Review Fix Exclusive: GOAT Talks ‘Yesterday’s Tears’ And More

Review Fix chats with GOAT, who lets us know all about his new single, “Yesterday’s Tears,” as well as his origin in music and goals for 2020.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?   

GOAT: My Grandparents, Pop and Gandy, had a player piano. I used to love loading the scrolls and playing along with the piano as the keys went up and down automatically. My mom loved to sing and my dad had the coolest record player. We listened to Jobim and Billie Holiday, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Chet Baker, and The Beatles!

I just picked up the piano on my own and am responsible for one unnamed jazz piano teacher’s nervous breakdown.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

GOAT: I spend a lot of time alone and am always near a piano, so whenever I feel the mood, I have access to an instrument. Sometimes acoustic guitar is the choice, but primarily piano is my best friend. I keep a little battery operated cassette recorder nearby to capture whatever inspiration visits. Late night, into sunrise, are my favorite hours to compose and I have my little rituals to enhance my process.

Review Fix: What makes the band different?

GOAT: Well, I am Goat, after all, and this is unique in itself. Danton Boller on bass and David Berger on drums both have diverse experiences in music, and Jazz is part of their pallet. My idea of a rehearsal is me sketching out tunes on the piano over some of Danton’s delicious and extra strong coffee and some treats. I don’t like to explain music, I like to inhabit music and heal my soul and anyone who is listening, as well. So we three are like-minded and trip from the first note. I do like a hip hop beat and will ask for this sometimes, but that’s about all the direction you will get from me. It’s a journey when we play, and we do get along very well, and Danton is extremely good lookin!

We rehearsed this record late night at a local friendly club, so Danton and David had to create their parts and own and perform them in front of mostly live people and creatures of the night. We all like to improvise and trip out when we perform, so this also made the recording process very easy and first-take oriented. We are a very fine live music experience that makes the world a little better when we play…and we do rock!

What makes us different is my bent on things and a lot of shared inspiration. It’s also the freedom I create for Danton and David to express themselves in their own ways.

Goat… Good Of All Things.

Review Fix: What inspires you?

GOAT: Tragic beauty, love and pain, righteousness, falling down and getting up…slowly, flora and fauna, the animal kingdom.

Review Fix: How was “Yesterday’s Tears” written?

GOAT: Someone near and dear passed away and life had to go on. I wasn’t quite sure how or why and this was my musical expression of this experience. I worked it out on the piano and a piece of paper and my favorite pen, which I keep above John Lennon’s heart on his picture. 

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

GOAT: Really baaaaad! I jest. My sound is acoustic piano, electric and/or stand-up bass, and drums. For this record, my friend Lora-Faye Ashvenud/Arthur Moon joined me with supporting vocals for a wash of beautiful harmonies. I rely on strange chords to create a simple and open sound with lots of room for bass to express itself and lots of room for drums to groove.

I have jazz, blues and rock influences, but my favorite is a hip hop beat like in the song “Heaven”. There is some electric guitar on a couple of tunes, but we perform as a trio. I love inhabiting open dark chords that resolve into light. Kinda like The Edge and Keith Richards, except on piano. My vocals are love ’em or leave ’em. I am an expressive vocalist. I am always looking to display some poetry in the music and as a band we love to jam. It’s an eclectic experience and I always want to lift the spirit so the flesh may follow.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

GOAT: Live has an audience and usually less than great pianos and sound systems. The studio has great pianos and sound systems and I work with majorly talented, and mostly patient, engineers who I lean on for production participation as well. I love the studio and recording. I think I am the same, either recording or performing. I trip out and zone in and am not concerned with being tied to any preconception. I really just let it fly. I am a first-take kinda goat.

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?

GOAT: Loss of a loved one. My best friend and favorite person and a talkative moon and silver clouds over a calm lake.

Review Fix: What are your goals for 2020?

GOAT: Record a new record, and release my cover of a Norah Jones tune written by Jesse Harris. I’m also planning a tour, and to floss after every meal.

Review Fix: What’s next?

GOAT: Next is the holidays. We just released “Singing for the Holidays,” my season’s sentiment for the world. Check it out at YesterdaysTears.com