Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Emily Fehler released her debut record as Gold Child last week, a moniker she adopted upon moving to New York City in 2012. A “self-proclaimed student of country music’s golden age,” she names legends Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris as major influences, though her music itself has drawn comparisons to Angel Olsen, Mazzy Star, and Neko Case. All of these are well-deserved, as Fehler displays a mastery of the Americana sound that makes Gold Child feel classic and fresh all at once. This timelessness stems partly from Fehler’s pristine vocals, which shimmer bright above lush acoustic instrumentals, but also from the subject matter itself.
Fehler pulls the classic ’70s country sound into the present moment with her lyricism, which provides deep insight into the inner emotional world of a millennial woman, focusing on ephemeral details, evoking imagery like morning, roses, and rainbows in her kitchen. She plays with the concept of time as a theme often: its value in an age when most people work at least two jobs to make ends meet, and the modern, disconnected feeling of wishing you had more time to yourself while also wanting to share it with someone else. On track “Lose the Light,” she distills the potent visual of light coming and going as the day progresses to a metaphor for giving our time to other people each day in order to survive, concluding with the salient line “Time’s been fooling us all.”
More than once, Fehler bemoans the way her life and time no longer feel like her own, a concept that cuts to the very core of what it means to be a young person in America circa 2019. And yet, while she wishes these things still belonged to her, she implores someone else to help her get it back, opening “Lose the Light” with the plea “Take me somewhere where my time is my own.” On the aptly-named “In Between,” she acknowledges the rift between connecting with another and having to give up personal space to do so, delicately touching on the human tendency to push people away while silently wishing they’d resist us: “I might get angry sometimes but I like to feel you next to me.”
Fehler acknowledges that she wrote the album in a transitional time in her life, saying “I was coming into my own as an adult – working day jobs, trying to cope with the state of the world, and my newfound anxiety – which is maybe a culprit of why the record took so long to make.” Early single “Undertow” provides a snapshot of her trajectory: “Everything’s feeling so hectic/Been moving too fast/While I’m just standing here motionless.” But if this debut is any indication, some things shouldn’t be rushed. Fehler can finally rest assured that her time was well spent: she has managed to craft a beautiful collection of meaningful songs that will resonate with countless people, as we all drift along in a world that seems to carry on outside of our control.
It’s that time of year again! Northside Festival is just around the corner, and we’ve put together another showcase of awesome artists with the help of Glamglare! Join us Saturday, June 10th at Knitting Factory Brooklyn for music by Blonde Maze, Gold Child, Letters to Nepal, Kinder Than Wolves, GIRL SKIN, and Josh Jacobson. Sets start at 12:15 pm, so come say hi and hear some of our favorite new tunes!
12:15 pm – Blonde Maze
The nome de plume of singer/songwriter Amanda Steckler, Blonde Maze recently dropped the infectious electro-pop gem “Antartica.” The follow-up single to her 2015 debut EP Oceans, “Antarctica” is lovely and forlorn. We can’t wait to hear it live on Saturday!
1) What record have you been listening to on repeat lately?
Sylvan Esso’s new album! Heard it for the first time a few weeks ago, I love the sounds.
2) You came out with your last single, “Antarctica” late last year; what are you working on now?
Right now I’m polishing up a single for release soon… keep an eye out!
3) Your music is so atmospheric – if you could perform live in any setting (an arena, aquarium, space shuttle, etc.) where would it be?
Thank you! That’s a brilliant question.. Hmmm. An igloo in Antarctica under the Northern Lights!
4) You originally studied film before dedicating your life to music 100%. Have you ever thought about writing film scores?
Yeah totally. When I was studying film, I took a few film scoring classes. I don’t think scoring is so much for me, but I love the idea of writing a song that could be put to a film scene or story. I also love when I see people put my music to their own videos!
5) What sets are you most excited to catch this weekend at Northside Festival?!
I would love to catch Salt Cathedral, Letters to Nepal (which won’t be too hard considering they’re part of the showcase!), Hoops, Psychic Twin, just to name some!
1:oo pm – Gold Child
Brooklyn’s Gold Child (aka, our favorite country sweethearts) have released some killer new music in the past couple of months, including “Me and You” and “Tides.” Singer/songwriter Emily Fehler is sure to stun you with her graceful stage presence and angelic pipes. Get ready for a dreamy set with enough slide guitar to melt your heart.
1) You’ve been described as (or perhaps you coined the term) “Mermaid Country.” We like the sound of that! What does it mean to you?
Our music is hard to put into one genre category so when I started the project, I was describing it as “mermaid country” to kind of get across an image to describe it. It’s become slightly less country these days but that element is definitely still there along with the ethereal vibe that inspired the “mermaid” factor.
2) Who are some of your favorite Brooklyn bands right now?
9/10 of my friends are in Brooklyn bands that I love. My besties Gracie and Rachel are killing it though and are about to release an album next month!
3) What is a recurring theme that tends to pop up in your songs?
I’m from Colorado and grew up being outside in nature a lot. I really miss it there while I’m in the city so I write a lot about that and feeling like I’m not rooted to any one place.
