Letting out jazzy runs, hypnotic hooks, and an unfiltered operatic scream from the gut, Whitney Woerz sparks a physical reaction with every performance in the studio and on stage. With over 135 million YouTube views, 20 million streams, and acclaim from Billboard, Vanyaland, and more, she traces her 2020 10:22pm/Island Records debut back to one such moment and a life-changing realization…
“I fell to the floor,” she recalls. “I discovered my voice, my sound, and my genre in one take. I realized I didn’t have to play by any rules. I could just sing what came naturally. Rather than just touching on it, I’m bringing out what’s underneath the feelings and the sadness. If you analyze my lyrics, they’re real. It’s music that might help you learn something about yourself.”
Whitney discovered herself through music. Singing before she could talk, she enrolled in vocal lessons as early as kindergarten before participating in her first musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a year later. Falling in love with performance, she continued to hone her voice through rigorous traditional training. Studying opera, lyrical, classical, and jazz, her range encompassed an expansive swath of styles.
Facing turmoil in school, she retreated into her art.
“In my hometown, everybody was skinny with straight blonde hair and played sports,” she says. “If you weren’t playing at a high level, you weren’t cool. I got bullied because I did performing arts. Can you believe that? At the time, I was bigger than everyone else and had curly hair. It could be really tough.”
She siphoned that struggle into songs. Retreating to Nashville with GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Glenn Rosenstein [Madonna, U2, Talking Heads], she recorded her independent Behind The Smile EP in 2016. Written after a friend admitted to suicidal intent during an online chat, the single “Ghost Story” took off as an anthem of encouragement and empowerment. Citing the song as “one of the most significant moments of my life, because my friend said it saved her,” the accompanying video went viral with 10 million-plus views. Bring Change 2 Mind—the organization founded by Academy® Award nominee Glenn Close—sought her out as an ambassador. Maintaining this momentum, “Love Me Not” racked up over 60 million YouTube views and 4.5 million Spotify streams in 2018. Along the way, she shared the stage with everyone from Jason Mraz and Jesse McCartney to Nina Nesbitt in addition to performing on The Today Show as Elvis Duran’s “Artist of the Month.” During 2019, she fully realized her sonic identity. Striking a balance between jazz phrasing, lo-fi production, and pop power, Whitney introduces a singular style on Sad Love.
“It’s pop fused with jazz influences and urban elements,” she explains. “It’s left-of-center, and it nods to everything I love. I grew up practicing opera. The theatricality is in there. I love standards by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday, so it has some of those elements. It’s quirky like me. I feel like what I’m doing now really represents who I am.”
The lead single and title track “Sad Love” tiptoes between airy keys and a glitchy beat as her soothing vocals give way to a sassy bridge. Meanwhile, her voice ascends to towering heights with an impassioned refrain, “Baby, that’s sad love,” backed by a revival-style call-and-response.
“I was with the only boyfriend I’ve ever had for my junior year of high school,” she remarks. “I was way too in love with him. He became my life. I didn’t even matter anymore. One day, he came over and he told me he didn’t love me anymore. Then, a few months later when I wrote ‘Sad Love,’ I wasn’t healed all the way. But, then I realized I wouldn’t be anywhere if he didn’t break my heart. I became so powerful in my mind that I took all of me back. I finally became myself again. It’s an oxymoron, but the sadness brought me to self-love. You have to break before you can grow.”
Elsewhere on the EP as her journey carried on, lithe guitar wraps entwine with swells of strings as her angelic delivery emanates through “Philophobia.” Once again, she makes a stark confession, “Philophobia means ‘fear of falling in love.’ I’m admitting that I’m scared of meeting my match, getting attached, and giving my heart without getting it back’.” The droning production of “Weirdos” gives way to a schizophrenic performance as her voice flutters between hushed verses and fits of triumphant as she declares, “The odd are getting even.”
“If you’re weird, embrace it,” she continues. “That’s the message of the song. Weird is the new cool. It’s our turn. Back in the day, I was bullied for theater and singing. I’m taking an awful time in my life and adding light again.”
In the end, Whitney might just move you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
“I want you to take away positive energy, encouragement, and unconditional love,” she leaves off. “That’s the most important thing to me. I want to be a light in the world by being real.”
