Tanya Goltz On the Making Of ‘Pieces Of Me’
How does 'Pieces Of Me' reflect your musical journey and growth as an artist?
I grew up singing and writing country music, which grew from my Dad’s love for the genre. And as I started to perform it just made sense to move into this part of the industry. But as I grew older and started exploring more music in addition to completing a Bachelor of Music, I was exposed to and just fell in love with so many different styles of music. So ‘Pieces of Me’ really reflects this growth as the body of work weaves together all of my influences into one package.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for 'Pieces Of Me?'
The breakthrough moment while writing for ‘Pieces Of Me,’ was really about finally giving myself license to write freely and not be confined to a specific genre or notion of needing to fit into a specific box. There is so much music out in the world and it’s difficult to know how your music is going to be perceived. This can be quite debilitating if you let it; as it can really halt the process. But I found that for me, my best music is written from a place of authenticity and honesty so ensuring that I could personally resonate with each song was an important factor during the process.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for 'Pieces Of Me?'
The entire recording process was incredibly special. I recorded at Red Engine Recording in Brisbane, with Steve James and Andrew Cochrane. Both producers have a wealth of knowledge and experience and just understood my sound perfectly. I have this unique mix of country, rock, pop with a real retro undertone and working with Steve and Andrew just made so much sense. Between them, they have worked with such an amazing line up of artists such as: Dami Im, The Screaming Jets, Cold Chisel, The Veronica’s, The Rutles, and The McClymonts. So, it was such a stand out and surreal moment working with such professionals on my debut project.
Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
I have been singing, performing and writing since I was 9 years old so I always knew that my path was music. But as I neared my late teens and early twenties, I had watched so many friends who were artists struggle with that path, financially and emotionally. It made me realise that building my financial security, investing in my own personal development and gaining life experience was going to be an incredibly essential part of being able to work towards my dream of being a full-time musician in the future. So, after 12 years working in the social work field, travelling overseas and around Australia, while continuing to gig and write as much as possible, it was finally time to go all in and pursue music as my full-time job. I just got to a point where I knew it was time to invest and trust in myself and I haven’t looked back.
How do you hope your music resonates with your audience? What message or feeling do you aim to convey through your vocals?
I always hope that my music will connect with my audience in some way. And at the end of the day, if even one person resonates on some level whether it provides validation, encouragement, comfort or joy; then I consider my job has been done. I feel so privileged to be able to share my music with people while they are going about their life; whether it’s through the struggles or the celebrations. I feel so grateful that we are in an age where so many people across the world can have access to the music that I make. My vocals are always honest; my Dad taught me as a little girl to sing with emotion; to find my own connection with the material and convey it in my performance of the song and that’s what I will always strive to do.
