Whitney hails from Snohomish, WA, where she took up guitar at age 16 after she was introduced to the instrument during a church service. As Whitney taught herself to play, she developed a keen enthusiasm for songwriting, and continued to work on her music after graduating high school and moving on to college. Whitney studied at Whitworth University, a Presbyterian-affiliated school in Spokane, WA, and there she met a fellow student and musician, upright bassist Aaron Fishburn, in 2004. Whitney and Fishburn found their individual musical styles complemented one another, and they began playing as a duo at venues throughout the Pacific Northwest, slowly building a following. Whitney's music found an appreciative ear at Malamute Records, an independent music company based in Seattle, and Whitney and Fishburn released their debut album, Leave Your Shoes, through the label in 2007. ~ Mark Deming