On-the-rise Essex band, The Gold, are bursting onto the scene ready for 2017. After performing sold out London shows, and also releasing their latest single ‘SCREAM’ onto Spotify, we had a chat with lead vocalist, Joseph, to find out what the band is all about.
Tell us about your aims when creating music, and where does that aim stem from?
The aim is to always make music we are passionate and proud of and to always create with a full heart. I guess that stems from writing and playing music since such a young age and watching our idols perform too.
What was the catalyst for picking up instruments and wanting to start a band?
We have always played music together in one way or another since the school days, but the true catalyst to start this band was the desire for our music to reach as many people as possible and also our emotional pathways we’ve created along the way, as music is our one true outlet with how to express them. If we were doing this for the money we would of given up a long time ago. I guess it’s just now deeply routed within our bones and all we really know.
Were you very influential to music when growing up or did you establish your own musical preferences?
Growing up we definitely had our own individual musical quirks! Bruce Springsteen was always an idol of mine (Joseph) and Dan’s, Joshua was all over Nirvana, Louis is a major John Mayor fan, Tom is a Counting Crows fan and Danny as a kid (sometimes still now) dressing up as Michael Jackson every Christmas performing for his family. Along with many other artists they really helped shape us into the musicians we are today.
Tell us about what it was like when you first started writing?
Me and Danny have made music together since we were kids but we got together one evening a year or so ago and the music we started to make just felt completely different this time round, something clicked and within a month we had a full set and a full band. The truest moment when we felt our music come to life was when synth/piano was added to the mix!
What’s the music scene like in your hometown at the moment? Any band recommendations?
We live in Essex so the scene can be abit lacklustre at times but we are lucky to be so close to London where music thrives every single night of the week.
BBC introducing in Essex are bringing some exciting musical vibes through though so atleast it’s heading in the right direction!
There is some serious homegrown talent in our area though with the likes of Eliza and the Bear and We Are The Ocean.
You recently played at Camden Assembly. Tell us about that?
Its always fun playing that venue especially with it being so close to Christmas!
I had some family over from Australia too that I hadn’t seen in over 2 years so that was nice for them to see us live.
Describe your song-writing process?
Our process has been changing with every song we write to be honest. Recently though Danny records ideas into logic and we all add our variations to it which creates our unique vibe.
What was it like recording your single, ’SCREAM’?
We knew what we wanted out of our studio session as our pre-production was a long and intense process because we wanted to make our first single not just catchy but also a representation of what we want to create and portray to our fans.
The producer for ‘SCREAM’ is on our level too so it just all fell into place!
Although you are in a band, do you still have to work day jobs in-between live shows?
Yeah, unfortunately we all work for ‘The Man’ when we aren’t being ‘Rockstars’.
Stretching across retail and bar work.
How would you like people to respond to your music? Do you wish to connect emotionally with the audience or is it just about having a party?
Both. Emotionally connecting with our lyrics but partying to our music is probably the balance we all have when playing live anyway.
Do you ever see your sound changing from the type of harmonious indie pop you write currently?
Natural progression will always occur in any band but at this moment in time what we create is what we love.
Do you ever see The Gold expanding with more members?
Yeah man we want a full choir and string/brass section at our headline slot at glasto this year.
The above is all true apart from the Glastonbury part.
