Issaquah’s Whitney Ballen is gearing up to release her debut full-length, You’re a Shooting Star, I’m a Sinking Ship, next week through Father/Daughter Records and Substitute Scene Records. The album follows two EPs of quietly dissarming and introspective songs, 2014’s FALLS and last year’s Being Here Is Hard. Today, she’s shared the third, and likely final, single off the album, “Fucking.” While the title may sound aggressive, the song is less raunchy than implied and focuses on the jealousy and insecurity surrounding being cheated on.
“Fucking” emerged after a series of dreams, that felt closer to nightmares, which foreshadowed the unfortunate reality of a partner having an intimate relationship on the side with someone else,” explains Ballen to BrooklynVegan. “And the feelings around waking up in bed next to that partner knowing the visions in your dreams were true, but still kissing them and saying good morning like nothing happened.” Ballen recently stopped by KEXP for an in-studio performance that should be posted online shortly. Her album release show will take place Friday, Aug. 24 at the Sunset with opening support from Snuff Redux and Big Buddy. The next day, Aug. 25, she’ll perform at the 8th annual VanFest in Maple Valley.
VanFest returns with a stellar lineup of artists including The Black Tones, Whitney Ballen, SEACATS, Familiars, and more. Proceed benefit the Maple Valley Food Bank.
The Issaquah singer/songwriter vacillates between squall and sparsity in her detailed and heartbreaking work. Ahead of her Upstream Music Fest performance on Sunday, June 3rd, we take a look at singular and emotive work.
