Songwriter Interview – Nauci Gold – Lowlights EP

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, musician Nauci Gold talks about his latest EP, Lowlights, and his next project, The Days We Left Behind.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Nauci Gold about his life and career, the inspiration behind his Lowlights EP, and the creative work that’s going into his next project, The Days We Left Behind.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

My name is Nauci Gold. I’m a nu soul / nu jazz artist who blends those genres with other elements, and I’m originally from the Canary Islands—a small group of islands off the coast of Africa that belong to Spain.

In 2020, just before the pandemic, I released my first EP, Roots EP. Then in 2023, I released Lowlights, my latest EP at the time, which—thankfully—opened the doors for my first tours.

Right now, I’m working on my next project, The Days We Left Behind.

When did you first WANT to write music?

It was sometime in my teenage years when I started seeing how many musicians spoke about songwriting as something that helped them grow and heal. That’s when I realized I wanted to try it too. I’ve always been quite introverted, so music became my safe space—a way to express myself and evolve emotionally.

When did you take a step to start writing music?

As Nauci Gold, it was a very organic process. I had just come back to the islands after studying in Los Angeles. After a brief time playing in bands and not really finding the right people to create with, I decided to start making music that truly reflected who I am—something honest that helped me express what I carry inside.

What was your first piece of music released, and what inspired it?

The first song I released as Nauci Gold was Roots. It’s a song about where we come from, and how in our roots we can often find gold—whether it’s in the wisdom of an elder or in small, ancient tricks passed down through generations.

I felt that, especially in the Canary Islands, we’ve lost touch with our true cultural identity due to colonization and its lasting impact. That always felt a bit sad to me. So I wanted to write from a more universal point of view—something that anyone could relate to—and pay tribute to the idea of honoring where we come from.

What was your latest music released, and what inspired it?

My latest release is Dancing Gods, the lead single from my upcoming LP. It’s inspired by that strange duality where the things we love the most are often the ones that cause us the most pain—but we still can’t live without them. That push and pull reminded me of the relationship between an artist and their art—how it can be both beautiful and frustrating.

I saw that same energy reflected in Shiva, the Hindu god of creation and destruction, who’s often shown dancing. That’s where the title Dancing Gods comes from.

Focusing on your latest piece of music. What were your biggest challenges with it?

Since I started writing the songs that would become The Days We Left Behind, I wanted the whole project to feel like a clear step forward compared to my previous work—not just musically more refined, but also in terms of the sound itself. Trying to constantly push yourself forward can bring a lot of headaches, honestly. I’m my biggest fan, but also my biggest critic.

That said, once I get past those moments, things usually start to flow very naturally—because, as I mentioned before, the music I make is rooted in what I truly love, and that makes it easier.

Also, surrounding yourself with people who understand your vision, respect it, and treat it with care really helps. So I have to give a big shout out to Hendrick Valera, who’s in charge of the sound, and to everyone else who’s been part of the process and working alongside me.

What are you working on right now?

As I was saying, I’m currently finishing up the recording of my next EP, The Days We Left Behind. It’s definitely my most ambitious project so far, and I’m really proud of how it’s turning out—though there’s still a bit of work left to do.

Do you keep to a theme with your music, or just go where the mood strikes?

The themes vary quite a bit—it really depends on where the mood takes me. But it’s always something personal: either experiences I’ve lived, thoughts I’ve been processing, or even ideas that come from something I’ve read and found inspiring.

I’m really drawn to esoteric topics, and I like for that to be reflected in my music—not just in the lyrics, but also in things like the concert visuals, artwork, or cover designs. It’s all part of who I am. Once, an artist from the Basque Country called me the shaman of nu soul, and honestly, I think that describes the project pretty well! ahahah

What is your favourite piece of music you’ve recorded, and what do you love about it?

Right now, I’d say Dancing Gods. As I mentioned earlier, I love how we’ve managed to really elevate things—there’s a noticeable improvement on many levels. Plus, I think it ended up expressing exactly what I was feeling at the time. On top of that, it’s such a fun track to perform live—I honestly can’t wait to bring it to the stage.

Do you find other people’s music inspires you? Who do you listen to most?

Absolutely. And not just music—I’m a huge fan of art in general. I find inspiration in cinema, literature, painting, photography… really, any form of creative expression.

