Whitney Woerz is an American singer-songwriter based in New York City, New … Read Full Bio ↴Whitney Woerz is an American singer-songwriter based in New York City, New York. She is currently signed with 10:22/Island Records, a sub-label of Universal Music Group. Her music career began with a poem written to a social media friend with suicidal thoughts. Light, positivity, and mental health continue to be prominent themes in her music.

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.”

Monsters
Whitney Woerz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh
How have we evolved monsters?
Oh

We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids
We were young and free

We were kids, we were young and free

Yeah, we died for (??)
With a smile
Angel

Your convincing cuts
What they tell me, ah
Shot hurt with what hurts (??)
Back and sorry from
Carrying your hands

Please, find the color in your heart
I used to see
Oh
How have we evolved to monsters?
Oh

We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids, we were young and free

Years ago we
Paint the world in

Purple

Wondered why the
Sky was blue but
You just see black

Please, find the color in your heart
I used to see
Oh
How have we evolved to monsters?
Oh

We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids we, were young and free

Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da

Oh
How have we evolved to monsters?
Oh

We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids, we were young and free

Oh
How have we evolved to monsters?
Oh

We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids
We were young and free
We were kids, we were young and free

Da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da

Overall Meaning

The song "Monsters" by Whitney Woerz reflects on how individuals can evolve into monsters. The lyrics suggest that everyone starts out as innocent kids, free from negativity and darkness, but as they grow up, they become influenced by the world around them and may become a monster.

The line "Your convincing cuts" could refer to someone's words or actions that have hurt others and left scars. The line "Shot hurt with what hurts" may mean that the pain caused by hurtful words or actions can feel as intense as being shot. The repetition of the line "Please, find the color in your heart, I used to see" may indicate the disappointment in seeing someone become a monster and hoping that they can regain their true colors.

"Monsters" is a powerful song that reminds listeners of the importance of staying true to oneself and maintaining kindness and compassion.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh
Expressing surprise and disbelief about the evolution of monsters.

How have we evolved monsters?
Reflecting on the progression towards monstrosity in society, despite the wish to remain unchanged.

Oh
Continuing the same reflection begun earlier in the song.

We were kids
Acknowledging the simpler times in the past.

We were young and free
Remembering the unencumbered nature of childhood.

We were kids
Reiterating how youthful they were.

We were young and free
Stating how absence of any restraint characterized their youth.

We were kids, we were young and free
Affirming again how young they were and how carefree their lives were.

Yeah, we died for (?), with a smile
Unsure of what was given during the blank, but insinuating a willingness to remain hopeful despite life's challenges.

Angel, your convincing cuts what they tell me, ah
Addressing the power wielded by others' influence.

Shot hurt with what hurts(?) back and sorry from carrying your hands
The double-edged sword of caring for someone else is explored, particularly when it is also emotionally taxing.

Please, find the color in your heart, I used to see
Encouraging the self-discovery of the true emotions within oneself, that may have been lost.

Oh
Resuming the previous reflection upon evolution towards monstrosity earlier in the song.

How have we evolved to monsters?
Reiterating the progression towards monster behavior.

Oh
Confirming the earlier reflection and showing devotion to the topic at hand.

Years ago we painted the world in purple
Ecstatic expression of reminiscing a more colorful time.

Wondered why the sky was blue but you just see black
Highlighting of how one's perception can be narrowed unnecessarily and how this negatively impacts the beauty of the world.

Please, find the color in your heart, I used to see
Reiteration of earlier plea to find the inner emotions that will fuel personal growth.

Oh
Reflecting once more upon the evolution towards monster behavior.

How have we evolved to monsters?
How society has evolved into monstruous behavior.

Oh
Confirming the continuation of the reflection topic.

Da-da-da-da-da-da
Musical break.

Da-da-da-da
Musical transition.

Oh
Continuing reflection topic.

How have we evolved to monsters?
again talking about societal monster behavior.

Oh
end of song reflecting on the topic.

We were kids
reminds back to the better, more innocent time.

We were young and free
Reminisence on the sweet memories of youth.

We were kids
Again talking about the happy past.