We had a chat with Los Angeles-based alternative pop duo Good Rzn about their new single “Rebound” and more
It’s been just over two months since Good Rzn released their captivating debut single “Sleep Talking”— a single we sadly discovered a little late but still managed to support it. Although we had no idea where the duo were from, their sound gave us similar vibes to artists such as XYLØ and Stalgia, who both happen to be based in Los Angeles as well.
Good Rzn have this magnetic sound that effortlessly combines pop, indie, rock and electronic music. Their new single “Rebound” is flawless— they have delivered a more upbeat pop style and reflective tone while maintaining anthemic guitar riffs and an infectious catchy vocal hook. So it was only right to get to know them before they make it big in the music industry.
Read our conversation below:
Hey guys, how are you doing?
Hey! We’re Josie and Tommy, and we go by Good Rzn. Thank you for having us, we’re really excited about the release for our new song Rebound!
Nice, and you’re welcome! Thank you for chatting to us! How did you two meet?
We met in 2019 while attending the University of Colorado Boulder and started writing and releasing original music in early 2020. In August of 2021, we started releasing new music under the name Good Rzn and Rebound will mark our second release under this new project.
Amazing. Where are you two originally from?
Josie is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada and Tommy is from Atlanta, Georgia. We are currently based in Los Angeles, California and have lived here since August of 2020, but our hometowns have had a major impact in developing our artistic styles.
Do you guys come from a musical background?
Josie comes from a musical family with her mother and grandfather both being vocalists in Las Vegas. She began playing piano and singing at a young age. She also began writing and recording her own music early on but only recently started releasing her original work. Growing up with a strong interest in the performing arts, she’s always felt called to pursue her passion as a musician. Tommy began playing guitar at a young age. In high school, he began playing guitar in an alternative band and also formed a jazz quartet playing the upright bass. He performed at many venues in Atlanta before moving to Colorado and focusing his efforts on music production for a variety of different projects.
That’s awesome, glad you’re both pursuing music! Who are some of your inspirations in music today?
We are constantly inspired by new music today and have heard so many great new songs since we started working together. We love artists who are able to integrate rock music with electronic production. Some of the main inspirations for Good Rzn are Two Feet, Glass Animals, Phantogram, Hippie Sabotage, and K. Flay.
Great taste. And growing up?
Growing up, we were both influenced strongly by rock music. Josie is inspired by bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead, and Fleetwood Mac because of her parents love for the classic rock genre. While growing up in Las Vegas, she really enjoyed getting to see live shows and was also inspired by artists like Rihanna and Kid Cudi. Tommy grew up listening to bands like Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana. When he initially began writing music, he found inspiration from Cage the Elephant, Black Keys, White Stripes, and Arctic Monkeys. Eventually, he discovered rap and electronic artists who impacted his production style as well.
That’s amazing— so eclectic, I can hear it in the music too. First of all, your debut single “Sleep Talking” is amazing, but your latest single “Rebound” is special— it’s one of the best songs we’ve heard this year. How did this song come together?
Thank you so much, we really appreciate when other people are able to connect with our art! We started working on Rebound in May of 2021 and developed it over the summer. We wanted it to follow Sleep Talking because we feel that while it has similarities in the sound and structure, it shows a new side that we can access in our songwriting and production.
Lyrically, what’s “Rebound” about?
Rebound was written about bouncing back from hard times and embracing the struggles of life with positivity. The song was inspired by flowers blooming through cracks in sidewalks where they shouldn’t be able to grow. Recognizing the beauty within the ordinary is a core theme in the Rebound lyrics.
Beautiful. Also, the production is fantastic, is this something you both work on?
Thank you! Tommy leads the production process and Josie contributes through songwriting and feedback of her vision.
Have you guys set yourselves any expectations for this release?
Our hope for this release is to connect with new people who like our music. We want to cultivate a sense community amongst our audience and are focused on reaching through different creative avenues.
I love that. Do you plan on releasing any visuals for it?
We plan on releasing a visualizer on our YouTube channel, and are in the process of filming a music video for it.
This release is a strong ending to the year for a promising emerging duo, what can we expect from you guys in 2022?
In 2022, you can expect a lot more music. We have big plans with releases in 2022 and a larger body of work on the horizon!
So excited! Do you have any gigs lined up soon?
We are in the process of booking shows in Los Angeles for 2022 and will hopefully be announcing some soon!
And last question, it’s a random one, why should people check out your music?
We feel that we are creating a unique sound that combines elements from a multitude of genres. We hope that our music and artistic vision creates a space for people to come together and share the journey with us! Thank you so much for interviewing us, we are extremely grateful for the opportunity!
Stream “Rebound” below:
