Music News - Alt-Synth Artist Goblin Problem Releases His Debut EP 'The Goblin'
29 September 2023 - 0 Comments
Goblin Problem is the solo synth-pop project of Tāmaki-Makaurau based multi-instrumentalist Jack Buchanan, and The Goblin EP is his first release under this moniker, with another 4 tracks on follow-up EP The Problem, out 2024.
STREAM THE GOBLIN EP via SPOTIFY HERE
via BANDCAMP HERE
via SOUNDCLOUD HERE
Combining upbeat and poppy hooks with non-traditional song structures and rich sonic layering, Goblin Problem’s unique brand of alt-dance indietronica synth-pop is inspired by artists like Hot Chip, John Grant, Depeche Mode, and LCD Soundsystem.
Cheery themes of nihilism, confusion, and self-destruction are at the heart of Buchanan’s lyrics, presented with a dry, self-aware humour. Goblin Problem delights in the general confusion at being alive, and the difficulty and absurdity of the world we live in, threads firmly juxtaposed against the backdrop of his bright and playful instrumentation.
Says Buchanan: “I love to party, and I really like the idea of making party music that is about how bad the party is. It should make you want to dance and cry in equal measure, or hopefully it makes people just want to dance and yell and have the time of their lives.”
Declaring his music to be “alternative-synth doom-pop to dance and cry to”, Buchanan claims Leave It Behind as his ode to surviving many great nights out.
“I wrote Leave It Behind, in a Sydney Airbnb last year while nursing a particularly nasty hangover. The growling bass synth is what got me started, and suddenly the whole song just poured out of me. This track is my self-destruction dance anthem. A track that speaks to the nights when you’re determined to get totally obliterated and forget about everything, to dance while the world is burning – even to burn with it. It’s playful and upbeat, but with some pretty dark undercurrents. It’s those nights when you set your mind to getting absolutely f*#@ed up, and nothing can stop you.”
For this project, every element of the entire EP was written, programmed, played, recorded, produced, and mixed by Buchanan himself in his home studio or in whichever weird hotel room he was staying in while touring a theatre show in Australia at the time. For the final processes and finishing touches, he called on Metropolis Studios in the United Kingdom for mastering duties, while the video for ‘Leave It Behind’ features the artwork and animation skills of artist Joshua Shepherd.
Prior to creating Goblin Problem, Buchanan found global success as a musical comedy artist, with his 2020 viral sensation Family Lockdown Boogie garnering an astounding 15 million views across all platforms. He is also vocalist and guitarist for local indie rock act Cheap Sav For Dead Friends, as well as being an acclaimed and experienced actor.
For someone who had previously written music purely as an entertaining hobby to amuse himself and others, Buchanan is now making music that people are listening to and enjoying worldwide, proving that there are many strings to the bow of this highly talented creative, with more to come!
Photo Credit: Andi Crown Photography
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