Podcast with Goldpark
Casey: Hey, everyone. Welcome to the Blue Sky Studios Podcast, where we speak with real people in the music industry today. I'm here with gold park guys. Welcome to the show. Thanks so much for having us, man. Yeah. Take, take a second and introduce yourself. Tell everybody your name and your instrument and what you got.
[00:00:20] Wes: Hey, I'm Wes Hunter. I sing and play guitar in Goldpark.
[00:00:24]Andrew: I'm Andrew Smith. I do not sing, but I play guitar.
[00:00:28] Kyle: I'm Kyle Neblett and I play drums.
[00:00:31] Casey: This would have been an awkward podcast if you're like, I do sing, actually, this is what the podcast... This is an intervention, we're chaning up things. Yeah, it just completely shifted the band's direction all over one podcast.
[00:00:43] Welcome to the blue sky studios podcast, where we wreck bands one, one interview at a time. So guys, I was told to start with a pretty interesting little factoid from what I've been told, you guys have not played a show before you got signed on a major label. Is that correct?
[00:01:04] Unpack this, there is so much into that little factoid.
[00:01:08]Andrew: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, honestly, the story kind of starts in mid 2019. Wes and our manager Brad, Brad Parker, who's I'm convinced one of the best in the biz is kinda, he's kinda new to the, the management game, but he's a hustler and a super hard worker and... Wes, you can kinda talk about..
[00:01:30] Yeah
[00:01:31] Wes: so I was in another band in 2019. And before that for awhile and Brad was.. He had started working with me in that band and along the way Andrew and his wife moved from Memphis Nashville. We got connected through a part-time job. And then from there he covered a show and actually at the same share, he comes to the first time Kyle actually pulled in on drums as well.
[00:01:54] So that kind of started that relationship. And then yeah, label conversations started to happen and we kind of felt like some things needed to be restructured and ended up turning into a new band with three of us. So, yeah. And then, so there were, so it's interesting. We had played shows as the previous band.
[00:02:11] And so the songs that we had done with that band, the performances are kind of what led to the label conversation. So the sentence that we had inside of never playing a show, isn't entirely accurate, but
[00:02:25] Casey: under the moniker.
[00:02:26] Wes: Yeah. It's definitely,
[00:02:28] Andrew: We hadn't done an official Goldpark show prior to getting signed, which is kind of bonkers.
[00:02:35] Yeah. Definitely doesn't happen every day, but we've been enjoying the ride. Yeah,
[00:02:42] Casey: that's awesome guys. And I think for so many people on the other side of that, they might hear like signed to a major label and just really not understand what that process is like. Can you guys tell us a little bit about what the process of getting signed is like scary.
[00:02:57] Is it awesome? Walk us through that.
[00:02:59] Andrew: Yeah. I think it's interesting. I feel like a lot of people in kind of have the assumption that, oh, once you get assigned to a major you've arrived or like now, now it's like sailing from here, but it's one of those things. Like, we don't really even know what we don't know at this point kind of a thing.
[00:03:17] Like, we don't even know how far we're going to have to work from here on out. So, because we are assigned to away, well, you know what I mean? Like, like, and just. Based on, you know what I mean? There's a lot there that I feel like you kind of, the hard work kind of starts now. You know what I mean? Like it's like you haven't won the game just because a label wants you or whatever.
[00:03:37] It's like now, now it's time to kind of prove yourself a little bit. I suppose.
[00:03:43] Wes: It's also like when you band on a new label. So it's like, and you know, we formed a new band in the middle of the pandemic. And so we're trying to write music and create a sound. Unique and authentic in the midst of that. So, yeah, it's, it's interesting.
[00:04:00] Like, I feel like obviously it happens in many different ways for different people. I think in our case, it was a label believed in what they heard and wanted to build a bit. Yeah, maybe as opposed to, I think some people sign deals, like, you know, not at the top of their game, but they're like, you know, almost there and the label takes on the other way.
[00:04:21] Like this was kind of a situation. Like we really believe in these guys and we've got to build a rock and roll band.
[00:04:26] Andrew: Yeah. Yeah. And it's been really awesome, man. Like our team at the label, I feel like are really, really dig gold park fans. And it's been really, really, really encouraging to hear them kind of say, Hey, like we love.
[00:04:38] The music and what you guys are doing and have given us a lot of freedom to kind of continue doing that. It's been a really, really, really awesome experience, honestly, for us. I think so far, the pandemic has obviously like complicated just music in general. You know what I mean? So like navigating all of that has been a little interesting for everyone involved, but the team is like a dream team or like from, from the top down.
[00:05:04] That's
[00:05:04] Casey: awesome. And he and his Sony that's who signed you guys, is that correct?
[00:05:07] Andrew: It was a, it's a Sony inference actually. So the, the manual label is called Hazel street records. Cool. So, yeah, so we're, we're part of Hazel street, which is a, just a Sony imprint, so, yeah. Yeah.
