2018: Year of the Soul Revival?

It's no secret that everyone is tired. Tired of the same old thing day in and day out. We've all been taking a back seat the last few years. Simply drifting through our routines, staring at screens, waiting for the world to change.

We've had no problem staying online, posting a thousand times and sipping our wine without swallowing our pride.

"Some people," we'd say.

Forgetting that we too, are simply "people" and prone to our own sets of mistakes.

Today as I scrolled through my feed, something I've largely been abstaining from over the holidays, I noticed a genuine consensus among my peers.

2018 was not to be the year for wasting time and drifting by. This year, people's resolutions don't seem to be so self-involved. I don't see anyone looking to trim that waistline, or lay off the Jim Beam.

I don't see anyone saying "me, me, me."

This year it seems a little different.

This time, I think we've finally got it right.

They're saying it's all about "us."

All of us.

People are saying it's time to take a step back. Step out of the comfortable nihilism we've all been striving so hard to protect.

I'm scrolling, and reading...

"This year, I forgive even though I won't forget."

"This year, we will love and accept."

"This year, we will move as one."

"Together we shall find success."

As I pessimistically read through these very different sort of resolutions, I couldn't help but remember the one person I knew that has been desperately striving to communicate this ideology over the last few years.

Not only had we had these talks privately, but it had become his life's work to "wake up the soul," if you will.

This person had pulled me aside at my worst when everyone else had left me behind and reminded me that I am not alone, and we are all in this together.

This person's name is Daniel Goldberg.

Goldberg the Artist:

I met Goldberg at an open mic at Java Monkey in Decatur, GA back in 2014. He had an amazing voice and a calm comforting attitude that made you want to be unapologetically yourself.

I was in school at the time studying audio engineering and hoping to work in the production field, and Daniel was running an independent production company by the name of 4ED.TV.

We shared our work with each other and over time, worked on a handful projects before life led us both in very different directions.

Back in 2016, he invited me over to listen to some unreleased musical material he'd been working on with David Purcell (Another Monster) and Justin Daniel (Venerate Studios).

As I am with most independent musical work, I was skeptical as he pulled up the tracks. I expected something I'd heard many times before. Something I could have created in my sleep myself.

What I heard, however, was nothing of the sort.

The sounds I heard, the arrangements, the production choices, all of it. It gave me chills the first time, and every time I have listened to it since.

I decided to sit down with the band in hopes I could unearth some of what drives this group to create what they do, and maybe if I am lucky, learn exactly what it is that keeps getting them featured on Atlanta's radio stations like 99X, and featured in articles across the web.

. . . . .

Before we begin, let me just say, I am grateful for each of you taking the time to sit down with me to discuss what makes not only soul music, but this project so incredibly relevant in 2018. Tell us a little bit about how this project got started.

Daniel: I had been working behind the scenes with a few artists as a manager. I thought my itch to be a lead singer had come and went. So I decided to share my knowledge. That did not go quite as I had hoped or planned, and it was honestly only out of the frustration of it all that this project was born. I remember walking into to Monster's room (David Purcell) and said;

"I am so annoyed with all of this, you wanna make a track for me?"

That day, we started working on our first single, "Let's Dance." Once Monster had laid the bones of the track down, I knew I wanted some epic horn parts and live bass added to it. So I called up the best men I knew for the job, Jonny Trumpet and Mikey Phats.

David: Goldberg and I were living together at the time and he came up to me with the idea to create a catchy, funky song. I don't think he even had the idea to do a whole album yet. So we just sat down and I started producing. A few hours later we had the backbone of "Let's Dance" down.

Jonny: Daniel was the opening act on a tour that I was on. He rode in the van with us and we basically met and lived with each other in a van for 2 or 3 weeks. He and our mutual friend Andy McBride shot a video for a band I was in before that, and I liked the quality of his work and his good nature.

Naturally, when Dan asked me to lay some horns down for "Let's Dance," I jumped at the chance! After that first recording session, Daniel said that he wanted me playing every song on the up coming record, and here we are.

What were you two doing before this?

Jonny: Touring in other regional/national bands; rock/reggae/blues.

David: I was working with a few artists that Goldberg had linked me up with, and Goldberg was managing the team.

Soul music isn't something you see enough of in today's musical climate. Who were some of the influences that helped shape the Goldberg sound?

David: I can't even begin to name them all, but Bruno Mars was a huge influence for this project. I produce a lot of electronic dance music, so that played a big role in how a lot of the songs turned out as well.

Daniel: Many times throughout history we've seen the best creative works come out of pure chaos, or periods of social and political unrest. I think we can all agree that we've been experiencing a lot of that over the last few years.

I think soul music is coming back with a vengeance. We can see elements of it in a lot of established artists more recent works, Alabama Shakes, Lake Street Dive, Leon Bridges, and Anderson Paak, for instance.

You can hear it in Bruno Mars, and even Kendrick Lamar. To me, the best music is something that is timeless. Music like that across genres has a whole lot of heart and soul in it. That's why we make the choices we make in the studio. We believe we have something here that sticks in your head but also your heart. We want to create something that lives on and is considered iconic.

Jonny: We're simply trying to bring the beats to life. You could say giving the beats "soul." We thought about the Bruno Mars song "Uptown Funk" when writing our song "Let's Dance." I'm influenced by the famous composer John Williams. I love how he uses trumpets in his scores. I'm a big fan of the great trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.

