Words by Amar Gera //

After years of hard work, GOLDS aka Amali Golden, has delivered on her debut EP Imprints.

Boasting crisply produced tracks, the EP is the result of numerous years of hard work in the Aussie music scene; from being a finalist on Australian Idol, to working as a session vocalist and keyboard player for artists like E^ST, Vance Joy and Dua Lipa. In addition, she’s worked on the big screen, starring in shows like AACTA nominated series BLOOM, The Other Guy and Marvel smash Thor Ragnarok.

The EP features some top-notch production and song-writing from GOLDS, blending intimate lyricism with dreamy beats efoortlessly. Touching on topics like vulnerability and self-empowerment, she manages to get her message across whilst not being overshadowed by the crisp production, maintaining a certain rawness throughout the EP’s five tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUlWqK4sIYk&list=OLAK5uy_mQr5QBaHmL2SFo8UDFsnf8W_wYyrMGt24&index=5

Her latest single ‘Drip’ is a prime example of this. GOLDS asserts, over the colourful production, she’s done caring about what other people think illustrated by lyrics like ‘I don’t really care if anybody knows’. The numerous vocal harmonies and inflections sit perfectly over the spacey synths and claps of the track, creating something uniquely textured. It’s clear Gold’s has got her craft down, and she repeatedly proves that throughout the duration of the EP.

Have a listen right now (stream/buy here) and check out our interview with GOLDS:

How does it feel now that ‘Imprints’ is out?

It feels really good to have it out for people to hear! To me it doesn’t feel like the creative process is done until you have actually released the thing you’ve made. Then you’re ready to make the next thing! A friend said to me once that you should consider music that you release “you at that period in time” and not feel like it has to define you forever. This EP really feels like me right now and that’s cool.

The title track is absolutely gorgeous, was there any reason why you chose to open the EP with that particular one?

Thank you so much. I feel like the EP is a lot about self acceptance, and Imprints is about the way our past experiences leave their mark on us, and shape how we see the world and how we relate to other people. So to accept yourself you kind of need to work out where you’ve come from, and what your starting point is. So it makes sense for it to be at the beginning.

Broken wing has some real honest lyrics about self-acceptance and anxiety on it. Was it at all intimidating being vulnerable on a track like that?

It was very intimidating! And it actually took a long time to write. I wrote the chorus when I was in a pretty low, isolated place and I just couldn’t finish the track, it was a struggle to find any motivation for anything. I came back to it probably two years later when I was in a different headspace and tried to approach it in a different way, like “what if I did let you in to how I feel?” And so it became more about what it’s like to tell someone that there’s this part of you, and being scared to open up like that. I think expressing it musically made it easier to talk about in my everyday life, so it’s been quite cathartic.

‘Drip’ has a real nice message about enjoying the process instead of worrying about perceptions and the outcome. Is that a mindset you’ve always had throughout your career?

It’s something I’ve really worked on and it’s still hard sometimes. It’s so easy to compare yourself to other people or get swept up in whether people will like the thing you’ve made, and how ‘successful’ it will be in the traditional sense. But who cares if people like your stuff if you didn’t even enjoy making it?

How would you say you changed from the start of writing the EP to when you finished it?

I feel like I’ve changed so much! At first I was just figuring out my sound and what I wanted to say, and now I feel a lot more confident in who I am as an artist – I’m trusting my instincts more. I’m excited for what’s next!

Is there anything you’re trying to say with ‘Imprints’?

Nothing too profound, I was just trying to be honest with what I was saying, not try to make it for any kind of perceived audience and not try and judge anything I made before it was finished, just let it come out. As obvious as it may sound, I was just trying to enjoy the process of making it.

Whats 2020 looking like for GOLDS?

I’m really excited to work on new music. I have some fun collaborations I’m working on, and I’ve been putting together the live show as well. So I’ll be playing some shows next year.