Hi, I’m Gigi Gold, a songwriter based in the UK, originally from West Virginia, and I’m gonna give you a run-down on my all-time favourite artists. I honestly hate doing these kinds of “top” lists because my taste is ever-evolving, and I tend to get completely obsessed with an artist, play them on repeat for an embarrassingly long time and move on to a new one once I finally feel satiated.
It’s hard to pin down exactly what inspires me to write my own music. I don’t often sit down with the intention to write. It happens when I’m taking a shower, doing the dishes, driving, and especially when I’m falling asleep. So many of my voice notes are whisper-sung at 1 am, sneaking out of bed to stand in the dark hallway, trying not to wake Steph up.
The process for me is truly organic and often unconscious, mostly starting with a vocal line. Usually there’s some lyrics with the melody and that tends to be the basis for the subject of the song. It’s really rare that the first words written don’t make it into the final song in one form or another, though the story gets shaped as it goes.
I’m also a photographer, so visuals and memories are often sources of inspiration for songwriting. A song from my upcoming EP was written based on a photo I took in West Virginia and the rest of the story unfolded from memories and trips back home.
1) For my all-time favourite band, it has to be The Beatles. Don’t even ask me to choose a favourite song or album; it’s literally impossible. “For No One” might be one of the more overlooked Beatles songs that has a particular grip on me, though. I grew up watching “Help!” and “A Hard Day’s Night”, and I genuinely felt like I knew them like I could be one of them. I love all the aesthetics and sarcastic vibes you see in “Help!” it’s just one long music video – chain smoking in a recording studio for “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” and Paul playing a girl on a beach (instead of a bass) in “Another Girl” has become a core memory for me. I can’t say I’m conscious of The Beatles influence in my own songwriting, because I feel like it’s just become a part of my DNA.
2) I discovered Phoebe Bridgers right around the first UK lockdown and have been hooked on her ever since. An old college friend sent “Garden Song” in a group chat (ya know, trying to stay sane and connected) and honestly, I didn’t get it at first. But she appeared on a playlist and after a few listens, I couldn’t get enough of it. I cycle through which of her songs I’m most obsessed with, but lately, it’s been “I Know the End” on repeat. An absolute masterclass in album finishing. Have you ever driven down an empty highway in America listening to this song? 10/10 would recommend. Sometimes I get annoyed at her for writing lyrics that could have come straight out of my notebooks, her ability to write such sweet melodies, and her lyrics are somewhere between storytelling and stream of consciousness, it feels like being in a dream. Like it’s all based in reality, but seen through a strange, slightly skewed filter. And artistically, I just love that Phoebe seems like the kinds of weird art school girls I went to college with. There’s a quiet, confident, unapologetic approach to being a complex, whole human without pretences.
3) Jack White was one of my first real teenage discoveries. I grew up on The Beatles and alternative radio, but when I discovered The White Stripes as a young teen, it just opened up a new world for me. I fell in love with him, and of course The Raconteurs and later The Dead Weather. I always wanted to be in a 2 piece band, but that would really require me to play guitar much better than I do. It felt like The White Stripes were doing something so different than most everything else that was coming out in alt rock at the time, it was so minimalistic but without any lacking in power or substance. I love that his voice isn’t close to perfect and the songs are meant to be experienced as a living, breathing thing, not autotuned and edited to fuck. Aside from George Harrison, Jack White was one of my first true celebrity crushes. When The Raconteurs came out it was just next level for me – the songwriting partnership between Jack White and Brendan Benson really elevates Jack White’s raw, often strange themes. “Level” by the Raconteurs is a song I can play on repeat – the perfect example of leaving us wanting more.
4) Speaking of Jack White projects, I discovered The Kills through The Dead Weather. I fell in love with Alison Mosshart’s unapologetic, mysterious, somewhat androgynous persona. Seeing a powerful woman on stage, just fucking owning it really helped me see a place for me there eventually. I grew up in a town that was full of hardcore and punk bands and there were NO girls on stages. It wasn’t until I went to college (at the same time I discovered The Kills) that I could see a space for me on stages. The open mics and tiny bars were full of women on stages making all kinds of music – it was the perfect mix of real life opportunities and aspirations. I remember seeing the video for “No Wow” and just thinking they were the coolest people ever. This was the same time I was getting into film photography and I just wanted to join their club. I don’t write at all like Alison Mosshart – she often seems to write in riddles and stream of consciousness, and my songs tend to be story-driven, but I think that’s why I love it. It’s not what comes naturally to me, but it makes me feel something. My favourite album is definitely “Blood Pressures” but one of my all time favourite Kills songs is “Last day of Magic”.
5) I’m a late bloomer on this one, but in the last year I’ve fallen into a Lana Del Rey hole, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it down here. I never DIDN’T like her, but I just didn’t really give it much time. One day, I just decided to get in my car and give it a go, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love that Lana seems to really embrace doing whatever the fuck she wants. I’m obsessed with the track “Paris, Texas” and “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”. Like, who ends a song with a nearly one minute fade out of mostly just drum kit? She seems like another woman who is just very much herself and her music, style, and artistic choices aren’t about trying to fit into some pre-determined aesthetic. While the old Hollywood influences are apparent, it doesn’t seem like she’s wearing a costume or playing a character and that strong sense of self makes it all her own – not some derivative or copy. I was however, not super excited about her cover of Take Me Home, Country Roads, but I might take it more personally than most.
6) Harry Styles is another one of my more recent favourite discoveries – and like, yeah, ok, the whole world knows him, but I didn’t really start diving beyond the surface until recently, and the songwriting on these albums (especially Fine Line) is next level. I LOVE that the music feels…real. It’s pop, but it’s actually rock, folk, indie and played on actual live instruments sung by actual live people. The melodies and lyrics are so interesting, so catchy. And the layers of instrumentation are so subtle but keep you coming back for more. I hear different things on different speakers and headphones and I just don’t get bored of it. I’m not going to lie, I’m sure I spent some time judging a former boy band member, but the lyrical content and vocal melodies are the perfect blend of relatable, catchy, and substantial.
7) This last one might be surprising if you only know their biggest hit – I’m a huge fan of Barenaked Ladies. This was another band I grew up listening to. My dad loved them and we listened to “Rock Spectacle”, their live album, on repeat and to be honest, I think it’s their best album. Much like The Beatles, there’s a lot of humor, sarcasm, and levity, but there’s also a lot of substance and insanely gorgeous melodies and harmonies. I love the inspiration the songwriters seem to take not just from lived experience but elsewhere and weave these very real, relatable stories. One of my all time favourites is the live version of “When I Fall”, a song about a high rise window washer. If you haven’t gone beyond “One Week”, it’s time to get into their discography.
I hope that list has given you a little insight into not only the music I love but also what I love about music. My debut EP, “Souvenirs,” will be released on July 17, 2024, on Marshall Records. Thanks for having me.
