GOLDA create music which is experimental, mysterious and eerily sensual. With this distinctive sound, the anonymous electronic music project is amassing an ever-growing online following. However, the outfit is ambivalent towards online spaces. Their atmospheric tracks unite music lovers, encouraging them to enjoy the moment and escape the haze of Internet overload. Prioritising experience over image, the group serves as an antidote to superficial social media scrolling and a powerful statement upon music’s capacity to connect individuals. Residing in Berlin, they take inspiration from the party fanatics who frequent the city’s non-stop nightlife. GOLDA run on people power and pure chemistry.
After a period of extended creation, they are due to release debut EP, ‘The Golda Complex’, — sure to be as sublime as the complex mix of RnB and house which has defined previous singles ‘NsfW’ and ‘Villian’. We caught up with the enigmatic act to talk about their newest single ‘Nobody’, working with taste-maker label Majestic Casual, and what they have in store with their EP.
What was behind the choice of the moniker ‘GOLDA’ — does it have a specific relevance or meaning to you?
It sounds dope to us. Mysterious, female, sublime and rare. GOLDA is also sort of our main character. Like in a movie. But the way we perceive her from our perspective, so you could say GOLDA is also like a muse.
Who are your primary musical influences?
We both grew up in the ‘90s, so RnB & Rap, but [we] also share a love for gospel and soul music. Listening to artists like Jodeci, D’Angelo and SWV shook our world. They just killed it with the vocals and smooth harmonies over heavy beating hip-hop drums – straight up savage.
What is your motivation behind creating music; for example, are you motivated by a purely creative impulse, or do you have a specific message you wish to communicate through your work?
We are trying to make sense of a certain type of woman. Fascinating and bewildering at the same time. Pervertedly extrovert yet inexplicably shy. There is no real message behind it at all. It’s just puzzling to us. We bluntly exchange stories about our experiences, bumping into all different kinds of people. So yeah, you could call it creative impulse.
Being based in Berlin, has the German capital — with its fantastic arts scene and international outlook — had an effect upon you creatively?
To us, it’s impossible [for] environment [to] not affect your creative process. Especially all the people within that environment. Just take a ride on the U8 [a line on the Berlin U-Bahn] on a Friday night (and another one on Sunday morning) and you get the whole spectrum.
Being involved in electronic music and the Berlin scene, have you had any formative nightlife experiences?
Not that we can remember. We always have a blast at showcases of our close affiliates, like Majestic Casual or Lekker Collective. Especially with the latter, we’re literally blown away by all this love and encouragement in one room. Really dope.
What are the different stages of your musical process?
Music and melody come first. An instrumental ([which] can be just a beat sketch sometimes) sets the mood where we’re finding loose melodies, sometimes accompanied by ideas we want to talk about or lyrical fractures. We discuss what kind of colour it could have, what sort of emotion it evokes and write a story to it. It really comes [so] naturally that we wonder how it results in a complete track.
As an act that has chosen to remain anonymous, what is your opinion on our society’s social media culture?
There are two sides to it really. Social media can be an awful place sometimes. We have never been very big when it comes to sharing private information. We’re more [about] sharing the moment with people who hang with us, rather than being worried about how to illustrate that moment to the world. For some people, it has gotten way out of control. You expect yourself to be bigger than you have to be. Just be good enough for yourself!
But we also understand and appreciate that it can be a cool and creative tool, especially for artists like ourselves. It’s a communication tool, and it’s great for telling a story and projecting a certain image. Which can be a lot of fun. But that’s what a lot of people somehow seem to forget: it’s a projection, not real life.
Why did you choose anonymity?
We hate our faces.
Your newest single ‘Nobody’ was released via prominent label Majestic Casual. In what ways do you envisage that Majestic Casual will extend your reach as an artist, even as you maintain anonymity?
Majestic Casual Records is doing an awesome job in extending our reach, our anonymity really doesn’t matter. They just seem to be digging our stuff and are leaving us with 100 % artistic freedom. Running with whatever we come up with. That is difficult to do and we really appreciate what they have done for us so far. Plus we couldn’t think of any other Berlin-based label that understands vibey electronic music in 2018 as much as Majestic does.
Electronic music is often undervalued for its ability to tell a story or evoke emotion, how would you describe the emotions conveyed in ‘Nobody’? What is the story being told here?
First of all, that’s not true. Electronic music would not be as huge as it is right today if it wouldn’t evoke emotion.
Don’t you sometimes wish to be that guy who just doesn’t give a fuck about the perception others have about you? “Nobody” is that song. Not letting anyone kill your mood and thinking you’re the baddest. Maybe out of self-love, maybe because of substances. Who knows if he will feel the same way when he wakes up the next morning all by himself.
Your EP ‘The GOLDA Complex’ comes out today — how will this dialogue with and build upon previous singles, like ‘NsfW’, ‘Villian’ and now ‘Nobody’?
With ‘The GOLDA Complex’ we are trying to complete the picture of our first attempts to describe and process our perception and experiences with GOLDA women. Also, there is a stack of unreleased tracks. We’re super excited to share them with you.
Golda,’s debut EP, ‘The GOLDA Complex’, comes out today, March 16th. Check their Soundcloud to have a listen.
Words / Megan Wallace
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