Goodboys stopped by to chat about new music, their success with MEDUZA, and what fans can expect next from them in 2022!
If there’s a duo that’s been on the rise as of late, it’s Goodboys. Coming onto the scene in 2019 with their release “Piece of Your Heart,” a collaboration with MEDUZA, this duo came out the gates strong with this chart-topping hit and its follow-up single “Lose Control” with Becky Hill. Their electric pop beats with the right amount of dark undertones are the perfect fuel for any party and will have listeners heading straight to the dance floor.
Now, after countless collaborations and remixes later, Goodboys just released their first single of the year, “Black & Blue.” Their signature, radio-friendly sound with a hint of darkness and a heavy dose of dance are present in this release, and it will certainly have you cycling this song on repeat.
With all the success Goodboys has been seeing, we thought it would be the perfect time to sit down with them and get the real scoop on their production process, background, and more, as well as what fans can expect from them in 2022. Read on for our full interview and listen to the exclusive mix from this impressive duo!
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 314 || Goodboys on SoundCloud:
Hey there, Goodboys. Thanks so much for chatting with us! You’ve been on quite the whirlwind of success recently. What does your production and songwriting background each looks like? Did you go through any formal training or teach yourselves?
Thanks for having us! We both grew up being taught musical instruments, but neither of us ever studied at a higher level. (Josh) came up writing music for bands and also Christian music scene. (Ethan) was more self-taught, coming into the songwriting element of making music later when meeting Josh. We both have learned a lot from peers and studio sessions coming up, picking people’s brains and other producers we get to work with.
“Black & Blue” is a dance-ready banger. Was there any specific inspiration behind the song, with lyrics like “even when my heart is black and blue, I keep running back to you”?
We were actually in a last-minute session with Punctual (another production Duo) and a writer named Cameron Warren for another artist. We had a spare 45 minutes left, and Josh had the concept “Black & Blue” written down as a note on his phone. So Punctual just played a beat, and we just riffed with the idea over the top. The idea behind it is that there’s one person in everyone’s life who they keep coming back to no matter how hard you try.
This track is also accompanied by its alluring music video due out on Friday, which was shot in an abandoned underground prison in London. What was this spooky experience like for you two running through all those tunnels?
A little creepy, to be honest! It was an old prison underneath London in Camberwell, and we stayed together as much as possible because it was huge!
You stated that you wrote and recorded “Black & Blue” in roughly 45 minutes but spent the next six months perfecting the track. Do you find yourselves approaching all of your tracks with this level of detail? How long does it typically take you to craft a track?
Releasing music in 2021/2022 generally requires a lot of planning, which allows a lot of time to tweak and finish and even try different directions. We always want to make sure anything we put out doesn’t feel rushed, and we are 100% happy with every element of the song.
Your debut release in 2019 with MEDUZA, “Piece Of Your Heart,” has since catapulted you to the forefront of the scene, and the follow-up release with MEDUZA and Becky Hill, “Lose Control,” was another chart-topping hit. How did you approach these two collaborations?
We had joked about doing a DJ duo project before releasing “Piece Of Your Heart” because we wrote together a lot. There was a writing camp for Meduza, and after making “Piece Of Your Heart,” they asked to keep Josh’s vocals on the track, so we discussed making that the first time we would feature ‘Goodboys.’ The second time was a similar scenario. They wanted to keep the collab going but with Becky [Hill] this time, and we thought the song was a perfect follow-up.
What can fans expect next from Goodboys in 2022? Are there any upcoming releases or shows you can share details about?
We can’t say too much ahead of time, but we are the most excited we’ve ever been about 2022—hopefully, LOTS of collaborations with big pop dance songs but also specialist house music artists. We really want to showcase a side of Goodboys that people don’t usually get to see.
And now, we’ll end with a fun question. You both are stranded together on a deserted island and can only bring one item with you. What would each of you bring?
[Laughs] I think we would probably bring a football to stop us from going crazy, and we love a bit of water sports on tour… but other than that, maybe a guitar so we can write a song about coconuts or something.
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