Kayden Meza
Anchor Staff Writer
Whiskey Ginger performed at 90.7 WXIN’s Loud and Livid: Women’s History Concert for Women’s History Month. The band consisted of lead singer Emily Pitcairn, Lyle Rae on drums and OJ Mountain on alto sax, but the lineup changes frequently to bring a new perspective on the music. The set list included “Spirit of the Stairway”, “Amoeba”, “Charlotte Song”, “Soy Wax”, “Bittersweet”, “Nosebleed” and “Untitled” which are on Spotify and other music platforms.
The band's original title was hiFi, named after Pitcairn’s late father who introduced her to her passion for music. However, she changed the band’s name to have creative freedom that she did not have with the former name. The art on “Amoeba” is done by Pitcairn, but her mother designed the cover for “Charlotte Song,” “Bare Minimum,” tour posters, and merch from their 2023 tour. They also worked with artist Symo for the cover of “Nosebleed,” and Lindsey Crouss designed covers for both “Bittersweet Place” and the upcoming EP. I interviewed Emily Pitcairn on her upcoming EP, inspiration, writing process, social issues and more.
Whiskey Ginger's upcoming EP which is expected to release in April. This will be the band's first full-length project and more details will be released on their Instagram. In the EP, she wanted to capture moments where it felt impossible to set boundaries. The lyrics are about losing yourself in distractions and other people’s problems. “Bittersweet Place” is about the realization that this is not healthy and needing a break from everything. The song was originally written when Pitcairn was 15 or 16, without much meaning behind it. Now she has revisited it to fit into the context of the EP.
Usually, Pitcairn starts with lyrics, acoustic, rhythm, then guitar to write a song. But for the new EP, she switched it up by starting with drums and bass. “It was an interesting approach to the songwriting process for me since I am usually so lyrically thinking. That helped me to break out of some boxes that I tend to find myself in in the writing process,” she explained.
On the topic of Women’s History Month, Pitcairn and I discussed the political climate, specifically its impact on women. Pitcairn fears that we are moving back as a society instead of moving forward, and progress is agonizingly slow. A way she copes is through writing music, which acts as a form of therapy for her, especially during these times in America. She uses her music and her platform as an artist to have vital conversations and hold others responsible for their actions that negatively affect the community. “I think that by nature of creation, art will always reflect the world we’re living in, and I just want to be mindful of how I fit into that space,” Pitcairn states.
Pitcairn cites her mother and sister as major inspirations due to their unwavering support. Other important women who inspired her music were Hayley Williams, PJ Harvey, Amy Winehouse, Miss Lauryn Hill and Gwen Stefani during her “No Doubt” era of music. Also, her friends Trophy Wife, Hipsy Gap and Rat Palace have been huge inspirations.
Lastly, we wrapped up our interview about what being a woman means to her. Pitcairn describes womanhood as a “contradiction of existence.” She states, “To be beautiful and ugly, soft and strong, both feminine and masculine all at once. To ride the line between proper and rebellious, constantly shifting between the two. It feels like being everything, and sometimes, nothing at all.” She describes that women are expected to constantly be in flux between polar opposite traits. Women can not be too much of one without the other without seeming like a pushover or a bitch. This is a battle that I see the women in my life face constantly.
Seeing Whiskey Ginger in concert was a highlight of my month. Whether you are looking for songs to study with, scream along to or dance with your friends, this band has something for everyone. Whiskey Ginger’s confident stage presence and Pitcairn’s strong voice make this band stand out. The band’s unique storytelling, bold instrumentals, thought-provoking lyricism and perspective politics make them a promising up-and-coming band. Check them out on Instagram and on Spotify as Whiskey Ginger.
Comments