Jet Black Heart
Whitney Woerz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even wide awake or dreaming
I'm the one who ends up leaving
Make it ok
See a war, I want to fight it
See a match, I want to strike itEvery fire I′ve ignited
Faded to grey
But now that I'm broken
Now that you know it
Caught up in the moment
Can you see inside?
'Cause I′ve got a jet black heart
And there′s a hurricane underneath it
Trying to keep us apart
I write with a poison pen
But these chemicals moving between us
Are the reason to start again
Now Im holding on for dear life
There's no way that we could rewind
Maybe there′s nothing after midnight
That could make you stay
But now that I'm broken
Now that you know it
Caught up in the moment
Can you see inside?
′Cause I've got a jet black heart
And there′s a hurricane underneath it
Trying to keep us apart
I write with a poison pen
But these chemicals moving between us
Are the reason to start again
The blood in my veins
Is made up of mistakes
Let's forget who we are
And dive into the dark
As we burst into color
Returning to life
'Cause I′ve got a jet black heart
And there′s a hurricane underneath it
Trying to keep us apart
I write with a poison pen
But these chemicals moving between us
Are the reason to start again
To start again
To start again...
Whitney Woerz's song "Jet Black Heart" is a powerful and evocative piece that explores themes of inner turmoil, brokenness, and the hope of redemption. The central message of the lyrics is that despite our darkest moments and inner demons, there is always a chance for new beginnings and healing in the midst of the storm. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer acknowledging that everyone has their own struggles, whether they are conscious of them or not. She then goes on to describe her own struggles with feeling like she is the one who always ends up leaving, and the frustration of watching every fire she ignites fade away.
As the song progresses, we see the singer admitting to her flaws and brokenness, but also holding on to hope for a better future. The presence of a "hurricane" underneath her "jet black heart" suggests that there is turmoil and chaos within her that threatens to keep her from finding peace, but she is determined to keep fighting. The lines "I write with a poison pen, but these chemicals moving between us are the reason to start again" offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even though the singer has made mistakes in the past, there are still opportunities for connection and growth in her relationships.
Overall, "Jet Black Heart" is a deeply personal and introspective song that speaks to the struggle of finding hope in the midst of pain and brokenness. The lyrics are raw and authentic, inviting listeners to sit with the darkness and vulnerability of the singer's emotions and experiences before ultimately offering a message of hope and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody′s got their demons
Everyone has their own inner struggles and challenges.
Even wide awake or dreaming
These demons are present regardless of being conscious or unconscious.
I'm the one who ends up leaving
The singer tends to push people away and isolate herself when her inner demons become overwhelming.
Make it ok
The artist is asking for someone to help her make a difficult situation better.
See a war, I want to fight it
The artist is drawn to conflict and wants to confront difficult situations head on.
See a match, I want to strike it
The singer is impulsive and has a tendency to act without thinking things through.
Every fire I've ignited, Faded to grey
Despite the singer's impulsive nature, her actions ultimately lead to disappointment and disillusionment.
But now that I'm broken
The artist is acknowledging that she is in a vulnerable state and needs help.
Now that you know it
The artist is directing this line towards someone who now knows about her struggles and is in a position to help.
Caught up in the moment
The artist is currently overwhelmed by her emotions and situation.
Can you see inside?
The singer is asking if someone can understand her and her struggles on a deeper level.
'Cause I've got a jet black heart, And there's a hurricane underneath it
The artist is using metaphor to describe the intensity of her struggles and emotions.
Trying to keep us apart, I write with a poison pen
The singer tends to sabotage or ruin relationships and uses her words to intentionally hurt others.
But these chemicals moving between us, Are the reason to start again
Despite her past behavior, the singer believes that there is potential to fix a broken relationship if both parties are willing to try.
The blood in my veins, Is made up of mistakes
The singer feels like her entire identity is defined by her past failures and shortcomings.
Let's forget who we are, And dive into the dark, As we burst into color, Returning to life
The artist is suggesting that both parties can let go of their past issues and start fresh, ultimately leading to a positive outcome.
To start again, To start again...
The artist is emphasizing that there is a chance to move forward and fix a broken relationship.
Writer(s): Jon Green, David Hodges, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood
Contributed by Molly S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.