A Q&A with Goldkimono

Groove, Honesty, and DIY Vibes…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
The latest single is called ‘This One’s on the House’. It’s also the title of the full album, coming out on June 13th. The phrase felt right as an album title – like an open invitation, a way of saying: this one’s for you, from me. But in the song, the phrase takes on a different meaning – more like: I’ll let this one slide… but next time, I won’t. There’s a limit. A quiet line being drawn.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
Honestly, this one came together pretty naturally. No major drama, no all-nighters. Sometimes a song just finds its shape without too much resistance – and this was one of those times. The real challenge was probably just trusting that simplicity was enough. Not overthinking it. Letting it breathe.

What do you enjoy most about writing your own material?
It gives you room to follow a weird idea all the way to the end without having to explain it to anyone. There’s freedom in chasing a hunch, even if it makes no sense at first. Sometimes it turns into something beautiful – or at least interesting. Doing it yourself means every instinct, every decision, is yours – untouched, unfiltered. It’s the closest you can get to creating from your own skin, your own truth.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
Hopefully, they feel something. I like the music to become a story that’s kind of theirs too. I’m not too attached to any outcome of how people should experience it. I just want the songs to feel like a place you can drop into and come out feeling more inspired.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Usually, it starts with a small moment – a chord, a weird sound, or something someone said. I’ll loop something until it hypnotizes me, and then start layering ideas. A lot of the time, the lyrics don’t make sense until later, and then suddenly it all clicks. I do most of the writing solo, then shape the arrangement, and finish the production with my friend Tim Bran, who brings a whole new perspective. We bounce stuff back and forth until it lands.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
So many – but bands like Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Japan, and 10cc really opened something up for me. There’s this mix of playfulness and depth in their work. You feel the craft, but also this sense that they didn’t take themselves too seriously. That balance is something I’ve been after.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
Any country outside of NL is great. I’d love to play across Europe – France, Germany, the UK. As far as venues go, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado always looks like an absolute dream.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
Probably ‘This One’s on the House’. It sits right in the middle of the record emotionally – not too loud, not too soft, just right. It’s got the DIY fingerprints, a little humor, and a good groove.

What ambitions do you have for your career?
I want to build a world around the music – something people can step into, where everything from the visuals to the live show to the way we share things feels intentional. And personally, I want to keep growing without chasing all the trends. Just making things that matter to me, and hopefully to someone else too.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Just a dramatic pause of silence, then I vanish into the fog machine.

For more info about Goldkimono, visit goldkimono.com.