[00:05:18] Casey: And Kyle, what about you, man? What was maybe a surreal moment during that process for you?
[00:05:23] Kyle: So it's interesting for me. Obviously I'm in Memphis right now. So that throws a wrench into the whole situation of complication. But, but so, and I am really good friends with Andrew from Memphis and we kind of grew up playing music together and stuff. And he, I remember him calling me one day in March telling me all about the band stuff and I was gone.
[00:05:43] He was like, yeah, we got signed to the label. I was like, man, that's so cool. Like, I'm happy for you guys. And then about a week later, he called me and was like, so do you want to be in this.
[00:05:54] Sounds great to me to be in a band with Andrew, but, and west, but at the time, at the time, I only played that one show with what. And we actually talked about this the other day, that one of the first things we did was like, mid-summer recording some demos and I drove up and I hadn't seen Western a long time, but obviously I knew Andrew, so I was excited, but I was kind of like hesitant.
[00:06:16] I was like, I wonder what this is going to be like, like what's the dynamic going to be? Between the three of us. And then we recorded all day and I drove home and I was like, we're going to be okay.
[00:06:25] Casey: Yeah. It's kinda like reverse of a, I don't know if you guys have had friends do this where they, like, you hadn't heard from him for a while and they like send you a text.
[00:06:33] Like, Hey man, just checking in then like three or four days later, like, Hey, can I borrow some money? This is like, it's like the rubber so that like, they gave you the, Hey, you want to go on this label with us and go on this culture. So you have, you have better friends than me, I guess is what I'm saying.
[00:06:50] Well, cool. Well, tell our listeners a bit about the sound. I've listened to it really dig what you guys are doing. Tell our listeners about what you guys as far as the direction, the trajectory of that kind of thing. Yeah.
[00:07:01] Andrew: And we, we really just want to be a rock and roll band. You know, we just want to, like, we want to, at the end of the day, it's a sound like humans.
[00:07:08] Find music. And it's, it's really cool. I feel like to be doing that in 2021, where you kind of in the, in the broader kind of landscape of genres and the sound like there's definitely good electric guitars. There's plenty of electric guitars in pop music now. But to do it in a way that, like, I don't know, as a little bit more of like a rock and roll spirit to it, I think is, is really exciting and really cool to kind of be in this job.
[00:07:36] In this specific time, there's a lot that's possible with computers and stuff. And this isn't like, I'm not about to say I don't like ProTools or like have this like Dave girl mentality from like sound city or anything like that. But I just think it's really cool that we have so many tools at our disposal.
[00:07:51] And I don't think we necessarily, like anti-anything when it comes to like technology or anything like that. But I feel like we have a pretty firm grasp. Kind of what, what we're not and what we are, you know, and how, and letting that really inform really informed the sound like, like I know at the end of the day, the sharpest tool we have in our toolbox is west as voice.
[00:08:11] You know what I mean? And his songwriting ability and at the end of the day, if we can just come around a really great song as a band and support a really, really, really great song, then I feel like we're going to be okay. Kind of a thing.
[00:08:25] Wes: A lot of the bands that we look to, some of the older records, old rock and roll bands that we look to.
[00:08:31] I think something I realized in this process in like diving into those influences is and these are just like really great pop songs, like done in a rock and roll away. And I think a lot of that's kind of what we gravitate towards. And obviously like the sky's the limit sometimes like when a song is asking for a certain thing, A lot of our instincts tend to lean in that direction of like, okay, well, we're never going to write something that doesn't have some sense of pop sensibility.
[00:09:00] We just want to do it in a way that feels rock and roll. Right?
[00:09:03] Andrew: So the, the two singles that are out right now, I feel like are probably the two that sound maybe the most similar, it's kind of funny. They, I feel like they do kind of sound definitely like cousins, almost sonically, this kind of like pretty driving.
[00:09:17] Killers a war on drugs, situation kind of thing happening. We're actually putting a single out. Our third single is coming out in a couple of weeks and we'll, it'll, it'll kind of feature a slightly different kind of Sonic situation. I feel like for going part, but it's still undeniable. A band playing a song, kind of a thing it's a little bit more, I'm not gonna say ballady, but it's a little bit more kind of more cinematic.
[00:09:43] So that's coming out in a couple of weeks and we're really excited about that one. Yeah. And hearing you
[00:09:47] Casey: guys talk, it's clear that you've approached those strategically. It sounds like you're catering to your strengths as a band and what you guys find. Interesting. What would you tell to those younger artists?
[00:09:57] Younger bands who are just starting out and they're like, man, We really want to do what gold barks do, and we want to make it, we want to do this thing that we love. Can you kind of, and this might be a little reductionistic, but help them to understand, like, what are the really important things that they need to focus on?
