Josh Legg, best known as Goldroom, is a producer / songwriter / singer / Dj/ musician responsible for bringing you nu- disco, tropical/ deep house-straight up feel good music. As of recently, Goldroom has transformed into a four piece band with Nick Sandler on drums, Knox Robotic shredding on the guitar, all blended together with Nikki Segal and Josh Legg’s vocals and intervals on the keyboard. The band has been tirelessly touring across the U.S. and Canada delivering their euphoric live performances. Goldroom’s music can best be described as witnessing the fusion between a sunrise and a sunset, feeling the perfect breeze, all while holding hands with your favorite person in the world.
Words and interview by Ashley Zucker, photography by Lauren Engel
“Embrace” featuring George Maple is such an uplifting track. What’s the story behind the creation of the track and what made you want to re-record from the original?
Thanks! George and I wrote the track together a few years ago. We wrote the vocals together over an instrumental I had made. When Snapchat gave me the opportunity to make a short film revolving around the song, I thought it would be a great opportunity to show the world what the song sounded like when we first wrote it. The two versions are both so different and I was just excited to show the world what the song would sound like with the original writer on it.
The record “Fifteen” is definitely emotional. Do you recall at what point in your life you were in when you wrote this song?
Sure, I wrote the song in 2011 on an acoustic guitar. I had been thinking about the summer after I turned 15, when I had a bunch of my first “adult” experiences. I’m always super nostalgic for the types of pure emotions you can only feel at that point in your life… I’m always feeling that way!
Which artists were you listening to at age fifteen?
CSNY, Dylan, Allman Bros, Petty… A lot of classic songwriting from the 60s and 70s and 80s.
“Waiting To Ignite” featuring Ren Farren has pronounced, groovy disco vibes. What elements went into creating this track?
I wanted to challenge myself to try and make a track that just had piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums. The icing on the cake was definitely writing the vocals with Tinashe. Obviously that instrumental is pretty outside of what she normally does, so it was really exciting to get to write something so different.
Even though Nikki Segal is not the vocalist on your tracks she performs, her voice seems to completely fit with the vibes and fabrication of the records. How did you start working with Nikki and what is the secret to having great chemistry on stage?
Working hard and rehearsing a lot! Nikki is amazing. We met because we both attended USC, and she’s been amazing to work with on the live side. She’s one of the most talented vocalists I’ve ever been around and she’s taught me so much.
What emotions do you feel when performing with the band onstage versus Djing?
It’s so much more emotionally challenging and at times fulfilling to play live. I mean, I wrote these songs, so getting to sing them for people in a live setting is much more personal and connecting. All of that said, I LOVE DJing. There’s something so free and fun about it and I have to say I have more fun doing it on the whole.
What is the biggest challenge of working with a band? What is the biggest reward?
The biggest challenge is just the amount of work required and the amount of emotional energy you have to pour into it. Every night provides an opportunity for transcendence but also for complete failure. It’s exhausting and amazing all at once.
We had the pleasure of hearing you sing live, you’re an incredible singer! Will your next album be featuring more of your vocals?
Thanks for saying that! I definitely have written a bunch of material that I’m singing on and I hope to be on a lot more Goldroom material moving forward!
