Takin’ A Walk – Music History with Buzz Knight

Episode Title: Discover How Walking Inspires Songwriting with Buzz Knight and Boy Golden: A Deep Dive into Indie Music Stories!
Release Date: February 17, 2026
Guest: Boy Golden
Host: Buzz Knight

Episode Overview

In this episode, Buzz Knight sits down with indie artist and visionary singer-songwriter Boy Golden to explore the interplay of walking and creativity, the influence of Buddhist philosophy, and the stories behind his latest album, Best of Our Possible Lives. Together, they discuss songwriting as practice, emotional growth through music, navigating creative blocks, and the supportive relationships that shape Boy Golden’s artistry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Role of Walking in the Creative Process

• Walking as Inspiration:

  • Boy Golden shares how long walks, particularly during his commute in Manitoba, were central to his songwriting process. He observes a meditative transition—ruminating at first, then ideas slowly surfacing as the mind settles.
  • "It takes a bit of time for your mind to settle. The first ten minutes, I might be ruminating...by the end of the walk I feel very different...maybe new ideas that I didn't have before." (Boy Golden, 04:20)

• Philosophical Connection:

  • Buzz brings up Thich Nhat Hanh and the practice of mindfulness while walking. Boy Golden reflects on the difficulty but necessity of remaining present, emphasizing that presence is an ongoing practice rather than a perfected state.
  • "While, you know, in a lot of interviews and in songs and in some of my writing, I talk a big game about being present...It's hard to do that day to day. It's still, I think, a practice. Practice makes progress." (Boy Golden, 06:00)

Creating Best of Our Possible Lives

• Writing & Recording Timeline:

  • The core album was recorded over a few months (March–June 2025), but the songs themselves developed over four years, allowing for a sizable pool of material to refine.
  • "I've been writing these songs for four years at that point...I like to build up a large folder of demos and then choose from there." (Boy Golden, 07:51)

• Buddhist Philosophy & Thematic Layers:

  • Boy Golden didn't set out to make a "Buddhist" record; the philosophy "just wove its way in" as a result of his reading and meditation practice. Sometimes he hears those layers himself in retrospect.
  • "I just find these philosophies have woven their way into my day-to-day thinking enough that it kind of comes out in the music...they mean different things to me on different days." (Boy Golden, 08:34)

Collaboration and Artistic Growth

• Working with Producer Robbie Lackritz:

  • Robbie was pivotal—not only selecting from Boy Golden’s vast array of demos (about seventy!) but also providing crucial pre-production insight and confidence throughout the process.
  • "It was amazing to have an outside perspective...Robbie provided me with a lot of direction and I think a lot of confidence. And he's funny and I like working with him." (Boy Golden, 10:03)

• Recording with Pino Palladino:

  • Palladino, bass legend, joined the project via Robbie’s connections. Boy Golden shares the excitement of a simple, understated text from Pino confirming his participation.
  • "I have a really fun text message saved in my phone that's like, 'got the songs. Really cool. Would love to do it.'...Wow. Cool. That's cool." (Boy Golden, 11:47)

• Favorite Past Work of Collaborators:

  • Pino’s work on D'Angelo records and his collaborations with Blake Mills stand out as inspirations.
  • "I mean, probably the D'Angelo records would be number one...the Pino Blake Mills records together are really great." (Boy Golden, 12:42)

Songwriting Insights: “Matter at Hand” & “Like a Child”

• "Matter at Hand":

  • The song was written during a difficult summer in Winnipeg and grapples with disillusionment, processing hardship, and loss. Boy Golden reflects on finding purpose in simply “attending to the matter at hand.”
  • "The way that I deal with living in the world is just trying to attend to the matter at hand. That's, I think, where that phrase came from for me...attending to the matter at hand is often the way through difficult times." (Boy Golden, 13:45)

• "Like a Child":

  • Inspired by the Tao Te Ching and its verses on softness, the song explores adaptability and emotional growth. Boy Golden uses the metaphor of a river eroding obstacles, paralleling personal transformation.
  • "If you practice being soft and flexible and malleable and adaptable, you might just move past the rock...you’ll just flow right over top of it...you might not have to deal with that one again." (Boy Golden, 16:36)

