Trixie Whitley

Trixie Whitley

Trixie Whitley is a singer-songwriter from Ghent, Belgium. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Chris Whitley. Her work is associated with alternative rock, blues rock, rock and soul, and she is linked with Unday Records.

Early life and musical background

Whitley is born in Ghent in 1987 and moves with her parents to New York when she is one year old. She grows up around recording studios in New York and New Orleans, including Electric Ladyland and sessions with Daniel Lanois, through her father’s work. After returning to Belgium with her mother, she starts playing drums at 11.

As a teenager, she tours widely across Europe with music theatre companies, performing as an actress, drummer and singer. Around the same period, she also DJs at venues and events including the SMAK museum, Eskimo parties, Amsterdam, New York, Brussels and the main tent at Dour Festival. At 14, she begins dancing and touring professionally with the contemporary dance company Les Ballets C de la B.

Career development

Whitley leaves school and moves back to New York on her own at 17. While working as a waitress and living in Brooklyn and Queens for nearly two years, she teaches herself piano and focuses on songwriting. During this time, she also contributes to other projects, including backing vocals for Chocolate Genius on an album produced by Craig Street, lead and backing vocals for Jerboa and Krewcial, and backing vocals for her father on Soft Dangerous Shores.

She performs her own solo material several times in New York venues. After her father dies, she returns to Belgium for a period. She releases her first EP in 2008.

Associated act

Whitley is a member of Black Dub.