Q&A: go4broke is Limitless in Debut EP ‘meaningless’
WRITTEN BY FAITH LUEVANOS
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Electronic music finds a new life in go4broke’s debut EP, meaningless. The project arrived at a time that Parker Keskinen, AKA go4broke, describes as “a transitional/growth period” for his music. Each song explores distinct sonic textures and intimate moments, giving every song its own gravitational pull. Though only 11 minutes and 46 seconds in total, each track creates its own world and feels like more of an immersive experience.
With a lifelong admiration for music and the live music experience, go4broke’s passion for electronic music is prevalent within meaningless. Each song somehow exists right in the middle of opposing planes—carefully crafted, yet emotionally raw; a modern look at the state of electronic music, yet inspired by some of the greats and their traditional ways.
Life on Jupiter sat down with go4broke to discuss the making of meaningless, where his best work comes from, and his musical inspirations. Read the full interview below.
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LIFE ON JUPITER: For our readers who may be discovering you for the first time, how would you describe your sound?
GO4BROKE: Right now, it honestly doesn’t feel defined by anything. I’ve been struggling with this question for a while too, and it’s definitely inspiring and playing a role in the new music I’m making. Right now, it’s a bit chaotic, which I feel fits the world of meaningless, but from here on out I really want to strengthen my message with something a bit more defined.
Congrats on the release of meaningless! Now that the EP has been out for a while, how are you feeling about its release?
GO4BROKE: I’m so happy it’s out. I’m really proud of all the songs, and it truly felt like a transitional/growth period for my music. I learned so much about myself and the art I like making. I was just ready to get it off my computer so I could share all the new music even sooner.
When did you get your start in music, and how did it lead to go4broke?
GO4BROKE: I knew I wanted to do music when I was a little kid. My parents are big concert goers, and they started bringing me along when I was eight. Ever since then, it was all I wanted to do. I started playing piano and guitar and eventually started producing when I was around 16. I didn’t start recording my vocals for a long time, but once I did, I started releasing music under a name I will never share so people can’t find it. (It was so bad) Once I got a little better, older, and more self-aware, I started go4broke.
You have a great love and care for electronic music that's prevalent within the EP. Who are some of your musical influences?
GO4BROKE: Electronic music is definitely an important influence in what I do. Sega Bodega, FKA Twigs, and Oklou are my biggest inspirations in that world. However, I feel I’ve always been drawn to bands and more live-sounding music like The 1975, Lana [Del Rey], and so many more. I’ve just been a bit insecure about my own abilities to exist in that world. For this EP, I started letting myself venture outside of the electronic, whether it be for one chorus or for a whole song. I finally got myself to a place where I can and will confidently be making music that is not driven by electronic sounds but sprinkled with them.
You played these songs a couple of months ago at an acoustic set. Did performing them in a stripped-back setting feel weird at first? What was that experience like for you?
GO4BROKE: It was super weird because I had never sung anything in that type of acoustic setting. Honestly, stripping them back was the most fun part. My guitarist, Jasper, and I sat and rearranged all of the songs and rehearsed many times; it was so much fun. When the day rolled around, though, I felt like I forgot everything, and I was so nervous, so hopefully next time I do something like that I can lock in.
Where do you work best?
GO4BROKE: I work best at my apartment. I like being around all of my things and in the comfort of a place I’m familiar with.
As an artist who does all of his own promotion, are there any trends within your music or tactics that resonate the most with audiences that you didn't expect?
GO4BROKE: I feel like everything surprises me because my audience is changing every day. Sometimes there are people telling me they love my softer stuff, but then two weeks pass, and everyone likes the dance stuff, so I don’t know. For the future, I’m really trying to step back and pay less attention to the audience from a marketing/promotion standpoint and just engage in a more personal manner.
What message do you hope listeners take away from this project?
GO4BROKE: My message with this project was coming from a bit of a dark spot. I felt very clueless about who I was, why I was making music, and what the point of everything was. I think I just needed to ask some questions, so I don’t think there is a concise message. Instead, it feels more like a question. I feel like I was asking, “What is the point of any of this?” I hope the listener was thinking with me. I really enjoy art and music that makes me think, so I’d be honored if anyone “thought” because of my music.
What's coming up for you?
GO4BROKE: I am always working on more music, and what’s coming next is my best music in my opinion. I’ve been focusing a lot more on songwriting and just making music that I think feels timeless and special. I’m excited to share not only the new music, but the new go4broke sometime soon!