We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eric Golden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I grew up around music, my Dad has been a working musician for most of my life, playing in multiple bands. While I was growing up he was performing 5-6 nights a week. As a kid I would pick up the guitar here and there but it was once I got out of high school that I started putting more effort into learning the instrument. Music was always a passion of mine, from playing around the house, going to see as many live shows as I could and listening to as much music I could get my hands on. In my mid twenties I was working on guitar and singing but, still just doing it around the house. At that time my Dad was part of a host band that did an open stage every Sunday afternoon. He would always invite me out but I was hesitant, while discussing this with my wife it was her encouragement that finally gave me the courage to go out, get up on stage and perform a few songs with the band. From that moment it lite a fire in me, and up on stage is where I felt I supposed to be. I started going to the open stage every week, from there I started going to open mics all over town. That eventually lead to me picking up acoustic gigs and I slowly grew from an acoustic artist to forming a band to now playing over 200 show a year.

Eric, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Country Music Artist that is heavily influenced by the sounds and styles of Traditional Country Music.

A native to Colorado and grew up in a musical family around Country Music. I have a passion for Classic and Traditional Country Music, the Bakersfield Sound, of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam. Early 90s Country of guys like Alan Jackson, Clint Black, stuff like that is what influences my live show and my new album “Sit Here and Cry” that I wrote and released earlier this year. I believe there is a place and audience still out there for Traditional Country Music and my goal is to keep making music that taps into that.

I started performing live in 2017 doing acoustic shows, solo and duos. During that time I started to really find the sound that I enjoyed performing but also connected with an audience. The more I played the more I found myself being drawn to the Traditional Country Music sound. In 2021 I shifted my focus from doing acoustic shows to booking myself with a band and by 2022 I was working full time on the weekends with my band and doing acoustic shows on weekdays, and still doing that to this day. My band show has grown immensely over the last three years. started out just doing corner bars background music type gigs to now performing in Dance Halls, Fairs, Festivals, Rodeos, Summer Concerts and more. Over the last year I have also started expanding and performing shows outside of Colorado in the surrounding states. 2024 will be my third year in a row of performing over 200 shows a year.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In playing over 200 shows a year not every night and every situation is great. I love performing and making music, but some nights its just work like any other job. Sometimes an audience member won’t like what you are doing or a venue manager or owner will be unkind or unhappy, sometimes band members will have a rough night, sometimes I have a bad night. There is always a big picture and the goal is to continue moving forward to bigger and better things. I try to think that everything I do is a stepping stone, it may a rough night or a venue that is no fun but you never know who is in the audience on any given night that could open up a new opportunity and I always try to keep that in mind and put my best foot forward. One thing I have found is to surround myself with good people that understand and support what I am trying to do. Mind over matter can be a very important attribute in the music industry. There is a lot rejection out there and how you overcome that has a huge impact on the success you have.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In the world of social media and streaming music I think it has never been easier to support artists. Like and follow them on social media, share their posts, follow and listen to thier music on streaming sites and, getting past just the online world, go to a show, buy a T Shirt, buy a CD. All of these things can help support an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ericgoldenmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.golden.music
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ericgoldenmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ericgoldencountrymusic?si=Oq1fXG_ll_nUyH3f
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4dJUyzA0BBY6WAJ4789LbY?si=Ufv9eDYsTueSwACRHB2v3Q&nd=1&dlsi=4f3bab1e73f34492

  Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/eric-golden/1734689901

Image Credits

John Ewing
PAH Photograohy
Roch On Colorado
Masha Polan Photography