Meet Michael Goldman of NONA in Highland Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Goldman.

Michael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started playing the cello when I was eight and, just like in School Of Rock, then started playing bass when I was 11. From there, I played in bands throughout high school, and when it was time to go to college, my band got signed to an indie label.

I abandoned the idea of higher education began my touring career in Chasing Kings where we self-booked the worst tours you could imagine until we ‘took a break’ at the end of 2012. Through friends I’d made with Chasing Kings, I began my ‘hired gun’ career playing with Meg Myers, The Moth & The Flame, Goldroom, Sego, Korey Dane and, currently, Awolnation.

Something I kept to myself for many years growing up was my passion for writing songs and capturing emotions in them. I named myself NONA, after my grandmother, and have been slowly working towards a legitimate opening to my recording career with the name.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a relatively rough road in the literal sense, career-wise, although I don’t think myself an outlier. When you decide to “go for it” during the worst recession in decades combined with the proliferation of digital pirating, you’ve started off many steps behind.

I was fanatical in the ideology of the band and only did things that seemed to further its goal. That meant funding tours and recordings, along with bandmates, that yielded no money. Every time we felt there was finally a legitimate opportunity, it was undermined by either shady people, musical ideology or weather (We once hit three hurricanes in one tour).

Things began to get easier as I started playing with other bands and establishing a career as a hired out musician, but even getting paid to play doesn’t quite pay what you’d want to make. Again though, these are pretty average woes for a musician in LA. On the whole, waking up every day to do what you love is an incredible thing. Far worth the trials and lack of compensation.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about NONA – what should we know?
NONA is my band or solo project. I write, engineer and produce everything and coerce friends to join me on stage when I play shows. The band is a relatively rotating cast, comprised of other touring musicians.

I’ve characterized my brand of rock as slow-wave indie, but I resent living in a time when all music needs to be advocated for by it’s “genre.” I’d say the sound is constantly changing as I do. I find that aspect of it being a solo project incredibly refreshing.

When you have the democracy of “the band” it makes change harder and slower, and you become married to a sound sometimes. I strive to be as honest as possible in my writing and lean on my unfiltered perspective, though that’s infinitely harder than it sounds.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
In all sincerity, I owe a lot to my mom. She really supported the whole “you can be whoever you want to be” thing, and I took it pretty seriously. She’s challenged me many times on my career choice, but only in helpful ways and always while trusting me.

Meeting her challenges is what made me more confident and set her at ease and shes always the first one to tell me she’s proud of me. I’m definitely guilty of thinking “how am I supposed to be a successful artist if you’re constantly supporting me!”

My father was also incredibly influential in the sense that I inherited his guitars and he passed away when I was 11, giving me a lot to write about. If I really were to give credit to everyone that it’s due, this would turn into a novelette, but I very fortunate in the friends I’ve made and the family I have.

Many of my friends inspire me simply through their own talent and creativity. That’s something I’m extremely grateful for.

Pricing:

• $1 – buying any of my songs

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/nonatheband
• Facebook: facebook.com/nonasounds
• Twitter: twitter.com/nonatheband

Image Credit:
Marcello Ambriz

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