INTERVIEW: 15 SECONDS WITH GOLDLINK
LA Hip Hop Events had the opportunity to ask Goldlink, an emerging DMV artist and Squaaash Club member a few questions before his big show at the Fonda in Los Angeles. What an honor to catch Goldlink at this point in his career as he is in position to be one of the dopest young God’s emerging who’s music fills a void that your third ear listens for.
(Goldlink Interview By @TamiTemple | Photo & Videos via Goldlink)
LAHHE: How did you get into music? Like what is it you remember feeling or someone saying that brings to mind the first time you in your heart said, I can do this?
Goldlink: It was really just something to do. I wasn’t thinking about music til after high school to be honest. I did it for fun, my mans were doing it, and I happened to be kinda good. At first it was like okay bet, and then it was like “wait, I might actually be able to take this somewhere. I aint got shit else to do.” And here we are.
LAHHE: Your music has many different layers to it. I can say it’s hip hop, dance, soul, groove, spiritual.. (Please add if I missed..) Growing up who were some of your musical influences?
Goldlink: I listened to everything, can’t really pinpoint a lot of direct influences. Go-Go was definitely a big part of my musical background because of its cultural significance in DC. I learned Gospel from my mother.
LAHHE: Describe the growth from ‘The God Complex’ to ‘And After That, We Didn’t Talk”
Goldlink: I made God Complex when I was angry, broke, and black as hell. I’m still black, but my life changed completely after the God Complex. And the maturation I’ve experienced between those projects allowed me to be more introspective about my life, my experiences, my relationships. I wanted to make something personal, but something people could feel too, with a more refined and focused sonic bed than my past work.
LAHHE: What place and space were you in when you put together ‘And After That, We Didn’t Talk’?
Goldlink: I wanted to communicate with a person from my past, and before I wasn’t able to for a few reasons… I realized the best way for me to communicate with her was to make music. I thought, “if I could write her a letter right now, what would it say?” And that’s what And After That, We Didn’t Talk was.
LAHHE: Let’s talk about ‘ New Black’ on your latest project; a lot said in two minutes. There is a part where you say, “Hip-Hop will die, I promise that if we keep the lies in our raps.. if we keep talking guns and gats in our raps..” True – Break that down for us.. What you hear?, Tired of hearing that made you say this?
Goldlink: Nothing in particular. I just think rap in general should be more about the music across the board, and less about associations, less about image.
LAHHE: You sing on your songs. Great voice by the way, how important is it that an artist use all elements to give a true portrait of themselves?
Goldlink: Thank you. Honestly I love being a multi-faceted artist and think it does help to differentiate yourself and your strengths from others when it comes to making music, but an artist doesn’t necessarily need to use all elements to give a true portrait of themselves. An artist can give you all of them in so many different ways, only the music matters.
LAHHE: Who are you listening to that moves you in a way that makes you say, wish I’d creatively thought of that first?
Goldlink: I listen to everything. Right now, I’m really into DVSN.
LAHHE: To understand you better through music what songs as ingredients would you mix together to make you? Old or new music, your music or not..
Goldlink: I couldn’t pick; I wouldn’t say I can combine any assortment of songs and say that’s me, to be honest. I know music I love and have been inspired by, but all I can point to that makes me is the music I make for you.
LAHHE: Hip Hop has grown and changed in such a way, in what ways can artist like you (with a voice, large fan-base and growing also respected by pioneers in music continue to push the hip hop culture forward? Or is it something you don’t care to share in the responsibility of because a lot of times hip hop is looked at as music from the 90’s?
Goldlink: Hip hop is in a great place right now to me, if you look closely enough. All that we can do–all that artists like myself and others can ever do–is continue to make the best music we possibly can. That’s the only thing any artist is ever responsible for.
LAHHE: Tell your fans what they can expect from you on February 26, 2016 at the Fonda in Los Angeles.
Goldlink: They can expect an absolutely unforgettable night, maybe even the best live show they’ve ever seen in their life.
LAHHE: We do this thing where you share whatever you’d like if it’s in music or love, a message or anything you want to leave us with that we can share?
Goldlink: Trust your vision
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