Live In A New Way by Jenny Van West

·21 min·2 clips

Jenny Van West reveals how Freddie Gray's death in Baltimore sparked her pop song about shifting mindsets on race.

In this episode of Backstory Song, host Doug interviews songwriter Jenny Van West about her song 'Live in a New Way'. Van West begins by situating the song's creation in 2015, alongside another track called 'Happiness to Burn'. She connects it to the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, which occurred during a year of protests against police violence. Van West reflects on her family background as European settlers and slaveholders in Maryland since the 1600s, acknowledging this history and the privilege it entails. She describes how Gray's death made racial injustice personal for her, leading to feelings of white guilt and a desire for change. The song aims to encourage a mental shift, addressing uncomfortable truths while maintaining an accessible, upbeat pop sound. Van West explicitly states the song targets white listeners, framing it as a 'white-splaining' lesson on human dignity without being preachy. The host analyzes lyrical elements, noting the use of 'whoa' in the chorus and an octave shift in the second iteration. Van West credits producer Shane Alexander for these production choices, highlighting the collaborative scrutiny in mixing. She then discusses her songwriting philosophy, comparing it to sewing curtains and knowing when to seek feedback from mentors like Ed Disjardin. Van West emphasizes keeping a 'creative door open' and balancing craft with intuition. She advises against overworking songs, suggesting a 'light grip' to avoid killing creative 'darlings', and references the song 'Happiness to Burn' as an example of a 'darling' track. The episode blends personal narrative with technical insights into song creation.

As heard by us

A bright pop song becomes a thoughtful route into history, responsibility, and songwriting craft.

Jenny Van West's "Live In A New Way" begins as bright pop with a trace of George Harrison-style rock guitar, then opens into heavier ground. She ties its 2015 writing to people she met from Congo, Freddie Gray's death in Baltimore, protests against police violence, and the…

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You want a bright pop song to carry a hard question about racism without turning into a lecture.

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