Catching Up with GOODFRND: A Fresh Chapter and New Sounds
Photographs by @lauren_aroyan
When I first interviewed GOODFRND at the start of Unraveled Edit, I knew right away he had something special. His raw, unapologetic lyrics and unique sound were impossible to ignore. Fast forward a year, and GOODFRND is back with a whole new vibe, kicking things off with his single, FRUSTRATED.
FRUSTRATED didn’t start as the upbeat track it is now. Initially, it was meant to be a slow, acoustic ballad, but in a spur-of-the-moment decision. GOODFRND set the guitar aside and let the song take on a life of its own. After 10 months of figuring out the direction for his new music, he’s back to the influences that shaped him—rock, alternative, and pop. And you can hear those influences all over FRUSTRATED. “It’s gimmicky and I can have fun with everything I write about,” he says, perfectly capturing the playful energy of this new era.
For fans who’ve been following GOODFRND since the beginning, there’s a noticeable evolution in his sound. When I mentioned this to him, he pointed to Dominic Fike as a major influence—someone who continues to inspire him as his career progresses.
I got a sneak peek of two upcoming tracks, that have since been released, MY WHOLE WORLD and REALLY, and they’re both incredible. GOODFRND shared that MY WHOLE WORLD is about to “learning to prioritise myself before somebody else” knowing who to devote (his) energy to and therefore “sometime's you’re better off revolving your life around yourself”.
One line in MY WHOLE WORLD really stood out to me: “I might blow my brains if I end up with you.” I had to ask him about it, and he explained that it’s about dealing with people who’ve hurt you or made you miserable. It’s a learning curve, figuring out your worth and who deserves your time.
His latest track REALLY is just as fun - think rock with a dash of happy indie pop that you want to keep on repeat. I was curious about the production and GOODFRND revealed it came together in just 3 hours. He was having fun, laid down the bass line, and let that guide the rest of the track For GOODFRND, as long as the meaning behind the lyrics comes through, the music falls into place naturally, without worrying about fitting into a specific genre.
This new sound and direction for GOODFRND is so exciting, especially for the Australian music scene. He’s pumped to finally release the music he’s been sitting on for so long and can’t wait for listeners to hear the “new me.”
Before wrapping up, I asked GOODFRND to sum up this new era in three words for someone who’s never heard his music before. His answer? “raw, gimmicky, and exciting.”
GOODFRND’s new singles FRUSTRATED, MY WHOLE WORLD and REALLY are out now and available on all streaming platforms. Make sure to follow him to stay in the loop for upcoming shows and new releases!
