Interview with Effy Gold (The Effigy)

Just like black with never go out of fashion, the same thing for gothic metal: it will always be a hot deal, and I am very happy to be the host of interviewing this gothic musician and composer from Australia, Effy Gold.

Hello Effy! How are you doing at the moment?

Hey, I’m doing great. I’ve been super sick recently with bronchitis and an ear infection, which are both nightmare illnesses for vocalists, but thankfully I’ve recovered from both, so I’m back in the game!

Oh I am so sorry! I hope you feel better soon. You just released a new single, “One With My Enemy”, and I must say, it is outstanding. Can you share with us your creative process for it?

Thank you! I’m really proud of how this song turned out; it’s near and dear to my heart. When I wrote “One With My Enemy”, I approached it my usual way. First, I sit down and compose the bulk of the music. With each chord, each note, and each instrument, I let the music set the scene, and I completely immerse myself in that scene. When the time comes to write the lyrics, I like to put the music on repeat, and I stand in front of my microphone, and I just adlib, jam, and improvise melodies, phrases – whatever comes out, comes out. I know many songwriters like to use journaling, where they write down all their thoughts and then pull lyrics from it, and I think my adlib approach is pretty similar in that I’m not filtering my thoughts, I’m not worrying about rhymes; I’m just feeling. Usually, by the third or fourth cycle of the song, I have something I’m pretty happy with, and then I sit back down and clean it up.

I think your songs are perfect to be played on live shows. What does the future hold for The Effigy?

At the moment, I’m focusing on nailing my sound, and I’m close. As a solo musician, live shows can be pretty hard to arrange without a boatload of equipment and a bunch of session musicians. However, the most important thing is quality material, so this last year, I just put my head down to write songs to ensure that I have that quality material so that when the time comes for the live shows, I’m putting my best foot forward. You only get one first impression!

Have you ever taught anyone how to sing or play an instrument?

Never formally! However, as an autistic person whose special interest is music, I’m pretty sure no one in my life gets a choice about whether or not they learn something about music. Whether it’s vocal techniques, or I tell someone about the different types of chords you find in some random off-shoot subgenre of jazz, or I show someone a cool riff on the guitar, every interaction is one in which I can share something – and in which I can learn something in return. Life’s better that way!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, which one would it be?

The music industry is still obsessed with youth. I don’t really understand why, but there seems to be this sentiment that after 25, you’ve missed the boat and that older musicians are only allowed to have a seat at the table on the condition that they took said seat before they turned 25. There are some absolutely phenomenal musicians in their 30s, 40s, and 50s right now who are just getting started and aren’t being given the same opportunities or chances as their younger peers, and it’s a massive shame. How many amazing songs are we missing out on simply because the artist isn’t in their mid-20s?

Do you follow or practice any sport(s)?

I’m probably the least sporty person on the planet! I was kind of sporty in my teens, but the closest I have come to engaging with sports nowadays is watching the occasional esports tournament.

What is a kid’s movie that is scary for you or you don’t like?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love My Neighbour Totoro, but it’s bloody terrifying. There’s this deep, dark, spooky conspiracy theory about it that you can find online, which claims the film is about a real-life tragedy. I don’t know how much water the theory holds, but the film has always made me uncomfortable.

What is your opinion on the differences and the discriminations that exist between women and men (not only in music but in everyday life as well)?

Funnily enough, I happen to have a recent example. Just the other day, a writer assumed that because a man produced and mixed my song, he somehow was the one with “musical prowess”, and I was just the singer. Stuff like that still happens on a near-weekly basis for me, and I know I’m not alone in that – and it doesn’t seem to happen to my male peers nearly as often as it happens to my female peers. Still, all we can do is make our mark unquestionably ours so that our credit is undeniable.

Let’s play a little game: You are hosting a dinner party and must invite three famous people. Who would you choose and why?

This is super hard because there are so many people I’d want a chance to talk to, but… I will have to go with Lizzo, Courtney LaPlante, and Dolly Parton. Dolly because she’s an absolute legend – and every time she opens her mouth, it’s just pure wisdom and poise. Courtney because her lyrics hit on such a deep level to me, and her voice sells those emotions in a way that transcends genre. As for Lizzo, her attitude is everything I aspire to. As a plus-size person myself, it is hard to be unapologetic about the space I take up, but Lizzo has truly empowered herself, and that empowerment is lifting a lot of other people for a myriad of reasons. Also, who am I kidding – her music is so damn catchy; About Damn Time has lived rent-free in my head since I first heard it.

Effy, thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview! Would you like to add anything else to FemMetal’s readers?

Thank you so much for having me here! I’m releasing a whole bunch of singles over the next year, so if gothic metal is your jam, please go check them out!