Whitney Walker began his music career playing psychedelic, gutter-blues with Southern Gothic undertones in the Pacific Northwest during the mid-1990s. Some influences include Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Califone, Pavement, Bo Diddley, and many more. His early band, Pay The Coyote, cut their teeth in the local dive bar circuit, then Walker spent the last couple of decades playing countless solo and band shows throughout the country. Walker moved to Maine in early 2011 to get sober, move closer to his father in his twilight years, and continue to play music. He immediately started playing open mics and developed an identity as a performer, mostly locally in the southern Maine area, and started a few short-lived bands along the way.
During the pandemic, Walker started a recording project to stay busy and hopefully support some fellow musician friends who had lost a significant amount of income. This included nine musicians in total. The album was released in March of 2023 on RascalZ RecordZ, which is home to SeepeopleS and theWorst. It is called A Dog Staring Into A Mirror On The Floor. A proper three-piece band was formed when the pandemic ended, allowing Walker to perform live. The band has been playing throughout the Northeast for the past three years. They have been diligently working on new material. Their E.P. Where to Go and How to Get There is set to be released on June 13th, featuring guest appearances by members of Morphine, Rustic Overtones, and Jaw Gems.
On their new single, “An Owl Hoots Your Name At Night,” Walker and his band put on a colorful display of their expressive individuality. In an era where blueprints for genre seem to be the key to grabbing attention, Walker and company release a twangy, pop-leaning, artsy example of how trusting lofty visions is the most authentic, most accessible art around. On “An Owl Hoots Your Name At Night,” Walker crafts an undeniable piece of modern pop that awkwardly moves and grooves through fuzzy, off-kilter melodies, creating a hectic yet danceable effort that becomes more in-depth with every listen. Walker packs so much layered personality into this song, yet presents it as a fun-loving, simplistic pop tune, which is a testament to his writing prowess. “An Owl Hoots Your Name At Night” transitions from its experimental bridges to its pop-laden whimsy before your very eyes, as if Walker is performing sonic sleight of hand with the mood shifts in the single. Walker is gearing up for an ambitious project, and the latest single tells us that no matter how towering his visions are, he is going to do it his own way. “An Owl Hoots Your Name At Night” is a terrifically unforgettable single from Walker that sets him apart from his pop peers in an effortless, graceful, and distinctive manner.
“This is the first in a series of two EPs that will culminate in an exclusive limited edition LP titled Where to Go and How to Get There, duh set for release in 2026 that encapsulates a journey not just through physical space, but through the labyrinthine paths of mythology, mistaken identity, and the complexities of modern life,” explains Walker when asked about the upcoming project.
