it’s really great because it challenges you.”

“I know it can be cliche,” Whitney recognizes, “but music is that one thing that universally connects us all. It’s so powerful and at times when I feel like giving up on it, it keeps pulling me back.” There’s a lot to divide us in the world and now more than ever we all need that closeness with the ones we love. “The feeling I get when I’m connecting with people through music is pretty magical – I don’t wanna lose that feeling.”

Photo Courtesy: Alysse Gafkjen