[00:10:13] One of the
[00:10:14] Wes: things that I think about is I think we've talked about this before. Don't feel the pressure that your influence has have to be current. You know, like three of us that, like, we love records that came out in the late nineties, early two thousands, like that's kind of our golden era in a way we just, music was parade like the stuff coming out with so inspired.
[00:10:35] So like, whatever.
[00:10:36] Kyle: Whenever
[00:10:37] Wes: lit your fire to do it in the first place. Don't feel the pressure that because music seems to be going in one direction that you're going to be left behind or unnoticed. If you're not doing that thing.
[00:10:52] Andrew: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I think, I mean, Kyle probably has the most, like he's he probably has.
[00:10:59] He's probably the most well listened to his stuff, like before the eighties in the, in the band. And it was really cool. Cause it, no, go ahead. Go ahead.
[00:11:11] Wes: Some Beatles record. It's the Beatles, the Beatles almost too much. I try
[00:11:17] Kyle: and branch out, but yeah, a lot of the Beatles, like 16. Anything like British invasion is a big one for me, but kind of going off your question.
[00:11:25] I mean, I would say like, this might sound yeah. Obvious, but like finding people that you love to play with, because I, I feel
[00:11:32] Wes: like when you find two or
[00:11:34] Kyle: three people that you have a really great dynamic with, it just makes it easy. Like we go in the studio and it's just like, wow, this is what we get to do.
[00:11:41] Like we just get to hang out and make songs. Yeah. Crack jokes and it's like, it just makes it so much
[00:11:47] Wes: easier and so much better of an
[00:11:49] Kyle: experience. And it makes it, I think it makes a big difference, definitely in the long run to if you're planning on touring and ending your lives together, basically.
[00:11:58] Totally,
[00:11:58] Casey: definitely works out better if you like that. Like those people, for sure.
[00:12:04] Andrew: I think there's an interesting, there's this nuanced relationship. And swing the nuance between like taking yourself by taking music seriously, but not taking, like, being serious about music and not taking yourself into the day. Like we're serious about music, you know, but we're not trying to take ourselves too seriously and music.
[00:12:24] I don't honestly. Yeah. I think just like what Kyle said, like just have fun, like find people that you can kind of be yourself with and then it doesn't have to feel like too contrived. Yeah, no,
[00:12:41] Casey: that's great. Great advice. Yeah. And guys, we're recording this for our listeners to kind of know, mid I guess mid spring 2021.
[00:12:48] And I would assume you guys have some dates on the calendar going into the summer and the fall. Is that right?
[00:12:54] Andrew: Right.
[00:12:55] Casey: So kind of coming out of COVID coming out of the pandemic. What are, I guess, some of the most least certain parts about what you guys are doing as you're entering into this touring phase?
[00:13:05] Wes: Yeah, I mean, I think for us, the thing is like, it's probably not going to look like it did in 2019, the landscape things, you know, For us, it's like, we want to buy a van and pack it up and play pretty much anywhere. There are people that want to hear us, you know, whatever that looks like. And I think PR it's probably the way a lot of artists in our shoes are kind of looking at this situation as like, We know, this is what we want to do.
[00:13:35] We know this is what we have to do. How do we do it to fit if the current mold, you know more and more of a DIY kind of approach at this point, I,
[00:13:45] Andrew: you know, it feels pretty uncertain. How it, in a different sense, it almost feels pretty uncertain how the road and playing in front of a lot. Audience is going to affect our inspiration too.
[00:13:57] You know what I mean? Like I feel, well, I feel pretty certain that it will influence it in some way, but I feel pretty uncertain in how exactly it's going to either change or help inform like either help, encourage. Hey, we are kind of on the right track or, Hey, this people aren't loving this as much as we thought.
[00:14:16] And
[00:14:16] Wes: that's, what's so interesting. Like one thing Andrew says all the time is we're like we're creating rock and roll and a test to a little bit, you know, like we, we have been innovating our sound in the studio and yeah, sometimes like there's a huge blind spot because. Like, you know, the reason we're doing this is to share it with people.
[00:14:35] And the biggest way to do that past releasing music is playing in front of people and getting a response. So definitely gonna be interesting to see what happens that like what, you know, what works and what
[00:14:48] Casey: doesn't totally. So, so what's your reaction? Like you guys play a show and you look out and everybody's like, it just bombs like something good.
[00:14:57] Like what are you guys going to do? Like, what's the, what's the team talk when you go back to the van and you're driving to the next location,
[00:15:03] Andrew: but I don't know. The movie line that popped into my head right after you finished that question was when Marty McFly. So something like before he kicks in bar, after he finishes Johnny be good or something like that.
[00:15:14] Staring at him. And he just goes, you guys might not get it now, but your kids are going to love it.
[00:15:22] You were paving the way for the next ballpark. If that were to happen.
