Goodwood Road is a rock, punk and blues band from Toronto who have been building excitement around their music this past year. Comprised of 6 members and a range of influences, they strive to create a unique fusion of classic and contemporary rock. Thanks to their confident stage presence and undeniable chemistry between members, Goodwood Road is a talented band of all trades.



We first encountered this band when they signed up for our HYSTERIA series, and rocked the El Mocambo crowd. Winning 2nd place in their first event, Goodwood Road went on to perform at the Finals held at the Sound Academy. Stepping up to one of their biggest stages to date, the band confidently killed their performance to the delight of fans (and a few industry scouts) in attendance. They also took home the Wildcard Prize for fan favourite from the show.



We were lucky to grab an interview with the members of Goodwood Road shortly after their HYSTERIA victory to help fans get to know them better before the BIG Coalition Band on the Run show in March.

So guys, can you introducing Goodwood Road?

We have 6 members. Watson, our lead singer; Isaac, our lead guitarist; Chancellor (also known as Chance), our drummer; Jean-Marc (also known as Macro) our bassist; Julianna, our keyboardist and lady vocals; and Jack, our rhythm guitarist. We all work democratically with each person contributing what they can.

What is your history as a band?

We all joined over time, but the band started with Watson and Isaac, who came up with the idea of forming a band after discovering similar musical tastes.

We got our name from a road near our lead guitarist's cottage which we thought sounded peaceful yet rock. We also liked the name because it wasn't easy to pin to just one genre, just like our music.

We got to this level because we're six of dedicated musicians who learn quickly and work passionately to become the best they can.

What sort of sound are you going for?

Our band's sound is a smorgasbord created from the collection of each member's tastes. Our influences range from Camille Saint-Saens to Beatles to Rammstein, so we end up with a lot of different stuff. Generally, we stick to some form of rock morphed with pop, blues, or punk.



So far, what is the most rewarding thing about music for you?

The most rewarding thing is taking a song from bits and pieces to a full on jam which gets stuck in your head and makes you want to play it well after you've left band practice.

How did you end up playing with Supernova?

We found Supernova through a friend of our bassist Jean-Marc. Our lead singer Watson and lead guitarist Isaac had vaguely heard of the site before as well, so we joined.

What has been the most memorable moment for you as a band?

Julianna: My most memorable moment is playing for our first time at El Mocambo. It finally hit me that all our work really was something that other people would hear and enjoy, we wouldn't just be a bunch of dreaming kids riffing in a basement for who knows how many years.

What is the hardest thing about being a new music artist?

I think the biggest challenge facing new artists today (as it has been for many years) is to create something no one's ever heard before. After hearing who knows how many songs in your life, you feel as if it's all been done a gazillion times before and it's near impossible to make something new or to outdo what's been done by many. Only once something new and/or better has been done can the musician say "Of course, I should've thought of that!". It's the musician's version of the wit of the staircase.

Can you offer some advice to other artists?

i) Keep all your riffs and lyrics. You never know when you might find that you can Frankenstein some of them together to make a great song.

ii) Try to work out your favourite songs by ear. It's difficult, but worth it. You can read all the sheet music in the world and it won't give you that sort of soul and natural musicianship.

What is more important, original music or an original performance?

Both are incredibly important, but we would choose original performance over original music because if you have original music but it sounds like everything everyone else is doing, you'll get nowhere. If you can modify covers in a way no one could've conceived of, you can definitely get gigs.



Do you believe there is such a thing as bad music?

Isaac: I don't believe in bad music, because for each artist, there is an audience. Some people may argue that the generic lyrics and chords of some music is oversimplified, making it too annoying for some people, but obviously it sells, and those artists usually have major tours. There is an audience for everyone... somewhere.

Anything else that listeners should know?

We're unique 'cos we're a bunch of dedicated music nerds who've come together out of isolated social lives to create the best original rock music we can.


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Your next chance to see Goodwood Road live will be when they play the Coalition Band on the Run on March 31st at Toronto's El Mocambo. This major industry showcase event is a huge opportunity for the band to make a big impression.

In the meantime, be sure to take a listen to the band’s original tracks up on their Supernova profile… if you like what you hear, leave the band some feedback and maybe suggest the next stage they should play - Fan feedback goes a long way!