Resonance | Interview: Gollden

Daniel Field (Kilometre Club) in conversation with Toronto-based musician Collette Andrea (Gollden), whose EP Dupont is out now on Age of Leisure

Collette Andrea, the Toronto-based musician and wellness practitioner who records ambient music as Gollden, has deep roots and connections in the city’s burgeoning ambient scene. She and I first met in person in early 2023, at a jam at Half Moon Audio, the Queen Street West studio run by Chad Skinner and Dani Ramez. The studio itself has become a hub of sorts for some of the city’s most exciting ambient music, including several of Gollden’s releases. 

Since that point, our music and work has started to intertwine, with Collette becoming involved in my label Imaginary North in early 2024, with her taking on PR and supporting with live events. She has two releases on the label - Bathe in Colour (with Willows8ng) and birds in september (expanded edition), as well as many other releases she has shared independently over the past few years.

Colette’s music blends her wellness, yoga and meditation practice with her passion for music, ambient and otherwise. Her keen ear for subtle details shows up in all of the music she creates, whether with guitar, synthesizer, bass, bowls, or voice. 

This summer she has two new releases: on June 30th, with Uuxe, Dupont on Age of Leisure, and on August 1st  on Imaginary North, Destiny. We chatted about her musical and wellness practice, her journeys to and through making ambient music, and her love of bass guitar.

How did you get started making music as Gollden? What was your journey to music-making like?

Before Gollden, I spent many years writing and performing under my singer-songwriter name, Collette Andrea, and was predominantly a bassist, guitarist, and singer. In 2015, I began leading yoga and meditation classes, and I struggled to find longform tracks, (anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes) that felt suitable for the subtle, introspective energy of yin and restorative yoga.

I had always been drawn to ambient music, even before I knew what to call it, and in general, I always loved instrumental versions of my favourite songs. But it wasn’t until I started teaching that I felt compelled to create my own. I wanted music that could truly support inward practices. In 2018, I started experimenting with ambient composition, which became the beginning of Gollden. I would frequently slip my demos into classes to see if they supported relaxation, and if people were able to fully settle, I knew the music was doing its job. That was also my introduction to music production. I started with little to no knowledge, and in many ways, creating ambient music and launching Gollden happened simultaneously.

How does making ambient music factor into your practices around breathwork, yoga, or meditation?

Creating ambient music actually brings me a great deal of peace. Especially during the arrangement or tracking phase, I often feel like I’m in a meditative state myself.

When I get to the mixing stage or closer to finishing a piece, I’ll often listen while I’m falling asleep or during my personal practice. If something pulls me out of the moment, that’s my cue to adjust the track: either taking something out, adding a subtle layer, or refining the mix. The amount of times I have dozed off or fallen asleep at my computer mixing is insane. 

I guess if you’re dozing while making music, it might be doing what you want it to! For some genres, if the music is too sleepy it may be ineffective, but that’s not the case for ambient music. How do you usually start a song?

It depends on the project, but I generally have two starting points. One approach begins with a drone, usually from my synth, which sets the tone and key of the track. The other is more melodic: I’ll start with a guitar or piano idea as a lead, and after layering other instruments and arranging the piece, I often end up removing the original melody. What’s left is the world that was built around it, the textures and atmosphere that form the heart of the track. Field recordings are almost the last thing I do or add. 

Have you played your own music during yoga or yin work?

Yes, absolutely. Especially during the mixing phase, I often practice my own music, it helps me hear it differently. The most powerful moments are when I can fully detach and experience the music as something outside of myself. 

When you’re putting songs together, are you thinking about how to package them—like EPs or albums—or do you tend to group them later?

I’ve always found it hard to think in terms of singles. The creator in me leans toward fuller narratives, and songs almost always feel like part of a larger story. During the writing phase, I usually work on multiple tracks at once, and they naturally evolve into EPs or short albums. If I release a single, it's typically because it was truly a one-off that didn’t belong to a bigger collection.

You’ve been collaborating with a lot of artists lately—who have you been working with?

I’ve been really lucky to collaborate with close friends and artists I deeply admire. My most recent release was a short EP This Time Tomorrow with my good friend Sun Rain (Chad Skinner). I also have an upcoming EP called Dupont with Uuxe, born from our many jams during cold Toronto winters, that’s out June 30. I’m also beginning a collaboration with Bodhi Spirit, an incredible flute player whose music I adore and reached out to collab with. There are many more collabs in the works, some in person, but mostly virtual. The energy of collaboration has felt really abundant!

Do you ever feel called to create music outside of ambient? Do you have outlets for that?

All the time. I often go back and forth between creating as Gollden and returning to my roots as a singer-songwriter under my name, Collette Andrea. While I love making ambient, lyricless music, I really miss songwriting. I’ve been dreaming about recording a super minimal acoustic album—just voice and guitar—featuring some of my favourite original songs and covers. I don’t currently have an outlet for it, but if someone asked me to play an acoustic set, I’d say yes (I just need a little push and a date, haha).

I know bass is your main instrument—you even played ‘ambient bass’ live with me once! Have you added bass guitar to any of your recent tracks? How do you approach the low end, and do you think your background as a bassist informs your sound?

I love playing bass. If someone asked me to join their band, bass would be my first choice, ambient or otherwise! I definitely bring that sensibility into my production. While I rely a lot on soft synths and Minilogue presets I’ve built, I often bring in my bass guitar when I want something warmer.  I tend to use it to add warmth or texture rather than rhythmic bass lines, playing with strings and dynamics creates a feel that VSTs just can’t replicate.

What’s coming up for you in 2025?

I’ve honestly never been more excited about what’s ahead. I’m releasing my first full-length album since 2021, titled Destiny, on August 1 via Imaginary North. It means the world to me. After that, I’ll be releasing one more album before the year ends. 2025 has already been a year of immense change and challenge, and I poured everything into my music as a way to stay grounded and deepen my personal practice.

Most importantly, I’m finally committing to performing as Gollden live. Building out my live set and finding a setup that feels aligned has been a huge focus. So stay tuned, Gollden live is coming <3

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