If we’re talking strictly about music, I could name artists like Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Yazmin Lacey, Bilal, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Jacob Banks, José James, Jiro Inagaki, Fela Kuti, Burna Boy… and the list could go on and on.

Do you record and produce your own music, or pay musicians and producers?

I write all my music and co-produce it with my sound engineer, Hendrick Valera—whom I mentioned earlier. Of course, I pay him for his work. I’m lucky enough to not only sing, but also play several instruments. Still, with the way we’re approaching this new music, there are instruments I can’t play—like horns, for example—so I hire musicians who can come in and contribute to what we’re building.

Working with other musicians—especially ones as talented as the people I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with—always brings something extra to the project.

What instruments do you play?

I consider myself a singer first, but I also play piano, keyboards, guitar, and bass.

Though, honestly, I’m a frustrated trumpet player ahahah. I’ve always wanted to learn, so hopefully I’ll get around to fixing that someday!

Do you like performing live, or does it scare you? Where can people watch you?

I absolutely love performing live—it genuinely brings me so much joy. I also love that it gives me the chance to discover new places and meet new people all the time. I believe the best way to truly experience an artist is in a live setting. The energy and connection you build with the audience is something magical, and honestly, everything should hit harder live.

I’ve been lucky enough to play in various cities across countries like Spain and Mexico, as well as of course here in the Canary Islands. But I’m always open to playing anywhere, so with this new release I really hope to visit a lot of new cities and countries—hopefully people will be able to catch me just about anywhere hahaha.

Is your music available to the public, and where can people listen to it?

Yes, absolutely. My music is available on all streaming platforms, and you can also watch the videos on YouTube and so on—it’s out there everywhere. Just search Nauci Gold and voilà! Luckily, there aren’t too many people with that name hahaha.

Are you able to make music full time, or do you have a day job?

Right now, I like to say that I survive thanks to music—which is already a blessing. I also combine it with teaching and other music-related jobs. But like many musicians, I’ve had my fair share of “non-music” jobs, especially during recording periods when extra income was needed.

Are your friends and family supportive of your music career?

Yes, especially my mother—her support has been absolutely incredible. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done or keep doing what I do. My brother and my friends are also really supportive and always try to be there at my shows whenever I play in their cities.

What’s something you never expected about writing music? What have you learned that surprised you?

That it would take me to the places it has taken me and allow me to meet the people I’ve had the luck to meet. Of course, it’s not always easy or perfect—but the good definitely outweighs the rest.

What has surprised me the most is the power music has, and how beautiful it is to connect with people you’ve never met who feel something through what you’ve created. It’s such an incredible feeling.

Have you had any experiences that really stand out because of your music?

Honestly, there have been many. But even if it sounds like a cliché, I’d say what stands out the most are the acts of kindness—people coming up after a show to talk, asking for a photo, sharing my work, even when they live thousands of kilometers away or on completely different continents. The support from media outlets that share what I do without expecting anything in return, too—those things really stay with me.

I don’t take any of it for granted. Every time something like that happens, when I see people connecting with what I create, sharing it, feeling it during live shows—those are the moments that truly stand out for me

Do you have any important events coming up we should know about?

Well, like I mentioned earlier, I’m finishing up my new project, which I hope to have ready after summer. Once it’s done, I plan to start playing it live and also release the second single from the album following Dancing Gods.

What is the first piece of advice you would give to anyone inspired to write music?

The advice I always give—though it might sound obvious—is to listen to a lot of music. Not just the style you want to make, but a wide variety of genres, both old and new. That always enriches your creativity. Let music inspire you, and then the second thing I always say is: be inspired by everyone, but don’t copy anyone. Don’t try to be someone else or imitate another artist. The best person to make your music is you. If you’re honest with your art and you work hard at it, there’s no way you’ll fail.

And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishments? Was it worth the effort?

Absolutely. I still have a long road ahead of me and a lot I want to achieve, but I’m really proud of what I’ve done so far. Of course, there have been moments where I’ve thought about quitting or doubted whether it was worth it—but honestly, I can’t imagine my life doing anything other than making music.

Pop all your music, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

You can find me as Nauci Gold on all streaming platforms and social media:

• www.instagram.com/naucigold/

• www.youtube.com/naucigold/

• www.facebook.com/naucigold/

• www.naucigold.bandcamp.com

• www.twitter.com/naucigold


.