4) What is Gold Child currently working on? A full length record, perhaps?
We are constantly writing and recording at the moment for what will definitely be a body of work that we hope to release soon, whether it will be an EP or LP.
5) What gigs are you catching at Northside Festival this weekend?!
I’m going to try and catch Julia Holter, Lower Dens playing ABBA, and Beverly.
1:45 pm – Letters To Nepal
“Chillstep” Siberians Letters to Nepal recently released the single “Come Find Me” as a follow-up to 2016 LP LUX. We can’t wait to hear their beautifully somber set this weekend; come prepared to sway.
1) You came to New York in 2013 by way of North Carolina (and by way of Siberia before that!); what has changed the most in the music scene since you arrived in NY?
Our life is a musical journey. We have been living in different cities and countries and they give us different kinds of energy and inspiration, which changed our sound from post-rock to an electronic sound. We hope to continue this way of life.
2) What was the inspiration behind your latest single, “Come Find Me”?
Honestly, the sound number 19 in Roland JUNO D. Kidding, of course. The song was inspired by the atmosphere around us and the sense of defenselessness in the huge universe. In this song we respect people who are trying to fight for their rights. So maybe, sound organ number 19 of Roland was very connected to it.
3) If you could collaborate with any living artist in the world, who would it be?
Anton: Rammstein, with YMusic Orchestra.
Evgeniya: Maybe with James Blake, he is a really cool musician.
4) Tell us about any big projects Letters to Nepal has coming up!
We are in the process of creating new music. This time we are doing everything in a different and new-to-us way: new sounds, styles, atmosphere. And we don’t want to follow any rules of style. We’ll see…Very soon, we will release our new single “Our Hands Are One.” And we are currently planning our second tour for this fall.
5) What live shows are you seeing at Northside this weekend?!
Big Thief.
2:30 pm – Kinder Than Wolves
Orlando’s Kinder Than Wolves is comprised of three audio engineers/musicians, so it’s no surprise that they’re able to lay down such lush soundscapes. Their 2016 record Mean Something was met with acclaim from the likes of The Big Takeover and we can’t wait to hear what they’ve been working on since their debut!
3:15 pm – GIRL SKIN
Locals GIRL SKIN craft songs that are hard to define by genre, but are gorgeous nonetheless. The handful of singles preceding their upcoming EP blend folk, pop, and soul, and certainly leave us wanting more.
1) You guys have a very rich sound – what were some of your points of inspiration while writing the songs on your most recent recordings?
Well the last five or six songs we’ve written have all been on the piano, not sure why…. well I do know why; it’s because I just bought a piano. Also possibly because I’ve been listening to a lot of Nick Cave.
2) You composed a great track for Valley Eyewear…are there any other upcoming collaborations you’re looking forward to?
I just composed something for Victoria Secret. Pretty strange, not sure if I’ll do that again.
3) What bands are you digging right now that we should check out?
Benjamin Booker’s new album.
4) Any big summer plans for GIRL SKIN?
We’ll be releasing a few music videos and an EP also playing live a ton.
5) What gigs are you catching at Northside Festival this weekend?!
Elvis Depressdly, Big Thief.
4 pm – Josh Jacobson
Josh Jacobson writes neo-soul music that is both vulnerable and strong. A multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and singer, Jacobson wooed us with his latest singles “Polaroids” and “Not Alone.” Come slow dance to Jacobson’s headlining set at our showcase on Saturday!
1) Your self-proclaimed genre is “Future Soul;” what does that mean to you?
I’m inspired by a lot of different sounds, from jazz to dance music, and ‘future soul’ is my way of bringing it all together. At the core I’m a piano singer-songwriter, but I sing over this soundscape built from my own mix of both live instruments and electronics.
To me, soulful music is about saying something from deep within, and trying to share your own voice in a direct way. Jazz and soul music have always spoken to me, and I think that sound is the most obvious influence in the records I make. I also like to voice my ideas through sound design itself, so my production style is continually evolving and doesn’t really fit into any neat label. That’s the ‘future’ aspect.
2) Given your numerous talents, what is your favorite part of the process, from songwriting, to recording, to performing live?
Performing is really what I live for the most. I’ve been an instrumentalist way longer than anything else, so I just have this lifelong love for the feeling of being on stage with other musicians and creating something together that is completely of the moment.
I really dig being in the studio and exploring every idea to the fullest through those long days and nights too, but the music comes alive in a new way for me when I get to play it out with a full band and share that live energy with an audience.
3) There seems to be a lot of mindfulness behind your music. What do you hope to inspire in your listeners?
Right on! Creating music is very meditative for me, and I’d like for people to also feel that kind of rejuvenation when they listen to my music, in their own way.
I get a lot of my inspiration from nature, and I think that comes across in my music too. When I’m out in the woods or on the water, I just feel like a kid again. Something about that environment makes me feel connected to my purpose and the things that are actually important to me, and distant from the fucked-up-ness of the world and my own troubles and fears.
Music also makes me feel that way, so I think those experiences are deeply linked in my mind. Everyone has different things that move them, so I hope my music inspires people to find that feeling in whatever way is right for them, and to create the life they want to live.