Personal Influences and Artistic Mindset

• Calmness and Mentorship:

  • Boy Golden credits his calm to producers like Don Benediction and to his desire to be a calming, creative presence for others.
  • "There just is a certain kind of person that makes you feel really calm and really open and creative...My friend Sheena once told me that cool people make other people feel cool, and I've never forgotten that." (Boy Golden, 22:58 & 24:13)

• Musical Origin Story:

  • A formative heartbreak at 21 broke creative barriers for him, turning songwriting from an intimidating challenge into an all-consuming passion.
  • "I was never able to write my own music at that point. I had a lot of blocks, creative blocks...I was too heartbroken to care if my music was good or not. And I just started writing." (Boy Golden, 24:30)

• Musical Influences:

  • Cites JJ Cale, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Talking Heads, David Byrne, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, and Carole King as key pillars.
  • "Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch...my favorite band is the Talking Heads. Love David Byrne. John Prine...Carole King might be in there." (Boy Golden, 25:46)

Audience Experience & Upcoming Plans

• Hopes for the Listeners:

  • Boy Golden is proud of the album’s sound and lyrical depth. His highest compliment is if his music inspires others to go create.
  • "If my record makes you feel like you want to go make a record...that is, like, kind of the highest compliment I give to another artist." (Boy Golden, 26:30)

• Touring Announcements:

  • Supporting William Prince (whose album he also produced) and Kat Clyde in Spring 2026. Looks forward to collaborative storytelling on stage and the synergy with these artists.
  • "I'll be chasing his tour bus around in my van and opening up for him...immediately after that is opening for my friend Kat Clyde, who is a featured artist on two of the songs on my album." (Boy Golden, 27:53)

Closing Reflection

• Who Would Boy Golden Take a Walk With?
  • He chooses his late grandfather, Duncan, for one more walk in his hometown, emphasizing personal roots and the emotional resonance of simple, shared moments.
  • "I think I would go for a walk with my late grandpa Duncan...probably just around his neighborhood in my hometown of Brandon. But I would love to go for another walk with my grandpa. That'd be nice." (Boy Golden, 29:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Practice:
  • "Practice makes progress and who doesn't need practice?" (Boy Golden, 06:00)
• On Overcoming Blocks:
  • "I was, like, too heartbroken to care if my music was good or not. And I just started writing." (Boy Golden, 24:30)
• On Influence:
  • "My friend Sheena once told me that cool people make other people feel cool, and I've never forgotten that." (Boy Golden, 24:13)
• On Listener Connection:
  • "If my record makes you feel like you want to go make a record...that is, like, kind of the highest compliment I give to another artist." (Boy Golden, 26:30)
• On Taking a Walk with His Grandfather:
  • "I think I would go for a walk with my late grandpa Duncan...just around his neighborhood...I would love to go for another walk with my grandpa. That'd be nice." (Boy Golden, 29:48)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:20 – Boy Golden on walking and creative process
• 05:34 – Thich Nhat Hanh, mindfulness, and presence
• 07:51 – The timeline and process behind the new album
• 08:34 – Buddhist philosophy permeating the songwriting
• 10:03 – Producer Robbie Lackritz’s impact
• 11:35 – Collaborating with Pino Palladino
• 13:14 – Writing the song “Matter at Hand”
• 16:36 – The meaning and imagery in “Like a Child”
• 22:58 – Where Boy Golden's calm comes from
• 24:30 – Boy Golden’s musical origin story
• 25:46 – Influential artists and songwriters
• 26:30 – What Boy Golden hopes listeners will experience
• 27:53 – Tour plans for 2026
• 29:48 – Who Boy Golden would take a walk with

Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is warm, reflective, and candid—with Boy Golden openly discussing vulnerability, resilience, and artistic maturation. The episode offers inspiration for fellow creatives and deepens appreciation for how daily practices and community inform artistry. For fans of thoughtful indie songwriting, it’s an uplifting, contemplative listen.