By Kayla Del
Correspondent
It’s rare for an artist to emerge with a voice so distinctive, lyrics so poignant and a sound so refined that you immediately know they are destined for greatness. Frances Whitney, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter, has done just that with her recent EP, “Old Hobbies,” cementing her place as the music industry's next big thing.
Whitney, a San Francisco native in her 20s, released “Old Hobbies” on Nov. 15. chronicling her journey of letting go of damaging pastimes and relearning herself through her most cherished hobby — song. The project is a masterclass in storytelling and emotional resonance. It perfectly captures the highs and lows of young adulthood, weaving themes of heartbreak, friendship and self-discovery.
The opening track, “Biggest Fan,” sets the tone by exploring the intense act of idolizing someone in a relationship to the point of losing yourself, reflecting the common experience of bending and breaking for someone who never deserved the pedestal you placed them on. Musically, the production mirrors this emotional journey, with delicate vocals and minimal instrumentation in the verses, swelling in the outro to capture her cathartic realization.
Whitney’s Dec. 10 concert at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, New York, was an intimate and unforgettable display of her raw and undeniable talent. If her studio recordings impress, her live performances elevate her artistry to a whole new level.
The venue’s tight-knit atmosphere fostered an incredible sense of connection, turning the entire crowd into a group of friends. This feeling reached its peak during her performance of “Twenty Something,” an anthem that captures the beauty and chaos of navigating your 20s with friends by your side. With the friends who inspired the song present in the crowd, the performance was unforgettable and showcased the track's deep personal significance and universal relatability.
“Easy Street,” the first single from the album, released in March 2024, hits every element of a perfectly written song. This highly self-aware track describes Whitney’s unrealistic and glorified view of the toxic relationship. The song reflects on how the relationship was never as good as she made it out to be, asking, “is it your turn or mine to over-romanticize what's average at best, in the perfect light?”
Whitney acknowledges that the relationship never reached “easy street” — a fantasy she once believed in. This track, made for belting, was a crowd favorite at Baby's All Right, where Whitney soaked in the raw emotions as the audience sang every word of the chorus.
The album closer, “Something I Wanted,” encapsulates the EP’s themes with a hopeful and uplifting perspective. The track’s upbeat production reflects Whitney’s difficult realization that she is better off without the relationship as she learns to be alone and find peace within. The song beautifully contrasts the darkness of the past with the clarity of the future, making it a poignant conclusion to the EP while acknowledging that the road to healing continues.
“Old Hobbies” is raw, relatable and impossible to forget. Whitney’s storytelling, sound and persona blend modern sensibilities with timeless artistry. Her talent, vulnerability and ability to connect deeply with her audience leaves no doubt that she will soon be a household name.
