Standish913.com has been blessed to do an exclusive interview with...
Let's get into some exclusive questions...
STANDISH: What inspired your latest single, "Big Girls Don't Cry"?
I had written the chorus to BGDC years ago and had a demo recorded with different verses, but was never really 100% satisfied with the song. That can happen a lot as a creator you don't always love and release every single thing you make. I knew I really was into the beat and the chorus spoke to me, but the verses didn't have as much depth. One day I finally just was in a creative groove and listened to the song for the first time in a long time and rewrote and re recorded the verses to be new and how I felt about mental health and society delivered in a pretty classic old school type flow. I had the talented Gina Fritz recut my chorus and it finally brought it life and clicked for me. I like to write songs that actually have a message often hidden with sarcasm, so I know it's a style people either really vibe with or completely misunderstand. I released the song after years of sitting on it and it just took off so I guess more people understood than I anticipated.
STANDISH: You're a Grammy Award Winner, can you tell us more?
Well sort of! The story is I wrote for a Grammy Award Winning Children's album. I think a lot of people don't realize I write for a lot of things other than my own music and was lucky enough to work on an anti-bullying project back in the day. I remember being hesitant when asked to do it at the time because it's not my style at all and felt way out of my comfort zone. Nowadays I don't shy away from that kind of thing anymore, I realize the importance of being versatile and being challenged. I'm definitely glad I agreed to do that album though. It had a lot of success and helped a lot of kids and parents. Even if it hadn't won a Grammy it still would have had an important impact.
STANDISH: Tell us a little about your overall mission, Whitney -
This is a tough question! I'm just trying to make sense of the world like most other people and my mission probably used to be more selfish, I always used music as an outlet and it never felt shallow for me, but I still probably would have said "legacy". I would dream of making some big name for myself just so I could prove wrong the people who said I couldn't do anything, but that's such an egotistical reason. Rather than doing things out of spite for those who say I can't, I'm now driven by the ones who knew I could. I want to make people believe in themselves in that same way! I know being a rapper isn't like being a ER Nurse or something. The only way I know how to help people is to give them something to relate to so they don't feel alone and can maybe forget about their problems for even just a few minutes by getting lost in a song.
STANDISH: How does it feel to be a female lyricist in today's industry?
I think it's better than it used to be! Sure, there are certain hardships that only men face or only women face, but I think for the most part the subject matter in my songs almost anybody could relate to. Many emotions or problems aren't specific to just one certain gender, or ethnicity, etc. Yeah, sexism still exists and maybe I've lost opportunities or respect because I'm a woman in this industry and genre, but I'm in a place now where if you don't fuck with me than I don't wanna fuck with you anyway.
STANDISH: What keeps you motivated to be great?
Anytime I feel defeated I just look through pictures from tours. Online comments just aren't the same...seeing faces instead of just usernames hits different. Getting to know people and realizing they're real, with real lives, and everyone works hard to be able to take the time to go to a show because they love music. I've always had a tough time making real friends back in school, but the relationship with those I've met through concerts is effortless.
STANDISH: In your eyes, what's your biggest accomplishment?
It's not one single accolade or milestone honestly. Overall, just living off of my music has been my greatest achievement. I've had a lot of jobs in my life before I could fully survive off of my passion and it's definitely not easy, but it's fulfilling and I get to connect with people. I've always been pretty introverted, but music brings a lot of people out of their shell and is a universal language. It's the feeling you get at concerts when strangers feel like friends because you're all there bonding over the same interest. If I can capture that feeling and have that be my job for the next however many years... then that to me would be the ultimate accomplishment.
STANDISH: If you could work with 1 person in the industry today, who would it be?
Dave Chappelle. I know you may have expected me to name another artist, and there's absolutely a slew of them I'd like to collab with, but if I could do a music video or some kind of project where Dave made a cameo that would be crazy. I have so much respect for him as an entertainer.
STANDISH: What can we look forward to in the future from you?
I'm going to keep you guessing with my musical direction and collabs! Like I said, it's important to be versatile and grow and I will never stop!
STANDISH: In this busy industry, what does a relaxing day look like to Whitney?
Disconnecting from social media. I think in this day and age it's really easy to consume more than we create. Don't get me wrong it's amazing to be able to go on a post songs and videos so easily with no middle man and speak directly to the fans, but on the flip side you have an endless amount of opinions coming from every direction you don't want to let it influence you too much, good or bad!
STANDISH: Dead or alive, who would you want a dinner with? Why?
Melissa McCarthy... I just wish she was my aunt because Thanksgiving Dinner sounds way more fun with Melissa McCarthy.
STANDISH: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Happy. I hope no matter what.. just happy.
STANDISH: Who are some of your mentors?
Luckily some of the most successful people I've met are also the coolest... I'm sure there's a reason for that! People I know personally in the industry and have toured or performed with and really molded me are R.A. The Rugged Man, Rittz, DJ Paul, Gangsta Boo (RIP), Jelly Roll, Tech N9ne...there's more, those are just the ones I can think of offhand that I've reconnected with the most over the years. All of those guys are such inspirations.
STANDISH: During COVID, we all faced struggles, what was one of your main struggles?
All of my tours were canceled,I had just left my then record deal at the end of 2020, I no longer had a manager or agent, and I went through a break-up, so you could say it was pretty eventful. I don't want to say it was all bad, sometimes it's just time for a new chapter.
STANDISH: Where can fans find your work?
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1O2t0Zg7s34o2VrOutAjqx
https://www.youtube.com/whitneypeytonmedia
STANDISH: What are your social links?
https://www.tiktok.com/@whitneypeytonmusic
https://www.instagram.com/whitneypeyton/
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