GIGI GOLD – Debut EP “Souvenirs” Is Out Now On Marshall Records And Reveals New Video “Hot Coals”

Alternative folk-rock artist GIGI GOLD’s debut EP, “SOUVENIRS“ is out now on MARSHALL RECORDS. Fans can stream the full EP­– HERE. Accompanying the release, Gold reveals her latest video for the haunting and soul-stirring track “HOT COALS.“

The West Virginia-born artist’s debut spans a wide range of genres and styles, from folk to rock and blues, and is alluring, rebellious and empowering, covering themes of self-discovery, introspection and vulnerability. The sprawling five-track mini-movie paints pictures of highspeed desert drives with the roof down, smoke-filled speakeasies dense with Bond-esque intrigue, and tangled in all the highs and lows of a fated cinematic romance. The “Souvenirs” EP is a blend of everything from modern folk to classic rock, at once familiar and exciting and stamped with her unmistakable style of self-searching lyrics.

“This EP has been such a long time coming for me.” Gold exclaims: “Some songs were tucked away in voice note ideas for years, so I’m beyond excited to release them into the world. It really takes you on a journey and gives an idea of what else is to come. I worked with the most amazing songwriters, musicians, engineers, and artists on this EP, and I’m so grateful to every person who helped make it happen”.

Gold’s latest offering delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of self-loathing and the painful journey of personal transformation. Inspired by the notion that holding onto anger is akin to grasping a hot coal—only to burn yourself—the track encapsulates the essence of inner turmoil and the pivotal moment of choosing to evolve.

“‘Hot Coals’ is a song about realising you are your own worst enemy and ultimately the cause of your own pain,” Gold explains. “It is an uncomfortable reflection on self-loathing, self-destruction, and the critical moment when you decide whether to remain the same or transform into something different. The inspiration came from the phrase ‘holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned”.

Growing up in West Virginia, it wasn’t until Gigi moved to nearby Shepherdstown for college that she saw music that could belong to her. “Before that, the only music being made by teenagers was punk and hardcore, and there just weren’t any girls on stage. But then I moved for college to this tiny town, and suddenly, I saw all these women making music. There were loads of open mics, shows in bars and churches, and different kinds of music: rockabilly, folk, ambient, rock and roll. Pretty early on, I thought, ‘I can do this.’” From there, Gigi formed as many bands as she could, eventually meeting then-Gallows guitarist Steph Carter through a “chance online connection” that led to the pair forming two bands, The Ghost Riders in the Sky, and later Lyoness. While Steph and Gigi went on to be married, both these bands folded, leading Gigi to the decision to start her own project. “It’s allowed me to expand into territories I never could have in Lyoness”, she says, “and I’ve had to step forward into a level of confidence I never had before. I have to call all the shots by myself which can be overwhelming, but likewise, I have all this creativity and freedom to shape it into whatever I want it to be”.

Coming from a background of 60s and 70s rock, blended with more modern acts like The Kills or Lana Del Ray, Gigi‘s music often unifies the most disparate elements of these two worlds. Perhaps the most striking element of Gigi’s music is her lyricism – sometimes diaristic, sometimes abstract, but always full of bold imagery. “My daily lyric writing process consists of listening to music I’ve never heard before and freewriting whatever it brings up in me”, Gigi explains. “It brings up a memory, or a thought, or something I’m currently dealing with, but it’s all my lived experience. It just depends how it’s flowing and how I feel that day”. This connection of the literal to the metaphorical is most obvious in “Why Should I?“, a call-back to the riffs of Lyoness that proved Gigi to be a powerhouse of rock singing. A brooding stampede of bluesy electric guitars and thunderous drums, “Why Should I?” brings to mind modern rock bands like Royal Blood and The Amazons but evokes more poetic artists like Phoebe Bridgers through its lyrics, succinct in its intent.

After nearly a decade of making rock music, Gigi Gold has redefined herself as a bold new voice, turning the genre upside down in pursuit of something new. From the small taste of “Souvenirs”, no one can say which direction Gigi will take next, least of all herself: “I felt I needed to lift the constraints, and the only thing ever stopping me was myself. To this day, I don’t know what I want this to be; I just want to be proud of what I put out there”. With this ethos as her guide and a range of songs that proves she can choose any path she wants; Gigi Gold will quickly be recognised as one of music’s most intriguing and unpredictable voices.

BUY/ LISTEN “SOUVENIRS” EP HERE

“Souvenirs” Tracklist: 
1. Why Should I
2. You Ain’t Changed
3. Stare Up at the Sky
4. Black Water Falls
5. Hot Coals