For this singer-songwriter, song writing is more than a creative outlet, it’s a way to process emotions. Ginger Winn stuns with her surprise EP “Reflections” and new album “Freeze Frame”. Each song from these two projects produce nothing short of raw emotion, heartbreaking honesty, and deep connection. Partnering with Rewind Kingston to donate a part of proceeds to mental health initiatives and using her music to share important resources like the 988 crisis line, there is no doubting Winn’s dedication to mental health awareness. To learn more about Ginger Winn and the story behind the music, read on.

Where are you based?
I’m currently based in Kingston, New York.

What inspired you to start writing songs and pursue a career in music?
I grew up making albums with my mom every year, just the two of us. She wrote a lot of the lyrics when I was younger, and I started writing my own around age 15. Songwriting became the only way I knew how to process things, especially the hard stuff. Music has always been my way of getting through the world and trying to make sense of it.

How would you describe your music style? Are there any artists in particular that inspire you?
You could say I was heavily influenced by old country music, and that influence still sneaks into the way I write melodies. These days, my sound blends indie folk and pop with a focus on intimate vocals and emotional storytelling. I’ve been really inspired by artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Kacey Musgraves, but also by a lot of the older stuff I grew up on, like Queen and Fleetwood Mac.

Your sophomore album titled “Freeze Frame” just released. Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind the project and what listeners can expect from it?
Freeze Frame is the most personal and emotional project I’ve worked on. I started recording it after my dad passed away, and the whole record became a way for me to process that loss. It touches on grief, healing, memory, and hope. Even though the themes are heavy, the music often feels light. There are a lot of upbeat, almost nostalgic melodies that carry the weight of the lyrics. What’s crazy is we wrote most of this album over two years ago and it was still heavily inspired by life, love and loss. After losing my dad, the album took on a whole new meaning and I was able to put all of my very fresh emotions into the recordings, which started only a few weeks after losing him.

One of your new singles from the album titled “Not You” blends a very intriguing sound with incredibly raw lyrics. Can you tell us about what these lyrics discuss? What do they mean to you?
“Not You” was written two years ago with my co-writer Matt, inspired by his experience of losing a close friend to suicide. At the time, I could only imagine that kind of grief. But after my dad took his own life this past November, the song took on an entirely new meaning for me. Now, when I sing it, I feel both versions of the song: the one we wrote back then, and the one I carry now. It’s raw, and it’s real, and I think that’s why it resonates the way it does.

Your other new single off of “Freeze Frame” titled “Freezing” is just as raw, with the repetition of the lyric “I need to freeze the frame,” which ties into the album’s title. Did the creation of this song inspire the album’s title? How did you go about choosing the title for this album?
When I went to record with AJ in Cincinnati, Ohio, I flew in this January, and the next day we got hit by a huge blizzard. We were snowed in, so I couldn’t get to the studio for a day or two. AJ sent me a track he was working on, and I realized my co-writer Matt had just sent me some lyrics. They fit together perfectly, and we spent the first day working on that song, which became “Freezing.” The lyric “I need to freeze the frame” resonated deeply with the album’s theme and my desire to hold onto, or reenter memories, especially with my dad. Interestingly, we had already chosen the title “Freeze Frame” before we recorded the first album “Stop-Motion.” The two albums were meant to be sister pieces where the first one would be bright with dark spots, wrapping heavy concepts in bright, light colors, and the second is our dark album with bright spots, a more painstakingly raw experience. Both titles use film concepts to reflect the content about taking a step back to examine our lives, and emphasize the fact these albums are visual experiences.

Just recently you dropped a surprise EP titled “Reflections.” Can you tell us about the story behind these songs and the message you hope listeners get from them?
“Reflections” is a deeply personal EP that we put together, focusing on the theme of loss: losing someone or something you love. After my dad passed away, I wrote a song about it, and my label, Keep Good Company Records, suggested we release it. It was called “To, Dad”. That idea evolved into the entire “Reflections” EP. One of the tracks is a co-write with Karlie and Sydney Flood from Kingston, NY, which also delves into the emotions of losing someone and moving through loss. The third track is a cover of “Gloria” by The Lumineers, a song about witnessing someone you love going through immense pain and having to carry that weight.

