Whitworth's “World War” Is a Witty Indie Boy Banger

“World War” is the first single from St. Louis indie pop artist Whitworth’s debut album ‘Earth to Dreamer,’ and it feels like an early contender for song of the summer.

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Stream: “World War” – Whitworth

Whitworth’s new single “World War” will bring a feeling of warmth to your ears.

It feels reminiscent of the early sounds of bands like Wallows and Dayglow, featuring all those flavors of indie pop that we have grown to love; the summery guitars, the dreamy synths, pretty reverb vocals, and a set of relatable lyrics makes Whitworth an exciting new artist-to-watch.

World War - Whitworth — World War – Whitworth

Independently released March 8, 2024, “World War” is the first single off Whitworth’s debut album Earth to Dreamer, where Owen Whitworth Ragland gets to tell his story in full, using all the colors of his expansive brain. Hailing from St. Louis, MO, Whitworth has a midwestern feel to his artistry; it’s DIY and it’s by any means necessary.

And it was by any means necessary for Ragland, who at the beginning of 2021 decided he was going to be an artist. With a background in classical piano and an easy inclination on the guitar, Ragland started producing music at just 14 years old. After dabbling in just about every genre of music, Whitworth found a deep sensibility for jazz, electronic, and hip-hop, and how they all work together with his style.

During his time at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, he finally made the decision to put all the pieces of the puzzle together and start an artist project for himself. He turned to his buddies at Sarah Lawrence for live support, and the origin of Whitworth began. Ragland has since dropped out of school, moved back to St. Louis, and is giving his music a full-time go.

His second single of the year (following January’s “Purple Cotton Haze,” a collaboration with NYC-based indie pop artist Chloe Berry), “World War” is a perfect culmination for who Ragland is as an artist.

The song elevates Whitworth’s DIY bedroom pop sensibility, with incredibly clean production and catchy hooks that feel like driving in the summertime with your windows down. He collaborated with his bandmates Elijah Melvin, Dominic Mauro, Ross Spellman, and Jacob Nelson on “World War”; Michael Lefvre from Sleepy Soul, another St. Louis legend, executive produced the record.

The music video for “World War” was shot by Elliott Atkinson, a hot young cinematographer based in Brooklyn, and features a literal army tank being driven through the streets of St. Louis, if that’s any indication of how committed Ragland is to his artistry.

We’ll be keeping an eye on Whitworth and streaming “World War” until the rest of Earth to Dreamer drops, and we think you should, too.

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