Whitney Ballen is an American indie rock musician and singer-songwriter from Issaquah, Washington. She is known for her reedy, distinctive vocal style and lyrical themes exploring emotional vulnerability, heartbreak, and the Pacific Northwest landscape.
Background
Ballen began recording in 2008 using a tape recorder to capture conversations, sounds, and song ideas. She attended the University of Washington and graduated in 2013.
Career
While still a college student, Ballen released her debut full-length album, White Feathers, White Linens (2011), funded through a Kickstarter campaign. In 2014, she released her first EP, Falls, which was recorded at the Old Redmond Firehouse after hours and included songs inspired by late-night trips to Snoqualmie Falls. Her second EP, Being Here Is Hard (2017), was recorded at Phil Elverum's church studio and featured sparse arrangements limited to Ballen's vocals and an electric guitar.
Ballen's second full-length album, You're a Shooting Star, I'm a Sinking Ship, was released on August 24, 2018, through Father/Daughter Records and Substitute Scene Records. The album received coverage from outlets including Stereogum, The Fader, and KEXP. Its themes center on feelings of inadequacy following a breakup, jealousy, depression, and comparing oneself to others in the context of social media.
In 2019, Ballen released pretend songs, a collection of seven tracks.
In 2020, Ballen covered "Cellophane" by FKA Twigs, which earned praise from KEXP.
Musical Style
Ballen's music has been characterized as indie rock with elements of folk, dream pop, and lo-fi aesthetics. Her singing voice has been described as reedy, high-register, and "ghostly," drawing comparisons to Joanna Newsom, Mirah, and Laura Stevenson. Her compositions range from sparse, solo guitar-and-vocals arrangements to fuller productions featuring reverb, distortion, drone, and found sound. Critics have noted her lyrics as candid and emotionally raw, addressing themes of loss, longing, depression, and the beauty and melancholy of the Pacific Northwest.
Discography
Albums
- White Feathers, White Linens – Self-released (2011)
- Falls – Self-released (2014)
- You're a Shooting Star, I'm a Sinking Ship – Father/Daughter Records (2018)
Extended plays
- Being Here Is Hard – Good Cheer Records (2017)
- pretend songs – Self-released (2019)
Label
Father/Daughter Records
