AUSTIN, TX | MARCH 9, 2018 – Chuggy guitar riffs, kick drum blasts and spitfire vocals define Austin pop-punk powerhouse group, Gold Steps. The quintet is led by energetic firestorm Liz Mauritz (vocals) and rounded out by Zach Duarte (lead guitar), Elias Perez (rhythm guitar), Erasmo “Raz” Garcia (bass), and Roger Steadman (drums). Today, they are proud to announce their forthcoming EP, Incandescentdue out May 25th. Mauritz expands, “Incandescentis an exploration of the ebbs and flows of one’s mental state, the volatile ups and downs I’ve experienced in my struggles with mental health.” The 7-track EP, tracked at Overcast Recordings and produced by Rick King of King Sound, is a musical representation of emotions experienced in mood cycling episodes. It starts out with fire, a taking-on-the world feeling, which could be interpreted as a sort of manic state. But as the EP progresses, the tone becomes more erratic. The title “Incandescent” was chosen because of the multiple references to light, sparks, and fire woven through the lyrics, but it also represents the passion and intensity with which the record was written.
Off the forthcoming EP, Gold Steps have unleashed the opening track, entitled, “Firestarter.” Mauritz expands, “‘Firestarter’ was written as a sort of underdog anthem about nurturing the spark and building a fire within yourself to persevere and outdo those who don’t work as hard, yet feel entitled to success.” The song is a testament to the bands work ethic and perseverance. Fans can stream the track in full, here!
This month the band will be hitting the road with Forever Came Calling on a handful of dates including their SXSW debut on March 14th at Come and Take It Live. A full list of dates can be found below.
The heart of Texas is pumping with the pop-punk palpitation of Austin-based quintet Gold Steps.
Liz Mauritz (vocals) leads the angsty, energetic firestorm, rounded out by Zach Duarte (lead guitar), Elias Perez (rhythm guitar), Erasmo “Raz” Garcia (bass), and Roger Steadman (drums). Chuggy guitar riffs, kick drum blasts and spitfire vocals define the band’s sound, but while their music brings the pit to your ears, Liz’s brutally honest lyrics get to your gut. The frontwoman is open about her struggles with anxiety, self-harm and panic disorder, an overarching theme in Gold Steps’ catalogue. “I know what it’s like to hurt, to feel alone, to want to give up in a moment of darkness; if we can make one person feel understood and less alone, we have been successful.”
The ups and downs of mental health burst and bloom on Gold Steps’ new EP, Incandescent. Liz explains, “these songs reflect my mental state at different points of my life in the last year: fiercely refusing to give up in the face of adversity; struggling with my sense of purpose outside the band; and glimpses of hope that I was ‘getting better,’ just to knock myself out again with self-esteem issues.” Tracked at Overcast Recordings and produced by Rick King of King Sound, the 7-track EP showcases the band’s musical growth, with bright leads and fill-heavy drums supporting melodies that span the vocalist’s full range. The band also explores the experience of someone observing a loved one struggle in closing track “Manic To Panic,” which expresses feelings of trying to understand, while reassuring “we’ll get through it again.”
Liz, Zach, and original bassist David Ramirez (who also contributed to the EP, Incandescent) set out in 2016 to create punchy, hard-hitting music in the vein of New Found Glory, State Champs and Hit The Lights. Armed with a name inspired by genre heavyweights Neck Deep, they quickly penned and recorded their debut EP Louder Than Words at Blackroom Studios.In their short tenure, Gold Steps has played nearly a hundred shows, sharing stages with The Ataris, Aaron Gillespie, Ace Enders, Forever Came Calling and Jonny Craig; touring the Southwest; and performing at So What? Music Festival and SXSW. They’ve partnered with nonprofit HeartSupport to spread awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues, addiction and self-harm.
3/14 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live *SXSW SHOWCASE* (No Badge/Wristband Req)