4) Your first instrument was the piano, and now you play everything from the harp to the trumpet. Are there any instruments you’re still dying to learn? Which ones?!
Sometimes I feel like I was born to be a bass player! Many of my songs are very bassline-driven, and that’s often what I hear first when I listen to music. I could listen to “Voodoo” all day on repeat and just vibe to the way Pino locks in with Questlove’s drums. It’s amazing.
I love laying down parts on my Moog, but can only play basic lines on bass guitar so it’d be cool to take some time and get actually good at it. I’ve been learning mallet percussion lately for my live show, which is a lot of fun too! Pretty much just like playing a keyboard but much more physical, and it inspires different kinds of melodies and riffs.
I’m really more of a keyboard player than a multi-instrumentalist to be honest, but I do love hopping on new instruments and seeing what sounds I can find! My mom is a professional violinist and she’s been taking harp lessons for the last couple years for fun, so whenever I’m back home upstate I get to sit down and improvise on her harp. The way the wood resonates with the vibrations of the strings and fills the room with sound is very powerful and healing – kind of like a grand piano, but better.
5) What shows are you definitely checking out at Northside Festival this weekend?!
Def want to catch my favorites Dirty Projectors, Kamasi Washington and BJ the Chicago Kid. Also looking forward to Synead, OSHUN and a bunch of others. I’ll be exploring the festival all weekend, see y’all in the ‘burg!
Join us this Wednesday, 12/21 for the annual AudioFemme holiday party! As well as live music and drinks, there’ll be stickers, Xmas cookies, your favorite Femmes and a killer afterparty.
We’ll see you at Union Pool at 8pm. Doors are at 8pm, the show starts at 9pm and tickets are $10; Purchase them in advance and RSVP here so we’ll know you’re coming! The party will feature live performances by:
Gold Child: Created by Brooklyn musician Emily Fehler, Gold Child injects a burst of energy and melodic sweetness into country music, updating the genre by mixing it with psych-folk elements. Listen to their debut single, “Tides,” below.
Von Sell: David Von Sell is an electro-pop artist originally from Berlin. He crafts mellow yet interesting tracks draped in layers of reverb heavy vocals that range from shimmery and upbeat to bittersweet and atmospheric. Check out his track “Miss Me” below:
After the live performances, the after party begins at 11pm with DJ sets by:
BEARCAT: BEARCAT is a multidisciplinary artist whose music reaches into her Jamaican roots and time spent making dance floors shake in all corners of the world. Check out “Radar 111,” an invigorating blend of heavy rhythms.
SHYBOI: This DJ’s sets are bursting with barely-contained energy, making Yulan Grant a critical addition to the all-women NYC DJ collective known as Discwoman. Her songs will keep you on your toes, both literally and figuratively.
The original and critically acclaimed month-long residency, The Hum, is returning this October with its all-women collaborative shows presented by HYPNOCRAFT.
It’s back with it’s fourth installment taking place every Monday in October (except for Halloween) at the Greenpoint piano bar Manhattan Innat 8:30pm.
The residency will feature first-time collaborative live performances between a hand-picked line-up of artists including members of Ava Luna, Buke and Gase, Cibo Matto, Emmy The Great, Invisible Familiars, Lake Street Dive, TEEN, tUnE-yArDs and more.
The Hum has become a top platform for unique first-time collaborations between a diverse array of women working in various genres such as R&B, art-rock, spectral pop, classical, and punk. Its mission is to connect a diverse community of musicians through a exclusively uncommon performance platform which fosters new sounds, musical partnerships, and gives visibility to women making music.
Tickets are available in advance for $12 and will be available for purchase at the door for $14. Purchase tickets here.
Check out the full line-up below! And peep the set Audiofemme is curating on Oct. 3rd featuring Angelica Bess ofBody Language Emily Fehler ofGold Childand Rosie Slater of New Myths.
Gold Child is the shimmering, effervescent and wholly unexpected “Mermaid Country” project headed by Berklee trained vocalist and songwriter Emily Fehler, who, accompanied by a very dapper backing band including one of the best damn slide guitarists we’ve heard in a long while, has quietly gone from obscurity to buzz worthy in a matter of months. Their debut track, “Tides”, is premiering today and we couldn’t love it more. While erring heavily on the side of classic country in its form, it begins with a twinkling guitar intro and a peppy snare line. Soon Fehler’s ethereal vocals come floating into the mix, hooking the listener in for the remaining three minutes. What shines throughout is her deft songwriting skills, which show off a rare ability to craft music that’s understated without being aimless. The track’s structure and form in and of itself is something to be envied, simple yet persistently interesting, with musical turns of phrases that continuously surprise the listener until the last chord is strummed. If you’ve had any past misgivings about country music, do yourself a favor: throw them in the trash and take a first listen below to “Tides”, by Gold Child. It will surely change your mind.
Gold Child is comprised of Fehler on vocals and guitar, David Von Bader on slide, Jake Beal on drums and Jason Weiss on bass.
Ticket Giveaways
Each week Audiofemme gives away a set of tickets to our featured shows in NYC! Scroll down to enter for the following shindigs.
