In the fickle world of dance music, the rise and fall of artists out of the public eye is a familiar rhythm. But within this fluctuating landscape, Goshfather's trajectory emerges as a compelling narrative of resilience and reinvention, a testament to the transformative power of self-awareness and artistic dedication.
In the late 2010s, Goshfather, once half of the rising touring group Goshfather & Jinco, found himself at a crossroads following the duo's split. Returning to the solo spotlight, he battled an ego that had been inflated by past successes.
“I didn't allow myself to accept certain opportunities because I thought, 'I'm too good for that,' and that really ruined me because it made me not work,” Goshfather admits in a conversation with EDM.com.
Ultimately, the resulting infighting led to a period marked more by words than deeds, and a lasting lack of self-confidence. Stuck in a feedback loop, he often found himself relying on external validation from his peers to release his music, a practice that ironically led to further stagnation rather than progression.
Today, Goshfather has learned to appreciate his creative instincts. “I tell people that 30 days without comments will change your life because you will start to know your own voice as an artist,” he said.
Goshfather's turning point came during a heart-to-heart conversation with a fellow music producer that subsequently broke his cycle of inaction. He realized that, regardless of the nature of the feedback he received (positive or negative), his response was always the same: the music remained unreleased. It was a sobering realization and, as a result, he knew he had to change things.
Almost immediately afterwards, in January 2023, Goshfather embarked on a bold and ambitious journey, challenging himself to release a song a week for an entire year, a metaphorical rebuttal to the mindset of his former self. Considering his track record of only five releases in the previous four years, this was no small feat. His commitment to coherence marked a significant departure from his previous sporadic output and required a complete overhaul of his creative process.
“I was trying to defeat this old version of myself as an artist who sat on my laurels and tried to control everything,” he says.
Goshfather notes that the looming prospect of abandoning the challenge was ever present during the first five weeks. Whether it was the arbitrary time limitation or the suggestion that he was burning out his audience, the producer acknowledged that he was looking for a reason to give up.
“When you, as an artist, try to do something, your ego is on high alert and will find a reason in the world to justify why you shouldn't change things in your life,” Goshfather explains. “And there were many times when I wondered if I was doing something wrong.”
Now triumphing over his doubts more frequently, Goshather went on to remix a slew of tracks, including John Summit's “Where You Are” and Flosstradamus and TroyBoi's “Soundclash.”
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The trip soon became transformative. As the weeks turned into months, Goshfather began to identify his inner voice and develop a new clarity in his focus. He eliminated distractions, concentrating solely on his craft and harnessing a sense of dedication that paid off in droves.
From playing at major venues to receiving support on BBC Radio 1's “Diplo and Friends” and even calls to share his newfound wisdom, Goshfather's journey of self-discovery and discipline not only rejuvenated his career; He positioned him as a mentor, guiding aspiring artists through the creative obstacles he had overcome.
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Having successfully completed his year-long challenge, Goshfather now finds himself on the cusp of a new chapter in his career. No longer required to post weekly, he plans to delve deeper into his artistry and focus on lead lines and original songwriting. It is an intentional change that means not only a change in frequency, but also an evolution in the depth and breadth of his musical expression.
Goshfather's narrative of confronting and conquering through creative action resonates not within the confines of the electronic music scene, but across the creative spectrum. His journey underscores a universal truth in the realm of any artistic endeavor: growth and innovation often arise from challenging our own limits and daring to redefine our approach.
“If I'm the last human being on Earth that I'm making these songs for, it has to be worth it to me somehow,” he says. “The way it paid off was that it allowed me to discover the fact that I'm a musician because I enjoy doing these things and I love the process. It was the recovery of loving the creative process of making dance music.”
Follow Goshfather:
Instagram: instagram.com/goshfather
Facebook: facebook.com/goshfatherLA
Spotify: tinyurl.com/5n6wbku4
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