Review: ‘Raised’ – Hailey Whitters

Hailey Whitters is one of the most talented songwriters in Nashville right now. She has just been nominated for two GRAMMY Awards for two songs she’s written with and for other people – Brandy Clark and Alicia Keys. But her latest album will surely bring in accolades of it’s own as she teams up with fellow hit makers such as Lori McKenna, Tom Douglas and Nicolle Galyon to name a few.

She draws influence from her roots on this record and gives a nod to the boys she grew up with in high school on the track ‘Boys Back Home’ which she co-wrote with Jessie Jo Dillon and Brandy Clark, it’s a stand out on the record for me, her lyricism shines through.

Whilst the single ‘The Neon’ has a great beat, it is a catchy track with country-pop hooks reeling you in to that chorus. The strings in the production, subtle yet effective. The album is book ended by cinematic instrumentals which set the scene well.

Though her songwriting prowess has been established, her voice excels on this album. Whitters told me she hoped to break through on country radio with songs from this album, well if country radio doesn’t play this then they don’t know what’s good for them!