We’re back with another installation of our latest series, TuneCore Tuesdays, which aims to highlight artists and other music professionals who are writing, recording, and hustling on their own terms.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting some of the most influential female artists from the TuneCore community. Whether they’re breaking records, climbing the charts, or inspiring other women to do the same, we believe each and every female artist should be recognized for their hustle. TuneCore Tuesdays aims to empower and inspire our diverse community of artists.
This week we caught up with TuneCore artist GOLDEN, AKA Brooklyn based artist and DIY producer, Bailey Cooke.
At just four years old, GOLDEN sat down in front of a piano for the first time in her life. What went from one classical piano lesson quickly turned into weekly lessons all the way through high school. In addition to finding inspiration from her piano teacher, GOLDEN’s parents incorporated their musical taste into her everyday life, influenced by some of their favorite artists and shaping her own musical taste, crediting influence from Feist, Elliott Smith, and even Dr. Dre.
“Regardless of genre, I’m mostly just trying to write a good song and find a new way of combining tones, words, and that whole phenomena of getting stuck in your head,” GOLDEN says.
When it comes to production, GOLDEN has mastered her sound by experimenting and finding influence through others. “The classic bedroom pop sound is because I’m still learning how to produce as I go,” she says.
With the help of talent producers, engineers, mixers, and other industry friends, GOLDEN went from learning how to open Protools to creating everything from her music videos to her song recordings, straight out of her Brooklyn apartment.
“If I was sharing any advice to any fellow artists out there, it’d be to get involved. Ask your mixer what reverb plus he or she is using. If you want to be in the game for the long haul, this is your life now, and the more you know, the easier all of it becomes,” she says.
GOLDEN’s unique production style isn’t the only thing that makes her stand out from the crowd. Oftentimes, artists strive to create the “perfect” song that fits into the formula of a successful release you might see on a Top 40 list. But when it comes to authenticity and empowering yourself as an independent artist, musicians like GOLDEN have the opportunity to make their own rules.
“I think people are sometimes trying so hard to just make a song ‘fit in’ to what’s accepted in the market, and they end up getting lost in the sea of millions of other artists that are also trying to do the same thing,” she shares.
Not only has GOLDEN created a strong music presence, but she’s also mastered a strong branding and social media identity that captures her artistry. A brand is really the version of yourself that you choose to put out into the world that tells your story. Your music, your craft. And storytelling is the key to creating a connection between you and people online.
“Consistency is key. Things like a strong visual presence, social media, videos, photos, etc.–all these things are huge bonuses to capitalize on,” she says. “I want people to see the album or New Music Friday artwork and be like, ‘this is weird’. Something different is a lot more interesting than more of the same.”
For GOLDEN, this is just the beginning. With a few singles and EPs under her belt, things are looking up for the TuneCore artist and the trajectory of her music career.
“Choosing TuneCore has been one of the best moves I’ve made in my career. I think a lot of people forget that they don’t know who they want to work with yet, or what label is right for them. I’d rather spend my time working on my next song or album,” she says.
If you haven’t checked it out already, be sure to listen to our latest playlist, ‘21 Women to Watch in 2021′ featuring GOLDEN and some other incredible female TuneCore artists!
