Interview with Rebecca Goldberg

10/11/2022 23

Rebecca Goldberg is a multidisciplinary artist from Detroit who combines her skills in musical and visual arts to create a lane entirely her own. For this release, she invites her friend Jon Dixon to join her and the results of her capture each of her signature sounds, weaving them into something new.

Rebecca met Jon in 2017 and was responsible for designing the artwork on Jon’s 4evr 4wrd label releases. This prompted Jon to show Rebecca the keyboard so she could learn how to play the Westworld theme. Eventually, after a few years, she decided it was time to suggest they collaborate on some music. The result of that collaboration is the song “Our Morning”, which is now presented to the world in this very special release.

Opening with hazy strings and a broken 909 beat, “Our Morning” creates an atmosphere of anticipation. As elements are added, the tension builds, with melodic snippets sliding over one another. The acid settings slowly start to intensify, giving way to a hi-tech explosion of pure soul at the top of the track. If sunlight breaking through clouds had a musical accompaniment, this would be it. Jon’s melodic and harmonic sensibilities mesh wonderfully with Rebecca’s mechanical rhythm, peppering the dance floor with optimism in these trying times. After that launch, the descent is elegantly handled, slowly but surely bringing reality back as we bask in the warm glow of the journey we just completed.

The music in this special deserves a special introduction, and Rebecca’s devotion to creativity in all aspects of her work shines through here. An excerpt from “Our Morning” is recorded on a 5″x7″ flexidisc postcard that you can play on a turntable, featuring the work of local photographer Ryan Southen. The Ambassador Bridge is in the foreground, connecting Detroit and Windsor, with the cities lurking in the background. The postcard is limited to 250 numbered copies and purchase includes a high-quality digital file download of the full track.

We have had the pleasure of interviewing him and this has been the result.

Hi Rebecca, how has your day started?

– Great so far, I have a pretty standard routine. Just preparing for some gigs and upcoming tour dates in Greece and Israel this month.

Did you ever think you’d end up working with Jon Dixon?

– I have done some design work for Jon’s 4EVR4WRD label before “Our Morning” was released and some more. I have no doubt that musically we will do more projects together in the future.

How would you define your latest work to someone who has not listened to you before?– Between my acid contribution and techno percussion, Jon’s High-Tech Jazz and Ryan’s photography, this project is Detroit through and through!As for your studio, what is it currently composed of?– I use hardware instruments. A few from the Roland Aira series as well as some additional Korg, Yamaha and Dreadbox Machines. I often include field recordings in my work as well. Everything is recorded into and finished in Ableton.What is the one instrument you would never get rid of, no matter what?

Rebecca Goldberg · Rebecca Goldberg Feat. Jon Dixon – Our Morning [PREVIEW]

– Roland TB-3

What was the last record store you visited? And what did you salvage from there?

– Lucky records in Reykjavík, Iceland. My most recent purchase was the soundtrack to the HBO series Chernobyl composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir and includes some field recordings from Chris Watson. It’s absolutely beautiful!

Do you have hope for the future of music? How would you like the future of the music industry to be?

– I think it is the work of current artists to steer in the future. I aim for authenticity and innovation always.

Can you reveal some future projects to us?

– I personally just finished a conceptual EP inspired by the Detroit People Mover that I am shopping around to various labels. Getting ready to tour at the end of the month, back to Athens, Greece for the first time since before Covid as well as debut gigs in Israel that I’m pretty excited about!

What makes you happy?

– Travel and free time!

BUY

Written by: Alejandro Serrano

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