Goldford in conversation with FAULT Magazine

All artists have their own unique journey and in the case of Goldford, it’s a journey which by no means was a straight line. Despite music living within his bones, it wasn’t until a life changing event that Goldford found the clarity to take the plunge and live life as a musician. We caught up with Goldford to find out more about his music, process and his FAULTs.

You’ve described yourself as a “late bloomer”, was there ever a moment when you thought this life your living right now was out of reach, and how did you pull yourself through that doubt?

I still have those moments! I didn’t even consider how it was possible. I was living in Chicago, working a corporate job. I went through a pretty hard breakup, which has a funny way of bringing clarity. I never hated my job, but I wasn’t passionate about my day to day life. It wasn’t as colourful as creating and making music. I remember thinking, “I’m too old, or it’s too late for me.”. Honestly, the fear of not trying and living with tremendous regret always outweighed any doubts of failure. For me, it’s crucial not to get too far ahead of myself. That’s where the doubts get louder.

Nashville is full of great creators and talented songwriters, was there ever a fear that it’d be hard to stand out or find inspiration in a town already so saturated by talent?

Of course! It’s easy to feel that way when everyone in that town is so freakishly talented. Nashville is home to some of the greatest songwriters in the world! I saw that as an incredible learning opportunity. It forced me to learn a few important lessons. One, comparison really is the thief of all joy. Everyone has their own extremely special thing unique to them. The more you lean into that thing, the more you naturally find your way. Two, be patient and kind to yourself. It takes time. It’s hard to remember to permit myself to create without judgement. I wrote a lot of mediocre songs – I still do. It’s an important part of the process.

You wrote Walk With Me during quarantine, do you feel the lockdown changed your songwriting process?

I would say that it enhanced it. It forced me to sit still during a scary and emotional time. I’ve always been able to write my best songs when I’m feeling extremes. I would say the state of the world right now is pretty extreme.

What’s been the hardest song for you to write emotionally?

A song called Self Help. I haven’t released it…yet.

When you look back on your musical journey, what’s been the hardest hurdle you’ve had to overcome to take your art to the next level?

Imposter syndrome. That feeling in your gut that you’re not (BLANK) enough. Good enough, original enough, clever enough, cool enough…. pick your poison. It can be creatively stifling and really hard to move through. Either you feel like you’re a fraud, or you’re a narcissist. Eventually, I learned how to identify that voice and tune it out. It’s just my ego trying to keep me safe when I’m feeling vulnerable. That’s exactly how I want to feel when I’m creating.

You’ve also penned hit songs for other artists, is there a change in your process when you’re creating music for others as opposed for yourself?

Sometimes. Sometimes I’ll create something for myself that ends up resonating more with another artist. Other times I get the privilege of diving deep into what they’re going through and how to capture that.

What upcoming projects are you working on right now?

I have four ep’s I am releasing this year, starting with “Dreams of Summertime”.

What is your FAULT?

I am a confident person, but I can be my worst enemy when it comes to releasing music. I just want to make it, love it, and let it go. It’s really that simple.