Dear readers, i’t i’s our pleasure to offer you in this article an interview with a New York band that offers a blend of Stoner and Doom. We welcome Goat Farm.
Hi, it’s a pleasure to have you among our pages, how are you?
Mimi: “Weāre surviving. Thanks for having us!“
Molly: “Ditto!“
The band formed recently, how did the project and the choice of the name Goat Farm come about?
Mimi: “Goat Farm initially formed with myself and two other musicians; together we came up with the name Goat Farm. I canāt really remember why or how we chose it. Hahahaaā¦. Anyway, the three of us eventually split because we all wanted different things musically and aesthetically. I continued Goat Farm and kept the name because I think itās unique and memorable.“
You offer a blend of Stoner and Doom between Rock and Metal, how did your passion for these sounds come about?
Mimi: “Itās funny because when I started out, I didnāt even know that this was the kind of music I wanted to be making. In fact, at some of our earlier shows, we featured covers by Hole and PJ Harvey, which were very indie rock. However, Iāve always gravitated to songs that are slower, heavier, and full of angst. One of the very first songs I wrote, āLucyā features a slow, minor, doomy bassline that seemed to flow naturally, without me even having to put much thought into how I wanted it to sound. I wrote that entire song in one sitting, after waking up from a disorienting nap. It was like I was still in my dream state. That song really set the stage for where I would take my song-writing moving forward.“
Molly: “For me, I had wanted to play in a stoner/doom band for a while, but didnāt think Iād get the opportunity. I was really into Acid King, Sleep, and Electric Wizard in high school. Mimi originally asked myself and Stephen (our drummer) to sub, back before the band was totally committed to this sound, and we were having a blast, but once I found out we were going to lean into the sound of Lucy, I didnāt want to sub anymore ā I wanted to be locked into the roster! I think the three of us had listened to a lot of the same artists while each bringing influences from ones the others hadnāt heard ā even more so once Sage joined as our second guitarist ā so we settled into our sound quite naturally.“
What are your sources of inspiration in this regard?
Mimi: “I am really into King Woman right now. I was absolutely entranced by their live audiotree performance. Kristina Esfandiariās live vocal performance intrigued and amazed me. Her songwriting is also so interesting to me. A huge inspiration. Some other artists that inspire my songwriting/sound for me are: Black Sabbath, Kittie, The Red Widows, Acid King, Windhand, Faetooth, Chelsea Wolfe and Electric Wizard. I think some of my indie/grunge influences, including Hole, PJ Harvey, and Nirvana, can be heard in my songwriting as well.“
Molly: “Like I said before, Acid King, Sleep, Sabbath, and Electric Wizard were the big ones for me back in the day. More recently, I have become really fascinated with grindcore, especially Magrudergrindās self-titled and Insect Warfareās āWorld Exterminationā, and there are definitely a riff or two Iāve written for Goat Farm that could be described as slowed-down grind riffs. I am admittedly not as current on new stuff in doom as Mimi is, but I need to get hip!“
Your debut EP “Nature Takes Its Course” was released on February 21, 2025, how would you describe this work?
Mimi: “It is our first introduction to the world. I wanted to showcase the style that we intend to build off of moving forward.“
3 tracks that alternate between instrumental parts and intense singing, what themes do the lyrics deal with?
Mimi: “The first track, āNature Takes Its Courseā, is pretty on-the-nose. I wrote the song after interning at a hospital and spending time with folks who were here one day and gone the next. It was a blunt reminder of my own mortality. It was also a blunt reminder that suffering and death is a reality for all of us. It levels the playing field. Even those with money and power are nothing but electrified flesh. We all can be victims of disease and death. I grew up in a household (and society) that really tries to ignore this fact. So this song was my way of beginning to accept death as a part of life.
āLucyā was inspired by a combination of my own personal experiences and themes from Bram Stokerās Dracula, specifically the character Lucy Wesentra. Hence, the title of the track. āOld Curseā is a victory song. I wrote it about the transformation I experienced after a very unhealthy relationship.“
You have a solid and well-built sound, how does the creative process of your music take place?
Mimi: “I usually work in Garageband to create demos. I often start with an instrumental idea and see where the song goes emotionally/energetically. Then I will add lyrics, based on the musical content. Sometimes I do start with lyrics and then add instrumentals. This process takes time and experimentation. Often I am surprised by what the final product is. Molly also contributes riffs and assistance with song structure. Occasionally I have the experience of communing with some kind of creative spirit and a song will just come out of me in one sitting. This is a rare thing, but when it happens, it feels like magic.“
This is your debut EP, are you already working on new material for future releases?
Mimi: “Definitely. I am always writing music. It is one of my favorite things to do. We will be returning to the studio over the summer (or fall) to record some singles and eventually work towards a full length album.“
Many of our readers and fans wonder if there will be a chance to hear your music live, do you have any plans in this regard?