These tracks are all amazing! Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

Jonny: For these tracks we got some pretty great beats and great instrumental performances from our very own pool of friends. First beats, then scratch vocals, then horns, then in no particular order, final vocals, aux. percussion (literally a baby rattle), live drums, bass, guitar, keys, backup vocals, snaps, claps, etc. Edits, mixes, mastering. There's a few steps. It took two years.

David: The songs that I made with Goldberg up to now started with the instrumental first. Then he wrote to it and we got him in the studio to lay down all the vocal parts. Then we called up our engineer Justin Daniel (big shout out to Justin at Venerate Studios) for the a capella stems, and I mixed everything down and added some finishing touches.

I really wanted each arrangement to fit Goldberg's vision of his sound, but leave room for him to explore different approaches as each song developed, and really be able to tell a story with the album.

Daniel: It should always start with the music, in my opinion. Typically, our producers would show me some track ideas and I would see if an idea or an emotional response came to me while listening. Then I'd begin to craft an overall concept of what story the song should tell, and start forming vocal melodies while simultaneously drafting lyrics.

Once that was finalized, I would lay down a scratch track of the vocals, and then the musicians would write around that. It's a very unique process for me, but I really loved how it all flowed once it was done.

So, what's a typical day like for a working musician?

Daniel: It's tough; everything you need costs money. You need an album, videos, PA system, mics, the list goes on and on. So to pay for that, you pretty much have to always be on your grind and find new ways to make money.

I would really say, there is no typical day for a musician, which is what makes this so hard. You work to one day, hopefully, have a career that can sustain a somewhat normal life.

Jonny: Pray. Maintain relationships with family and friends. Travel; car, van, bus, train, plane, boat (motion sickness somewhere along the way). Sleep, usually cramped. Emails, phone calls, social media updates. Hotel, interviews, gas stations, per diem or no per diem, friendly faces, hostile faces, down time, hurrying, Load in, set up, green room or no green room, venue management, bar tenders, sound guys, fellow musicians, roadies, set up, back line or no back line, merch, hospitality or am I gonna starve, play music, greet fans, hug friends, pay out, load out, shake hands, discuss future dates with venue management. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Your latest single "Comprehend" got an honorable mention on The Ark of Music's Top-10 tracks of 2017. Tell us a little bit about the meaning behind that song.

Daniel: Well, the meaning for me and the meaning for everyone else is always a little different. That's the beauty of this song. It's a reminder that life isn't fair, but that doesn't mean you can't find peace and understanding through the chaos. That doesn't mean you can't still speak against injustice and share your heart with the world.

Jonny: The producer, the musicians of this track, and I have been in several projects together throughout the years. Mikey Phats, after laying bass on "Let's Dance," got in the studio and produced this song. Daniel wrote the song about a friend who had just killed someone and went to prison.

Goldberg's 2017 single "Comprehend" released in August.

What are your plans for this project in 2018?

Jonny: To attract the ears of professional management. To get ourselves involved with industry business leaders so we can focus on the creative aspect.

Daniel: Well, our plans may be taking new shape in 2018; we will most likely have to change the name of the project and we may have some real opportunities to work with some legends in the business. So stay tuned, we are really hoping to do some great things this year.

What sacrifices have been made to make all this happen?

Jonny: Time. Time is the greatest sacrifice. The time it takes to remain relevant. Time away from loved ones. Risk. The risk of traveling for a living.

Daniel: I have sacrificed virtually everything I have. Financially, long hours, normality, friendships, and even at times my health.

What is the single most important piece of advice you can give to aspiring songwriters, artists, and/or musicians?

Daniel: Respect the craft, be a student of the game, until you can truly master being a leader. Be open, honest, write and sing from your heart always.

Jonny: Practice.

If you could share the stage with anyone on this planet, who would you choose?

Daniel: Bruno Mars, the man is killing everything right now in my opinion, he can sing, he can perform; he is a true entertainer.

Jonny: Daniel Goldberg.

Your Electric Soul EP release show is January 6, at Smith's Olde Bar with Gashound and Grant Cowan. How does it feel to share the stage with those amazing acts?

Daniel: Yeah, it's more of a pre-release show. We're performing the entire album live and opening up pre-sales. We've had a unique opportunity that we absolutely must take some time to pursue, so for now we have to put the release on hold for just a little bit longer.

What makes me really excited about this show is how phenomenal each act is. Grant Cowan has a style smooth as silk, and his performances flirt with R&B and jazz but in it's his own unique way.

Gas Hound is more alternative rock, the lead singer Ben Davidow has this one-of-a-kind timbre to his voice, an almost Neal Young overtone to it. This is really going to be an amazing show and I am so ready for it!

Jonny: I'm stoked! I'm very proud of this project. We are in a creative groove where it is easy to push one another. I'm having a good time translating these songs to the stage.

Anything else you want our readers to know?

David: I love being behind the scenes and watching as Goldberg grows as an artist. I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store for us, and I'm stoked to crank out some new music soon!

Daniel: I just want to say thank you to everyone out there that shows up and supports people in their lives. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by some of the most loving and supportive people any human being could ask for. If you're in search of something that will remind you of what it means to be alive, then give us a chance; we aim to please not only your ears, but your mind, body and soul. Much love, Atlanta!

You can catch Goldberg live in concert with Gas Hound & Grant Cowan at Smith's Olde Bar Janury 6! Doors will open at 9 PM! —R