Believe in yourself

Expatriate Sacramento singer Jacob Golden has been living the charmed life in a London flat—on his record label’s dime. The reason he’s been residing in the U.K. for the past year is that he’s been writing and recording material for a new album, Hallelujah World, his first full-length disc as a solo artist, which will be released this coming summer. More importantly, it’s his first worldwide release for England’s Rough Trade Records.

For anyone not familiar with the Valley’s “Golden boy,” the lad made quite a name for himself fronting Birthday, a now-defunct band that got signed to Warner Music U.K.'s Blanco y Negro label. After a brief U.K. tour and a shelved debut disc with that band, Golden opted to continue with the musician’s life, carrying on with the lullaby pop that characterized Birthday’s dense sound. And now Golden returns, albeit briefly, with a new outlook on recording, music, life and all things associated with the United Kingdom.

“London has an amazing music scene,” Golden says. “It really keeps you on your toes, ‘cause there’s so many good artists. I react well to that sort of environment. I always dreamed of traveling the world and making music. I also think to do something extraordinary you have to take chances.

“Leaving a comfortable [and] familiar environment can really be good for kicking you in the butt and realizing your dreams,” he adds. “As a solo artist, it seemed to make more sense.”

Golden is enthused about his progress overseas, which seems to be moving forward exponentially. “I haven’t played with a band since Birthday broke up a year ago,” he says. “It’s been really good for me. It does wonders for your confidence when it’s all on you although it can be very frightening. I think I’m finally ready to put a new band together in the U.K. I want to first focus on the U.K. and Europe, and then make my way back to the U.S.

“I’ve had some wonderful experiences playing abroad, an exuberant Golden adds. “Supporting Low [the Duluth slo-core giants that record for the Chicago-based boutique label Kranky] at the Union Chapel was amazing. It’s this old church in the center of London. At another show, we [Birthday] sampled a bit of Amsterdam’s local grass before we went onstage, not realizing how strong it was, and our first song"—normally three minutes long—"turned into a 12-minute opus.”

Rough Trade Records, the U.K.-based label that’s home to the Strokes, the Moldy Peaches, the Smiths catalog and Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, signed Golden in the wake of Birthday’s demise and quietly released an EP by him. After a successful hookup with Sanctuary Records, the domestic company that signed local hard-rock quintet Tesla, Rough Trade will now release its titles in the states, thus eliminating pricey imports—Golden’s six-song EP goes for over $20 at retail here.

“The new album will be titled Hallelujah World, ‘cause that’s how I want to live—in a state of joy,” Golden says. “I’m also working with Faultline, a producer and collaborator of mine. His new album is very beautiful and features me as well as Chris [Martin] from Coldplay and Wayne [Coyne] from the Flaming Lips. I should be doing some amazing shows next year—I’d love to play the big festivals in Europe, and it’s very likely I will.”

Self-assured? Certainly. After all, what kind of guy would name his former band Birthday—if he wasn’t planning on doing a little celebrating on his own?