Goth Babe's independent alternative sound brings joy, down-to-Earth reflections, and an iconic uplifting style to fans in his album, "Lola". He is a voyager at heart, and listeners deeply resonate with the powerful introspection from his experiences in his lyrics.
TRACKLIST
Neon Trees
Crocodile
Sadie
Backwards
Sun Comes Up
Orcas
Insides
Bioluminescence
Spinnaker Days
Alone in the Mountains
Baja
Goth Babe is a feel-good artist with a free spirit that he shares through his sound. Griff Washburn was born in Tennessee and took on his musical moniker in high school. His journey began with playing in punk bands as a teenager until he pursued a solo career. With a creative and explorational mind, he uses minimal instruments to create intricate and impactful music. His nomadic and freeing spirit has been with him through life's hardships including a head injury and his home burning down. Goth Babe lives on a sail boat with his dog, Sadie. That boat is named Lola, and has taken him on many of the journeys that inspire his music. While he truly connects with his fans through his wholesome melodies, taking time for exploration and travel is important as it gives him time to recharge in nature. He tours and plays shows across the world, currently on his tour with shows in Canada, the US, Mexico, and Australia.
Neon Trees
The album starts off by slipping you into a sound of bliss with this beautiful sonic experience. "Neon Trees" is a track that gradually builds in sound, layering on atmospheric vocals and instrumentals that will lull you into a state of happy calm. When listening to this song, I was immediately drawn to the lovely warmth it carries. Slow acoustic strumming opens the song with each string ringing out along with the bright chirping of birds. Ambient percussion joins the instrumentals with a consistent wave, its grounding voicing sustained throughout the song. Goth Babe's vocalizing polishes off the mix with soft and open sounds repeating a comforting melody. The only lyrics in this song are a single line that repeats near the end: "I don't wanna break down where you are." The message of support in the lyrics is simple and entirely loaded with positivity, given the moving and immersive delivery. The perfect fit for softer, precious moments like a walk on a sunny day, this track will make you smile.
Crocodile
Moving on to an outright expression of love, this next track blends upbeat electronic and acoustic elements that captures the energy of feeling romantic desire. Bright acoustic strumming opens the song before Goth Babe's atmospheric, fast-paced vocals and simple, speedy percussion bring urgency to the sound. Using the lyrics like an enchanting instrument through repetition, the words communicate questions from the speaker to their love interest about their relationship and the pacing of it, as well as vulnerable desires like "I want you to want me". Electronic and acoustic instrumentals create a euphoric feeling throughout the song, taking the lead in interludes and drawing you in as they support the lyrics. Moving through the uplifting emotions of romantic connection, this song will entrance you with its catchy sound.
Sadie
An ode to his best friend, Goth Babe captured the true spirit of the connection you can have with your dog in this fun and free track. Reaching introspective and cerebral heights in both sound and lyricism, "Sadie" masterfully demonstrates the deep link. A bright, repeating guitar pattern, rhythmic percussion, and gentle vocals permeate the tune with a happy sound. An upbeat electronic pad note pattern lets the glowing energy of the song reverberate even more. The lyrics jump between Sadie (Goth Babe's beloved dog) and his own perspective, communicating feelings of missing one another, especially when they are separated as Goth Babe is performing. Truly touching lyrics like "my Sadie's at home, I've only got a few days to go" express the harsh ache of separation as much as the comforting connection that they both share. This is a unique song, and one that so many people can relate to. Whether you're leaving your childhood dog with your family as you move away, or just missing your beloved furry friend in a particularly long day at work, this track will comfort you with its open expression of love.
Backwards
This reflective track will take you through the complexities of a difficult situation: determining when a relationship is over. Piano and a high, gritty electronic instrumental sound open the song before Goth Babe's somber and soulful vocals work through the verse. A simple, amplified chorus with resonant percussion has a buzzing sound that permeates its meaning into your ears. With lyrics that hang on hesitance, the speaker in this song hopes to do as little harm as possible, when in reality, breakups hurt no matter what. The words "I don't wanna break your heart" are repeated throughout the song, intensifying the reluctant need for an end. Through confusion and questioning, the speaker is uncertain about what the right next move is, and the idea of memories weaves its way throughout the lyrics like a thread bonding them together. This song features WATTS, whose emotional pop vocals capture the vulnerable essence of the track in a verse. Complete with a soft piano ending that blossoms with gentle acoustic guitar, this powerful tune will move you through feelings of nostalgia, heartache, and acceptance.
Sun Comes Up
Simple lyrics meet a percussion-heavy, happy tune in this contemplative song. This track is one person reflecting on their relationship with another, enjoying the moments together and similarities between themselves before embracing the warmth in the metaphor of a new day. Pulsing, bright synth notes meet exciting percussion and Goth Babe's mellow, narrative vocals in the rounded sound of this track. Fast, bright patterns of guitar picking are interspersed throughout the song, shifting the tune through bright and reflective moods. Words like "I am a man that wants a full life, I know that you do too" set a heartwarming tone with aligned values in this delightful way. Using ideas of day and night, the speaker refers to their partner in relation to evening, and says "only sun on the horizon". An idea of hesitance, similar to the one communicated in "Backwards" integrates itself into the lyrics of this song. Listeners will love the ambient sound of this pensive musical journey.
Orcas
A prime example of how instruments can tell a story of their own, this short and touching guitar track will make you feel deeply. It opens with slow strumming of bright chords before it dissolves into quick fingerpicking, puttering fast like a gentle rain. Melodic highs and lows move through this pattern before slowing down to a pattern with a new attitude altogether, that hits a bit harder on the lower strings giving a warm bass to the sound. Acting as a beautiful pause in the album, this tune allows you to sit and feel. Surrounded by songs heavy in electronic instrumentals and vocals, this song will have you feeling calm as you drift along with the simplicity of the instruments and the mesmerizing intricacy of the tune.
Insides
It's important to trust how you feel, and lean on your instincts when it comes to the timing of something important. This intimate song looks at the necessity of self-assurance when exploring something new. Soft vocalizing throughout the song will entrance you with its soulful expression that feels like its taking on the meaning of the song. Taking on Goth Babe's nomadic and adventurous personality, the lyrics search for a place to go when things become complex. Bright acoustic guitar opens the song before rhythmic percussion and high electronic instrumentals meet your ear. Goth Babe's resonant vocals work slowly through the lyrics, allowing the pulsing of the beat to sound through his words. This energetic song can be the escape you're searching for, bringing a liberating sound to introspective lyrics.
Bioluminescence
A truly special someone and the magical feeling the connection brings shines through "Bioluminescence" with a touching tune that is sure to make you smile. This track starts off with an iconic electronic note pattern that sews an elevated, euphoric energy into the fabric of its sound. Cosmic and natural imagery paint this song beautifully onto the canvas of your mind. Lyrics like "we swim through the stars on a lucid night" are powerfully poetic with their unique phrasing of the way it feels to be with someone who allows you to be grounded in the moment while experiencing emotions that are impossibly wonderful. Glowing, low synth chords balance out the bright electronic pattern that moves throughout the song, and Goth Babe's vocals join the mix with an ambient feeling of bliss. This is a track for the dreamers and free spirits, as the comforting sound of love will coast you through its bright and singular meaning.
Spinnaker Days
Living for yourself is such a wonderful way to be, but sometimes total independence requires a bit of sacrifice. This song deals with the difficult truth of needing to find peace by being alone. In a rather literal sense, Goth Babe and his dog sail across the ocean alone. Percussion that sounds like an energetic clapping accompanies glowing electronic instrumentals, guitar, and Goth Babe's bright vocals. With an energizing sound of freedom, "Spinnaker Days" addresses that unique literal manifestation of needing a journey as an individual. Profound statements like "I know someday we could sail around, I hate to say it but I want my time today" are a simple and comforting way of laying true emotions out on the table. Letting listeners know that it is okay to need to be on your own, this track brings comfort to honesty about personal truths.
Alone in the Mountains
A peaceful introspective track, "Alone in the Mountains" is a pure and personal representation of Goth Babe himself. Taking listeners on a journey, the lyrics reflect on how the speaker imagined his life when he was younger, then takes us through a flash of his early career, "sleeping in parking lots". Basking in the gratitude he feels for being an independent artist, the track takes on the glory of self-reliance and being in control of his days. Twinkling electronic notes, bright strumming, and resonant vocals will ease you into the groovy rhythm and calm delight that is this track. Blissful vocalizing washes over you with a feeling of delight and a sound of fulfilment. The chorus repeats "I find myself alone in the mountains" which is a wonderfully clever metaphor as much as it is a literal description of Goth Babe's adventures. Offering peaceful connotations of nature's solitary comfort as well as a window into the artist's life, this song is packed with happiness.
Baja
Love, compassion, and open expression will delight you with this sweet song. Its lyrics are simple and its sound, warm. Glowing synth notes meet a soulful bass line, and Goth Babe's vocals start off in the background, allowing you to get lost in the breezy and ambient layers of sound. A heavy percussive pulse enlivens the tune before Goth Babe's down-to-Earth vocals enter with a sensitive and intimate sound. Accompanying his vocals, the previous instrumentals grow slightly quieter and energetic acoustic guitar picking brings a softer element to the song. The instrumentals layer back on, giving an immersive and touching vibrancy, before the song ends with simple acoustic guitar strumming and romantic vocals. Polishing off the album with warm, fuzzy feelings, this uplifting track carries a spirit of adventure and a message of love.
This feel-good album is a skilled and fun exploration of what it's like to live in the moment. Touching on themes of love, independence, nature, and personal growth, a unique perspective will enlighten you throughout these tracks. Goth Babe integrates a lot of his personality into his music, and these songs capture his kindred spirit in a way that will inspire you to be your most authentic self. With a truly singular style, this album brings difficult topics like breakups into a new light by leading with kindness and compassion. The lyrics "I don't wanna break your heart" are repeated in songs throughout the album, along with phrases of the same sentiment, stringing the tracks together with that sentiment and leading with honesty.
"Lola" is a collection of songs that will make you want to dance with consistently catchy beats, uplifting electronic instrumentals, and impactful repetition throughout the tracks. Electronic, synthpop, alternative, and folk are all genres that can be heard in this album, as Goth Babe truly embodies freedom in the instrumentals in his style. Genre-blending the way he does, the tracks can suit so many moods whether you're looking for a relaxing day in the sun or a late-night drive. Even though the tracks delve into all manner of emotions from apprehension to bliss, they all seem to fit together as Goth Babe's distinct and iconic music brings a sense of fulfillment that is unique to him. Check out the links below to learn more about Goth Babe.
Written By Hanna Kowal
FOLLOW GOTH BABE:
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.