Episode 311: Boy Golden

Boy Golden is my guest on Roadcase this week!! Liam Duncan, the brains at the heart of Boy Golden, is a Winnepeg–based artist whose uniquely insightful and thoroughly thought-provoking new album, Best of Our Possible Lives, has brought him critical acclaim and an Americana Awards nomination in the Best Emerging Artist category. Liam is a genuine and earnest student of the human bonds we all share and he talks to me about his life in terms of acceptance, free-will, empathy, and how these all combine to shape us into what we are and what we have the potential to become. This was a truly enlightening conversation that I can’t wait for you to hear. ================================= Chapters: 00:00 Intro with Host Josh Rosenberg 03:50 - Liam's latest tour update 06:05 - The dynamics of touring with Kat and band development 07:50 - Behind the recording of Best of Our Possible Lives and collaborating with LA-based producers 09:27 - Inspiration drawn from philosophy and mythology in songwriting 13:13 - Exploring the meaning of "possible lives" and existential reflections 15:55 - Acceptance, gratitude, and the human condition 17:18 - Empathy, kindness, and understanding others' backgrounds 19:17 - The storytelling power of music and narrative art 21:43 - Personal growth, recasting the past, and the hero's journey 22:57 - Living in the present versus reflecting on history 24:14 - Songwriting as a blend of experience, fiction, and emotion 26:50 - Sharing stories through music: mythology and cultural myths 27:55 - The influence of legendary artists and tenacity 30:24 - The universality of storytelling across cultures 30:56 - Reading and translating indigenous oral traditions 31:28 - The importance of reading aloud and editing 33:17 - The impact of spoken word versus written text 35:35 - Experimental music, noise, and embracing abstraction 37:18 - Listening: lyrics, groove, and the impact of musical delivery 38:45 - How music rewards multiple listening levels 39:50 - Liam’s Winnipeg roots and folk festival experiences 41:51 - Returning home during the pandemic and local music scenes 42:51 - When Liam knew he wanted to pursue music as a career 43:41 - The songwriting floodgate opened post-breakup 44:11 - The future of music careers amid touring costs 45:29 - Producing music at home and the DIY spirit 46:25 - Excitement for Telluride and bluegrass festivals 47:43 - The magic of bluegrass and improvisation 49:09 - Neil Francis, instrument exploration, and musical growth 50:08 - Closing remarks on future plans and upcoming performances ================================= For more information on Roadcase: https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com Or contact Roadcase by email: [email protected] Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer