Photo by Fabian Marquez
Written by Nick Garrastegui
Though the world continues to be at a standstill, new artists are using this time to hone their craft and release music; on April 1st, pop artist Goof dropped their first single of the year, “All Scraped Up.” We spoke with her to get some insight into her music and hear about their upcoming album!
Nick Garrastegui: Let’s get started! Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Goof: My name is Natalie Taylor Carioti, I go by Goof on stage and my pronouns are she/they. I sing and write music in hopes that making songs about my feelings and experiences will help others find peace and comfort in my music!
NG: I wanted to say that I’m really enjoying your new single, “All Scraped Up.” How did you get into making music with an 80s vibe?
G: Thanks! I just really like listening to new music with retro vibes.
When I wrote the song I was listening to a lot of fun indie music and felt since it’s such an important song to me, the 80s coming-of-age sound really fit the track. My producer is just such a genius at 80s synth-pop, I knew he would knock [it] out of the park.
NG: In [our editor] Jen [Moglia]’s review of your newest single, she mentions that you went to college for musical theater. Has that had any influence on your songwriting?
G: I definitely think so. It for sure has a lot of influence on my vocal style.
I try to write music from a really genuine place and I think a lot of musical theatre does the same thing. Although the songs sound very different, I sometimes try to use the same sort of imagery you find in show tunes to help my listeners feel what I was feeling the way an audience does with a character.
NG: I was looking at your two other singles that have been released (which I also really loved!) and noticed they were both from 2020. Aside from “All Scraped Up,” what else do you have planned for 2021?
G: I actually have another single coming next month and...an album coming this summer! My team and I have been working on my first full-length for about a year now and I’m so glad to finally start telling the public about it in a serious sense now that I’m almost finished.
NG: We’re finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after over a year of lockdown due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. What are you most looking forward to doing music-wise once we start getting back to normal?
G: Honestly just getting out to shows myself. I miss all my friends from the scene, some of which have been doing phenomenal things in the past year, and I just want to be able to release my album and start putting together a live set so I can get up on stage with my pals.
NG: Your given name is Natalie but your music is under the name “Goof.” What made you want to use a moniker instead of your actual name?
G: I think having the project name allows me to compartmentalize my work as a pop artist. Mainly it was a way for me to make sure people know that Goof isn’t just me, it’s me and a bunch of other really awesome people making this music come together.
I’m just the brain, the voice, and the artistic director. I have so many awesome producers behind the scenes who are the hands for my work.
It’s also a chance for me to have my theatre work, as well as my private life, separate from my music persona. This allows me to dive into a different part of myself to make this music raw and honest by sort of having this character, that is me, who can say all the things I’m thinking.
NG: What are some of your musical influences?
G: Musical influence is hard! The music I listen to doesn’t always line up with the music I make. (laughs)
For “All Scraped Up”, I think the biggest influence was the band Joan. As an artist, I really admire the styles and careers of artists like Rina Sawayama, PVRIS, Banks, The Band Camino, and of course all the big female pop stars like Ariana Grande.
NG: What would your dream tour lineup be? It can include you or just be your dream lineup to attend!
G: (laughs) I would love to open for any of the artists I listed above! To attend, I would want to see...my favorite bands Nothing But Thieves, The Band Camino, and The Japanese House play. No way that would ever happen, but boy, would it be fun!
NG: As a solo artist, how do you find inspiration to create?
G: As a solo artist, I find my inspiration from all the amazing artists around me in the Chicago scene. Really, we are spoiled with such amazing local music.
[I’m] also just [inspired] by the struggles and feats in my everyday life. As a theatre kid, I’m sure you can imagine [my friends and me] have always been a little dramatic.
I’m constantly writing music about the world around me and all the things happening in my personal life. My friends and family are super supportive of me releasing it!
NG: You can use this last question to plug any of your upcoming projects!
G: My new single, titled, "18", is dropping on May 21st!
We’d like to thank Goof for such a great interview! Her newest single “All Scraped Up” and the rest of their songs are available now wherever you listen to music.
Be sure to follow them on Twitter @SongsByGoof to be the first to know when they release new music! Feel free to let us know who you want to see interviewed next by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw.
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