Student uses her entrepreneurial class to kick-start her music career.
video by Chandler Lawrence, Viking Fusion Reporter
article by Candler Lowe, Campus Carrier Staff Writer
Senior Whitney Webster released her album “From the Heart” today, after the release of a single on iTunes on Tuesday. The album will be available on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play.
In the midst of taking 17 credit hours, working as a resident assistant, babysitting and leading bible studies, Webster found the time to record an EP and five songs, four of which debut today.
“It is a way that I have to speak to people’s heart,” Webster said. “The album is essentially just songs that are right from my heart.”
Webster’s faith helped shape her as a musician. She became a Christian her junior year, and music started playing a bigger role in her life. She realized this past summer, after traveling to Haiti for a mission trip, that she could use her gift of singing as an act of praise.
“It’s about uniquely finding a way to speak to people and connect with their hearts and then using that (as a)connection to who Jesus is.” Webster said. “The gospel isn’t explicitly in my music, but it is intertwined with everything I do.”
Although Webster was very excited to record, she found it hard to find time to hit the studio.
“It has been really hard being so busy and always having something else to do,” Webster said.
Webster didn’t get into the music scene until her junior year of high school. Until then she was a level 10 gymnast, which is the highest level for the Junior Olympics competition program. During her junior year she had to have her ankle reconstructed. Because of this, she picked up playing the piano again, which she had stopped after seven years of lessons.
In addition to taking the piano back up, she also began to take voice lessons. During her senior year of high school, she began to write her own music.
“To see how far she’s come with her music in this time is incredible,” said junior Jordan Bradshaw, who played piano on some of her songs. “Being just a small part on this project was such a huge blessing to me.”
She began to have the idea of recording an album when she met Andy Calvert, who works for a recording studio. After she became friends with Calvert, her dream of recording an album began to come true.
Now she is planning to move to Nashville to pursue a career in music after she graduates.
Although she said that the music on her newest album sounds like the singer/songwriter genre, she hopes to pursue a career in country music like one of her greatest inspirations, Carrie Underwood.
“I really just want to be where the Lord wants me to be,” Webster said. “To have a wholesome lifestyle and be playing country music would reach people that don’t already know the Lord.”