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#MusicExchange: GoodLuck releases new single - Q&A with Juliet Harding

Electro-pop band GoodLuck have released a new single Rum & Cola on their own label Get Lucky Records.

I caught up with the fantastic Juliet Harding who does vocals, production and songwriting for the award-winning GoodLuck, a chart-topping live electronic band from Cape Town.

The GoodLuck sound fits nicely between the worlds of electronic-pop and accessible dance music. As far as songwriting is concerned, Harding mentioned: “We all come up with a song concept, and then I’ll write about the feeling that is inspiring in me. It’s very collaborative.”

The new decade means:

A significant reimagining of who we are, why we are and what we are doing to the world we live in.

Fame is about?:

Responsibility - if you are able to influence someone you need to realise how powerful that is. It can be inspiring or equally damaging, so to be taken seriously.

Retirement will happen when:

I run out of songs to write, so hopefully never!

#MusicExchange: GoodLuck releases new single - Q&A with Juliet Harding

What does music mean to you?

It's my flow state.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work? 

Writing a lyric that really helps someone. When I know I have done it, but also when they tell me months later how it changes their life.

Your heroes:

From a music perspective, Billie Eilish - she is way beyond her years on so many levels - and, from a human perspective, my Mom and Dad, they sacrificed everything for their kids and more recently a lady I met in the townships called Rahab because she is a true definition of a 'hero'.

What is your most treasured possession?

My cat George Harrison - he is amazing, although I don't think he would like it if I tried to tell people that I 'own' him. He would definitely think it’s the reverse.

Any funny moments on stage:

Once a guy in a giant pink bunny suit gatecrashed the stage and he was also horribly drunk and tried to steal my mic. It didn't end well for him!

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Piña coladas (don't judge me).

What makes you stand out?

People would probably say the blue streaks in my hair but I like to think it's my songwriting!

Nicknames:

Where to begin! Lolo, Basket, Lumpy, Lou, Lumpy-Lou, Lolita - they are all strange but I have a very creative family.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

I'm really not sure; I would probably work in upliftment and community projects or be a tour manager.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Well I recently did a personality test and these were the main words that came up: spontaneous, creative, tough, demonstrative and purposeful.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Ben - it's also close to home because he is in my band, but I have to say he is someone I am truly astounded by. I have never met anyone who has an imagination as vast as his. He is equal parts magical as he is logical and it's hard for me to keep up a lot of the time!

#MusicExchange: GoodLuck releases new single - Q&A with Juliet Harding

Five favourite SA albums of all time:

That's a very hard question!

Mango Groove - Mango Groove
Goldfish - Perceptions of Pacha
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
El-Sun - Africa to the World
Juluka - Scatterlings

What song changed your life?

Another hard one! Probably “Dock of the Bay” because I realised how much I wanted to be a singer when I heard that song aged four.

What is your favourite word?

Juice-bottle (is that technically two words?).

Favourite fashion garment:

Sneakers - self-confessed sneaker lover (though I wish I wasn't).

Give us some real proper slang and what it means.

Slang: Please can you put some more verb and d-zizzle on my voice? Meaning: please make me sound better.

Top of your bucket list:

To tour to Japan.

Your greatest achievement:

Happiness. Oh and a couple gold and platinum records (cough cough) hahaha.

What do you complain about most often?

Being hungry or too busy

On stage, I tend to:

Jump into the crowd.

#MusicExchange: GoodLuck releases new single - Q&A with Juliet Harding

Do you do charity work and, if you do, what do you do?

Yes, we have a charitable drive called GoodLuck Cares, we aim to uplift, inspire, feed, house and help those who are born into difficult circumstances with basic human dignity. During Covid, we have been feeding up to 5,000 people per day with fruit, vegetables and dry goods. We also mentor young, aspiring producers from the townships. We just try to make as much difference as we can really.

Social media:

Facebook | https://www.instagram.com/goodlucklive/ Instagram | https://twitter.com/Goodlucklive Twitter

goodlucklive.com

About Martin Myers

Co-owner at Triple M Entertainment, founder Music Exchange, manager Sipho Hotstix Mabuse
Let's do Biz