At the end of last month, I had the great pleasure of getting to talk about The Golden West, singer-songwriter August Gladstone’s debut LP. One of the many aspects I love as a music writer is not only being able to find new indie talents, but to have them reach out to you based on the impact your writing has made in this industry. So much of my publication is about helping change the world of independent artistry in music for the better by being able to act as a voice and vector for the many talents who deserve more amplification.
Gladstone falls into the latter category of introduction, as he was kind enough to email me about The Golden West and to see if I was interested in writing a review about it. I’m so glad he chose to do so, because his brand of artistry is the kind of between-the-lines musicianship and inspired storytelling I’ve loved since discovering Warren Zevon when I was 12 years old. It may never top the charts or snag a Grammy Award, but the artist captures soulful, emotional reality in ways that resonate far further than any trophy could ever imagine.
I’ve had the record on consistent repeat since I first heard it, and was able to go further down The Golden West rabbit hole by reaching out to Gladstone to score the interview above. I quickly learned that the musician is exactly the persona he creates on this album (if not more), frequently delving into brilliant backstory and quotable turns of phrase that left me feeling more enlightened than when we first started rolling the recording. Gladstone is unapologetically, illustratively himself, and that makes for a truly great artist.
So take a trip into The Golden West, and if you haven’t booked your ticket yet, start here with our prologue of a conversation. Something tells me you’ll quickly be ready for your first chapter.
Follow August here on Instagram and purchase The Golden West on these various platforms!
