We’re headed to Miami for UMF — sunny skies, palm trees, electronic music. And though we can’t deny the adrenaline rush of the headlining DJ sets, our EDM tastes run to a slower BPM.
Just our pace: producer Josh Legg’s band Goldroom. Legg layers ethereal female vocals over his chill yet vibrant productions. His late-afternoon performance on Sunday is a can’t-miss. Until then, let’s get acquainted.
Describe your sound in six words or less.
Scenic. Open. Lush. Hopefully, honest more than anything else.
Your Instagram feed (@goldroom) is otherworldly. Where was the best sunset you’ve ever seen?
I witnessed a green flash once while sailing off the coast of Saint Lucia. You can only see them on perfectly clear nights with a view to an ocean horizon, but the Earth’s gravity grabs all of the sun’s last light except for the green wavelengths, leaving a little green flash as the sun goes over the horizon. It was pretty crazy.
Take us to your happy place.
On the water. My favorite childhood memories were all on boats, and to this day, when I need to calm down or put things in perspective, I find a way to get out on the ocean. It’s my true home, and I think that probably comes across in the music I make.
What’s your astrological sign?
Scorpio. [Editor’s note: We had a feeling he was a water sign.]
Your Embrace EP has collaborations with a few Australian artists (including Say Lou Lou, another favorite of ours). How did those collaborations come about?
I love Australians! Some of my early supporters were a bunch of Aussie musicians that have tons of friends in common with people like Chela and Mereki, which slowly led to those collaborations. The Miami Horror guys and their team have kind of formed the core of my little Australian crew!
You’ve also done cool remixes of Penguin Prison, Niki & the Dove, and others. What elements do you like to bring to these projects?
I just want to reimagine their songs, casting the message in a new light. I love working with great vocals, so when I approach a remix, it’s really about highlighting them while trying to see how I can make the song come across in a different emotional sphere.
Who are you dying to work with?
I just finished up a remix for MØ, but I would really love to write a song with her. I love her voice, and I think she’s a great songwriter.
Who are you listening to right now?
A Bill Withers song just finished playing, and a Jungle song just came on.
Preshow ritual?
Jameson and Mexican beer. Every time.
Drink of choice?
A true Dark and Stormy. Just Gosling’s dark rum and a really good ginger beer. That’s the sailor in me, I guess, but I love it.
Favorite dance move?
Clearly the Stanky Legg.
What’s in your suitcase that you can’t live without?
My sunglasses. I can’t handle squinting all day.
Ride the electronic vibe with the title track from the EP and the rest of our Ultra Festival must-hears.
“Embrace,” by Goldroom
“Get Low,” by Dillon Francis and DJ Snake
“Mufasa,” by Laidback Luke and Peking Duk
“Y.A.L.A.,” by M.I.A.
“We Are Explorers,” by Cut Copy
“Alive,” by Empire of the Sun
“Ello Ello,” by RAC and Body Language
“Tonight,” by Tourist
“In My Right Mind,” by Paper Diamond, featuring Gavin Turek
“Life Round Here,” by James Blake, featuring Chance the Rapper
“Do You Party,” by Afrobeta
Stream the playlist on Spotify. Ultra Music Festival runs Friday to Sunday, at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. For more information, go to ultramusicfestival.com. Before you go, check out our must-hears.
Photos: Courtesy of Tiger Tiger; @goldroom / Courtesy of Instagram
