Goldie Boutilier is a fascinating artist and daring musical creator whose music blends alternative country, retro pop and rock for a timeless yet modern sound. Her captivating storytelling and cinematic sonic flourishes have led to praise from the likes of Sir Elton John and slots at famed festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Now the mesmerizing artist returns with a new dream-soaked western pop single "Goldie Montana", the first taste of her forthcoming highly anticipated album Goldie Boutilier Presents Goldie Montana. "Goldie Montana" is fearless and confident with lyrics all about seduction, living the fast life and getting what you want and deserve. Compelling vocals singing hooky melodies over swaggering guitars and thumping basslines make for a one-of-a-kind listen. Embodying her bold alter ego, Goldie Montana is a larger-than-life persona, equal parts Hollywood glamour and outlaw grit, through which Goldie Boutilier explores freedom, femininity, and power. As the lead single, it’s a thrilling introduction to the sonic and thematic world she’s building on the new album.
We chat with Goldie all about her new music, life on the road, fashion inspiration and more. The result is a compelling read, taking fans inside Goldie's fascinating world.
Hi Goldie, congrats on your new album Goldie Boutilier Presents Goldie Montana. Can you tell our readers more about your alter ego and how this influenced the album?
Thank you! “Goldie Montana” is an alter ego I created in order to survive my past, inspired by one of my favorite movies, Scarface. Based on the underdog, Tony Montana, “Goldie Montana” is the side of me that doesn’t apologize for getting what she deserves. She’s a hustler, an anti-heroine, a bad ass. When I step into her shoes, I feel powerful. I wrote all of my songs from her perspective. Anyone can get into the Montana Mood. It's sort of a: what would you do if you weren't afraid kind of vibe. Taking up space in the loudest way possible.
How is your alter ego different from the real Goldie Boutilier?
Goldie Boutilier writes poetry about heartbreak on linen stationery. Goldie Montana burns the whole house down for closure. Boutilier will send you a voice note at 3 a.m. crying to a French ballad; Montana disappears during investigations. They share the same heart, but Montana isn’t afraid to weaponize her ambition. Where I might hesitate, she never does.
You meld so many genres for a fresh musical take that still feels timeless. Were you trying to achieve a certain sound in the new music?
I feel like I've gotten to such a confident place over the past couple years. I know what I like. I want to always make music that I respect and can defend. Lyrically, I’m always going for timeless and edgy. I love to feel uncomfortably vulnerable. It excites me. Sonically, I never think of them as songs, I think of them as feelings I want to evoke. I love old cinema. I want every song to feel like the opening credits of your favorite cult classic, but rooted in the truth of my story. There are pieces of Americana, disco strings, Morricone western vibes, a little Nancy Sinatra revenge energy, and 70s glam rock glitter. It’s nostalgic and new, dangerous and decadent all at once.
If you could describe your music in three words, what would they be and why?
Cinematic. Dangerous. Opulent.
Cinematic because I want my songs to feel like a film you don’t want to end. Dangerous because they carry a sense of risk, emotional or otherwise. Opulent because I've always been fascinated by wealth, what people will do for money. What I've done for money.
If you could hope listeners take away one thing from the album, what would that be and why?
That you can reinvent yourself. You can burn down every version of you that didn’t survive and build a new one. It’s never too late. If anything, your scars make the story better. That’s what this album is: proof that the girl who nearly destroyed almost everything is now running the whole damn casino.
You have an old Hollywood style but you grew up in Canada. Who are your style or fashion icons and how did your style evolve?
I grew up on a dirt road dreaming in technicolor, so my style was born out of fantasy. I still go to thrifty stores and find unique gems. Fashion is just another version of reinvention. I’m very confident when it comes to my style. I’ve spent years researching and archiving. Fashion icons are Ginger & Sam from the movie Casino, Tony & Elivera from Scarface, David Bowie from Moonlight Tour. I love tailoring and glamour.
Do you have a favorite song or moment on the album and if so what is it and why?
“Who You Gonna Worship Now” – it’s a love letter to loss, ego, and finding God in all the wrong places. But if we’re talking pure joy, “Goldie Montana” is my alter ego kicking the saloon doors open in high heels. I love the topic of being a grifter. It's provocative.
You have performed at so many amazing festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, etc. Can you tell us a fun or hilarious story from your time on the road?
One time at ACL my band accidentally left me behind at the artist area because I took too long curling my hair. I had to hitch a golf cart ride with a man dressed as a giant frog, holding a margarita in each hand. We made it just as the intro track hit. I walked on stage like nothing happened—but the frog and I still DM sometimes.
What’s next for Goldie Boutilier?
Taking my new album “Goldie Boutilier Presents… Goldie Montana” – releasing Sept 5th – on my European tour in September. Turning this album into a live experience that feels like a movie you can dance to. I’m also working on a Substack for the dreamers and degenerates who love poetry and sequins in equal measure. And eventually? A feminist music festival and a few capsule collections with brands that are Goldie-coded.
Connect with Goldie Boutilier: INSTAGRAM
