Album Review: Lola by Goth Babe

By Camilla Bartholomew

Music Journalist

If you claim to be an aspiring “granola girl” or possess a love for the great outdoors, Goth Babe is an essential artist to add to your music mix. Goth Babe’s music stands out from other indie folk acoustic artists, such as The Lumineers or Noah Kahan, whom many associate with the fellow nature-lover. Goth Babe’s genre is one I am at a loss to describe: dreamy synth, lo-fi, indie, electronic and something to rave to during your next outdoor excursion.

Goth Babe has been releasing singles and EPs since 2015 but has finally blessed his listeners with his debut album Lola, named after his sailboat, in which he and his dog Sadie are currently residing and sailing to El Salvador. Goth Babe’s life speaks closely to those who wish to leave everything behind and pursue van life, as Goth Babe spent a season living in his camper. After some time, Goth Babe built a tiny house in Washington, which unfortunately burned down in a disastrous fire. He ended up losing his belongings and precious music recordings, which is why it has taken longer to release his album. Now, Goth Babe has relocated to living on a sailboat, Lola, in which he embarked from San Diego, California, to Baja Mexico. It was on this trip that Lola was recorded and tracks such as “Spinnaker Days,” “Bioluminescence” and “Baja” pay homage to his voyage.

Lola truly encapsulates a sunny day at sea. With cheerful guitar hooks, lighthearted synth, an upbeat drum track and carefree lyrics dispersed throughout the songs, I’m left yearning for sailboat life over van life.

However, I can vouch that Lola is an album for mountain lovers as well. “Alone in the Mountains” is by far my favorite song on the album, making me reminiscent of days spent traversing the Wasatch Range in Salt Lake City, Utah. Another close favorite is “Orcas,” which is the only instrumental on the album. An acoustic-only piece is a rare gem from Goth Babe, so it stands out from his other tracks. It’s a sweet guitar lullaby that is representative of the quiet, peaceful moments found when encountering wildlife in nature.

Admittedly, it took me a while to come around to Goth Babe’s music. It was a genre that didn’t coincide with my general music taste. It can come across as repetitive, sounding similar instrumentally and lyrically. Yet, I still found myself turning back to Goth Babe’s gleeful tunes. His songs may not be the most profound or musically engineered, but they spark joy. I have had the privilege of seeing Goth Babe live, and I witnessed his infectious joy onstage seep into the packed crowd. This ability to produce good spirits among an audience is arguably one of the best things an artist can do.

Another wonderful aspect of Goth Babe is that he is deeply invested in climate advocacy and has partnered with multiple organizations addressing climate change, including Protect Our Winters, which focuses on the impact of climate change on the outdoor industry.  Goth Babe’s upcoming concert tour is contributing $1 to Protect Our Winters per ticket sold, so by supporting him, listeners are also supporting climate advocacy. Goth Babe is redefining what climate activism looks like by using his passion for music to fight to protect our Earth. This intersection of artistic expression and environmentalism is why Goth Babe has produced a cult following among the outdoor community. It’s all the more reason to listen and support his music. Take this as a sign to get outside, bask in the sun and listen to Goth Babe!