Interview - Golden Richards


Golden Richards are formed by Gil Golden - songwriter, rhythm guitar, Billy Richards - songwriter, lead vocals, guitar, and producer, Marianne Magic - Keytar, Vocals, Sonny Dee - Bass and Henry Western - Drums. 

Answers are from Gil Golden, Golden Richard co-songwriter and rhythm guitarist.

- Welcome to this interview. Tell us about your latest release Shake Your Hair.
Shake Your Hair is a song I wrote in collaboration with our band's lead singer Billy Richards. I remember finishing law school and not being sure I was doing what I wanted to do but doing what others expected of me and I was in my first long relationship with a woman that was having problems. I was working part time at a department store for extra money while studying for the bar exam. I met a woman who worked at the store and I was immediately had a crush, she had black hair and wore black outfits and we would become long time friends.

- How would you describe your sound?
Golden Richards is a power pop rock band with big guitars and harmonies and plenty of memorable choruses. We do have a 90s alternative rock vibe with indie pop touches in the songs.

- What do you write about?
Luckily I have a great collaboration with Billy Richards in our songwriting for the band. I guess I do seem to write a lot about being young in teen years or 20s and trying to figure out dating, relationships, life steps. I try to make the songs a story that others can relate to as well. I send original stuff to Billy and he does a great job making some cool changes or additions.

- What do you listen to when you are home?
I listen mostly to melodic rock music like Sloan, The Beaches, Potty Mouth, Jimmy Eat World or 80s alternative I grew up with like New Order, The Smiths, the Cure. And classic rock like Beatles, Stones, Doors, T Rex.

- Your favourite live performance so far?
I have seen the great Canadian power pop band Sloan about 15 times, starting from the early 90s until now, they are so great live, INXS was awesome live, I saw REM in their early days, recently at the IPO Fest here in Chicago, I was digging Bishops Daredevil Stunt Club, Mark Watson Band, and the Unswept.

- Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage.
At a recent show, we had an issue with a sample that our band member Marianne Magic had on her keytar. For our song Borg vs. McEnroe (about the tennis legends) and right before the guitar solo we have a sample of McEnroe yelling "You Can't Be Serious" which is really cool. The problem was that Marianne had an issue and the sample would not stop so we had to play the next song Shake Your Hair with McEnroe yelling "You can't be serious" Ha.

- Your favourite albums?
I have too many favorite albums, Navy Blues by Sloan, Revolver by Beatles, Exile on Main Street by the Rolling Stones, the Boston debut, Clarity by Jimmy Eat World, Frosting on the Beater by the Posies, the debut Fountains of Wayne album, Low Life by New Order, way too many

- A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
That's a tough one, definitely Paul McCartney, just to hear amazing stories about the Beatles and his songwriting

- What would you ask for backstage, if you were the most important band on earth?
Green M and M's. Ha, not sure, probably a nice sushi spread and top shelf vodka.

- What are your plans for the near future?
We are writing new songs and hope to have a new single done by the end of summer. We have a couple shows booked. We are having fun making music and people have been digging it so that is the best part.

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