Mimi: “Yes! Our next show is April 26th with a local band that we adore, called Fox 45. Weāll be playing in our hometown of Rochester, NY, at Skylark Lounge. We have another show in Rochester, NY at the Bug Jar on May 2nd, with Bug Day and Relentless Moisture. We will be playing in Buffalo, NY at Amyās Place on May 10th. And Ithaca, NY at Sacred Root Kava Lounge on June 28th. We hope to expand further and play in cities throughout the country, and eventually other countries!“
Do you have any anecdotes or special memories you would like to tell us about your live Experiences?
Mimi: “Before Molly (guitar) and Stephen (drums) were official members of the band, they were just subbing for me, as the other 2 musicians who I had originally formed Goat Farm with, decided to go their separate ways. I was quite sad about that because the band means so much to me. So, to have Molly and Stephen step in (so that I could still play the shows I had booked) was a real lifesaver. We played a show in Buffalo at Mohawk Place in June of 2024 and I remember feeling this amazing, flowing energy while playing with them. I was like āholy sh*t, they are awesome musicians and playing with them right now is making me a better musician!ā I think the crowd could feel it too. That was a pivotal moment for me because it showed me what might be possible with this band. Then, as you can imagine, when both of them expressed interest in joining the band, I was ecstatic! Sage, who is also an awesome musician, would join the band later that year.“
Heavy music has a rich underground scene with festivals and live events, how important is it to keep these realities alive?
Mimi: “So important. I think the Rochester, NY scene is really something to be proud of. There are shows happening just about every weekend at bars and DIY venues. We have a wide variety of music genres.“
How difficult, if at all, is it to succeed in the scene with a genre like yours?
Mimi: “I think it depends on how you define āsuccess.ā I constantly ask myself: what is my definition of success? Is it having a lot of followers on instagram? Is it getting lots of Spotify streams? The number of people who attend your shows? How much money do you make from it? Etcā¦ Itās so easy to get stuck in the cycle of comparing yourself to other bands who have more popularity, based on their social media or spotify numbers. When this happens, I try to remind myself why I started a band in the first place. And that is because I love to create music and I have a lot to say! I have found that I feel the most satisfied when I know that the music I am playing is meaningful, authentic, and delivered with a sincere live performance. I feel especially satisfied when I can tell that the music has resonated with listeners. That being said, being in a band takes a lot of work. Itās not alway easy. Thereās a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that can be mundane or discouraging, such as booking shows, trying to promote the band, etc.“
The USA is one of the major exponent of Rock and Heavy sounds, how do you see today music scene in your country?
Molly: “I think weāre in a really interesting situation right now. The US was the birthplace of Rock ān Roll (although we often attribute its invention to the wrong artists), and has been huge in the development of heavy music alongside places like the UK and Scandinavia. But the truth is, the supposed freedom of expression that allowed our country to make those contributions is very much under attack by the new political regime. Our government has essentially made it so that for a decent amount of the population, more than half the country is unsafe to travel to. Both myself and the other Goat Farm guitarist are transgender women, and while we live in New York, where we are more accepted than elsewhere, touring outside our region of the US is really unsafe. The Trump administration encourages the average American to demonize us, as well as many other minorities, and it is unfortunately working ā people are being hurt and killed. I probably wouldnāt leave the northeast, personally. And there are lots of musicians in the same boatā¦ I imagine that this regional divide will have an effect on what types of music people are exposed to live in certain areas, and may fracture our national scene somewhatā¦
That being said, artists thrive in times of turmoil, and I think many artists, especially those who stand to lose rights under Trump, are burning hotter than ever, writing some of their most sincere, cathartic works. So I guess if thereās an upside to this, the world might get some good music out of whatās happening out hereā¦“
Mimi: “Yes, as Molly said, we are living in really scary times. I think itās important for artists to use their platforms to speak out against all forms of oppression. I fear that the current political regime will try to censor and stifle our voices, but I think those of us who understand whatās at stake, will have the courage to speak (or sing or scream) truth to power.“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside of music?
Mimi: “I enjoy being outside. I like to grow and take care of various plants. I like jogging (got to have a great playlist though).“
Molly: “Outside of music Iām an avid skateboarder. That hobby had to take a backseat for a few months because we just had a really bad winter, but with Spring and Summer on the way, Iām excited to get back out there and get some tricks back! I also do a lot of trans activism in our city, and am about 70 hours into a Breath of the Wild run.“
I thank the band for the interview and wish them all the best in the promotion of their new EP and the continuation of their artistic career.
Purchase their new EP on Bandcamp: https://goatfarm.bandcamp.com/album/nature-takes-its-course