On your EP “Reflections,” you covered the song “Gloria” by The Lumineers. What about this song inspired you to create a cover? What led you to your decision to include it on the EP?
There’s something hauntingly honest about “Gloria.” I’ve always been drawn to songs that don’t shy away from the messiness of life and this one does that so beautifully. When I was curating the EP, it felt important to include a song that wasn’t mine but still reflected the emotions I was carrying. Covering “Gloria” was a way for me to honor the experience of watching someone you love struggle deeply, and to carry that weight with compassion. The original version sounds anthemic — wrapping heavy lyrics in what sounds like an almost fun song — one of The Lumineers’ specialties. My version leans into the weight of the lyrics to sound more like a funeral choral. The EP is meant to resonate with anyone experiencing grief and to help them feel a little less alone in their journey.

All of the streaming proceeds coming from your song “Everytime it Rains” off of the EP will also be donated to Rewind Kingston, a thrift store who donates 10% of their proceeds to mental health initiatives, and their Heart of Midtown Street & Musical Festival. Why did you choose to partner with them? Can you tell us a bit about this music festival and its mission?
Rewind has been a beautiful part of the community here, and they’ve always supported creative projects that serve a larger purpose. The Heart of Midtown Festival is all about bringing people together through music and community care and I wanted to be part of that. Donating the streaming proceeds from “Everytime it Rains” felt like a way to give back in a meaningful way, especially because that song was written out of such a personal moment of loss.

You have also collaborated with Rewind Kingston and Keep Good Company to create a project called Nourish. Can you tell us about this project and what it does? What inspired you to create it?
Nourish is a creative project that lives at the intersection of art and wellness. I started writing a page for the Nourish zine that gives readers insight into songwriting, from prompts to personal reflections. It’s designed to be a gentle invitation to reconnect with your creativity, especially for folks who are healing or feeling stuck.

Nourish is meant to simply nourish the reader by sharing positive or healing things going on in the Hudson Valley.

The suicide prevention and crisis hotline, 988, is currently experiencing defunding threats from our government. You have this number posted to come up anytime someone plays your new single “Not You” on Spotify. What are your thoughts on these threats? Why is it important we keep resources like this funded and readily available to the public?
988 is an essential lifeline. No one should have to go through their struggles alone, and these services make that kind of support accessible. When we put “Not You” out, we wanted the hotline to be right there, visible and accessible, because if even one person hears that song and reaches out for help, it’s worth it.

What advice do you have for someone who might be struggling with their mental health?
The best thing I’ve ever done to feel good and want to be around is to cultivate genuine connections, AKA friends. Being around people who see me, who care, who laugh with me. It doesn’t feel natural for me to reach out to people though. I didn’t experience any of that in the woods of South Carolina. But really pushing myself in the last few months has been difficult and in every way worth it.

Are there any more upcoming projects or announcements we should look out for?
Yes! I’ve got my full album Freeze Frame out June 13, and we’re doing a special event at Woodstock Way Hotel to celebrate. I’m also continuing to produce music for other artists through my studio, Ginger’s Bakery, and working on a new batch of songs that lean even more into playful, summery sounds. Lots of exciting things on the way.

It has been a rough few years, and we expect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
I’ve been staying busy. With friends, with music, with everyday life. Being outside has been very healing for me lately. The spring has sprung and it’s very refreshing.

What is your motto in life?
Just keep swimming — Dory. This quote has stuck with me for years now and I truly believe that if you keep moving and keep swimming, you’ll find your way eventually.

To learn more about Ginger Winn, please check out the links below:

https://drop.cobrand.com/d/GingerWinn/freezeframe
Instagram: @thegingerwinn
TikTok: @thegingerwinn
YouTube: gingerwinn
Official Website: gingerwinn.com
Spotify & all streaming platforms: Ginger Winn

Ginger Winn Sings to Souls