Great Good Fine Ok Talks New Beginnings in ‘EXIST’ EP Interview

Great Good Fine Ok, the duo known for their distinct synth-pop vibes, has once again captivated the music scene with their latest release, the ‘EXIST’ EP. Showcased under the banner of Nettwerk Music Group, this collection of tracks is more than just a set of songs; it’s an exploration of change and the nuanced interplay of human emotions. Written during a transformative relocation from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, this EP marks an evolution in their musical journey, reflecting a decade of personal and artistic growth since their inception in 2013.

The title ‘EXIST’ encapsulates the essence of living through challenging times, a theme deeply embedded in the EP’s five tracks. It represents the duo’s endeavor to delve into the complexities of existence, capturing the colorful and vast emotional landscapes through their music. 

As Great Good Fine Ok embarks on a West Coast tour this April, their connection with fans remains stronger than ever, bolstered by their active engagement on social media and personal interactions during concerts. With over 100 million cumulative Spotify streams, the band focuses on the artistry of music, steering clear of the pressures of expectation. Their latest EP promises to resonate with long-time followers and aims to captivate new listeners, inviting them to experience the evolving soundscape of Great Good Fine Ok.

1 – What inspired the title ‘EXIST’ for your latest EP?

One of the definitions of the word ‘exist’ is to ‘live, especially under adverse conditions.’ There’s no single word that better sums up the themes of the 5 songs on our 6th EP. EXIST reflects the hearts and minds of two guys who have learned a lot in the past 10 years since GGFO started in 2013. We’ve been based in Brooklyn for all that time, but these 5 songs were all written in LA, the city that has become our new home post pandemic. Change can certainly be the catalyst for creativity and inspiration, and perhaps that’s why this new batch of songs feels new and unique while oddly feeling like the MOST GGFO stuff we’ve ever done. 

We’ve evolved personally and musically. To us this EP feels more colorful, vast, and nuanced, both sonically and lyrically. We’ve never been strangers to writing about love, change, heartbreak, relationships, and hard times but this time around we wanted to address the gray areas more than ever. It’s a bonus that the word SIX is backwards within the title!

2 – Can you describe the overarching theme that connects the songs in this EP?

In the song “Let Me To You” there is a lyric that goes “I made it through the pain, I wouldn’t change it cause it led me to you”. In other words, we often don’t know in the moment whether an event is good or bad. Only time will tell. Life is full of obstacles, hardships, deep lows and also the highest highs. 

The important thing is HOW you deal with all of those things, and to literally and metaphorically breathe through it all.

3 – How did the concept for the single “Led Me To You” come about?

We love playing that game where we trace all the events that needed to happen for something great (or not great) to happen. 

“Everything happens for a reason” is a comforting cliché. 

It’s amazing how many people end up in happy relationships given the amount of trauma we ALL have. It’s a nice thought that all the horrible things that happened to you in your life led you to the person you love.

4 – How has your music evolved since your self-titled 2013 EP to now?

Back in 2013 we fit nicely into the “synth pop” genre. The sonic landscape we were creating was super dreamy. While we absolutely still have elements of that, I think we’ve expanded our sound a lot. 

Every year we try pushing the boundaries of what we are capable of musically while still trying to make every song sound like GGFO. We’re constantly dipping our toes in other genres – EXIST has more Yacht Rock elements than ever before, but we manage to still make it authentic to ourselves.

5 – Can you share a story about how a fan’s experience with your music impacted you?

We feel so grateful to have such loyal and devoted fans. We’re constantly being approached by people who danced the ‘first dance’ at their wedding to one of our songs. 

Or they approach us after a show to share how one of our songs got them through the hardest time in their life. It’s these moments that stick with us and make all the struggles of being an artist worth it.

6 – How do you see your sound evolving in the future?

It’s exciting that I have no idea! 

Every year Luke and I become better at what we do together and individually and hopefully our evolution will be a pleasant surprise, even to me. I can definitely see us collaborating more and more with other artists, writers and producers – that’s one of our favorite things, and I’m sure we’ll lean into it. I just hope we continue to sound new and fresh to our fans.

7 – With over 100M cumulative Spotify streams, how do you handle the pressure of expectations?

We always try to make the best music that we can, and try not to get tangled up in expectations or other distractions. 

I try to think way more about the journey than the destination so the results are less important. We obviously love having success and appreciate every single stream, but those things usually come when you’re present and fully immersed in the art.

8 – How do you maintain your connection with fans in the rapidly changing digital landscape?

We are extremely active on social media – responding to every single comment and DM. We even have a band phone number that fans can reach us at – we love being extremely accessible. 

After every show we go out into the crowd to meet fans and take pictures etc. It’s just never lost on us that we wouldn’t have a band without them, and truly appreciate every person who listens to our music or comes to a show.