[00:15:28] Wes: My thought might not. I definitely wouldn't have the thought like, oh, we got to accept from the set immediately. I think my thought would just be let's regroup. Let's maybe V2 in the studio. Yeah.
[00:15:41] Casey: Yeah. And I think that's kind of what I'm trying to pull out is like, I think what makes band, you know, good bands, great.
[00:15:48] Is that ability to adjust and to, you know, see like, oh, that didn't quite work. Let's change that up. Let's be creative. Let's make that fresh. And I'm sure you guys are going to do that. So for our listeners, where can they find out more about you guys and what y'all do. Yeah.
[00:16:03]Andrew: Instagram is gold park park, van I gold card band.
[00:16:08] We've got a, a, a little landing page. We've got two singles out of gold park band.com as well. Or maybe it's gold park.com. I think it's gold park band.com. Forgive me. No, you're good. You're good.
[00:16:20] Casey: You're good. No
[00:16:20] Wes: worries. Across most platforms. Facebook, Twitter. Yeah.
[00:16:27] Andrew: It follow us for all the goofy
[00:16:28] Wes: content nonsense.
[00:16:31] It's just
[00:16:31] Kyle: nonsense.
[00:16:33] Wes: We're trying to figure out what's fun. What it is
[00:16:38] Andrew: like if you want to like the music, follow us on Instagram. If you want to like us as people.
[00:16:46] Casey: Yeah. Well guys, what do y'all think? Moving forward, we're coming out of this crazy time. Like what's the next three to five years of the music industry look like? What, what changes do you guys anticipate? What are you guys looking forward to? That sort of thing?
[00:16:59] Wes: Yeah. Well, one thing is, I think the appreciation for live music has probably gone through, I think us took it for granted, especially in Nashville.
[00:17:11] Like you go downtown any given night, somebody's playing. But now, since that has been not a thing for so long, I think everybody's got withdrawals. And so, man, I just, I think across the board, the appreciation for live music is going to be through the roof.
[00:17:28]Andrew: Naturally somebody that's, that's pretty like resistant to change.
[00:17:34] So I'll think it'll be really interesting to see. You know, people, the big buzz word right now is like, oh, whenever we get back to the, whatever the new normal is, you know what I mean? This, the whole idea of like the new normal and I'm kinda like, oh man, I just, I really want to get back to the old normal.
[00:17:48] Sometimes I hope things don't change too much. You know? Like I hope, I hope we don't have to do seated social distance shows forever. You know what I mean? But you know, it's, that's what it takes to, to play like. We've we joked sometimes it's like, we'll just call a burger king in the middle of Indiana or something and find the parking, make it happen.
[00:18:08] Yeah. We'll just do it. Like I don't really even care, you know? Yeah. And we
[00:18:11] Wes: just, we just wanna, we just want to share, you know, and, and, and because I think like that is such a, and I feel like that's such a cute, like we were talking about earlier, it's a huge part of a band's growth and development. Right.
[00:18:22] Figuring out what people that like us now want from us later, you know, that was cool.
[00:18:28] Casey: And any partying advice for the younger artists, younger bands
[00:18:31] Wes: out there? I think I just want to emphasize, don't take yourself too seriously. Like if, if you think something is cool, like most of the time. If you're creating something and you can like slightly make fun of it.
[00:18:44] It probably is really good. And it's probably cool. You know what I'm saying? Like, don't overthink it, you know, have fun and just like experiment. Yeah.
[00:18:56] Andrew: I'd probably say this is really random, but I'd probably say to the young guitar player that has friends that are going through like a Deaton metal phase and you're like, and you like, and you like, don't get it.
[00:19:06] But it's like, totally okay. Like, it's totally cool if like Coldplay or Kings of Leon is your favorite band. Like lean into that and you don't have to go through a metal phase in cool music thing and the sixth grade.
[00:19:19] Wes: Or to think of yourself as a guitar player.
[00:19:21] Andrew: Right, right. Exactly.
[00:19:23] Casey: Kyle, bring us home, man. What you got?
[00:19:25] Kyle: Oh man, I'm going to hit you up with the cliche. I'm going to say, just keep going. Like 2020, like hit everyone pretty hard and it's easy to just be like, maybe this isn't my thing, but it's.. Definitely just keep going and keep working and keep, keep trying.
[00:19:40] Casey: Because you never know your friend might call you the next week and invite you to join a band. That's signed on a label.
[00:19:46] Wes: And that's the thing is like, you just never know. It might take you a long time to find the right people.
[00:19:51] Kyle: It might seem like nothing's happening, but all the hard work pays off. Like if you work hard and you keep at it, Trust the process. Yeah.
[00:20:00] Casey: Cool. Thanks guys. Appreciate you.
[00:20:02] Andrew: Thanks a lot.
[00:20:04] Wes: Thank you, man. Appreciate it.