Shape-shifting Tāmaki Makaurau artist Goodspace has always been a project of multiple collaborations and forms, Jefferson Chen performing as a soloist or indie band, composing for immersive theatre and short films, and curating fun performance installations. Following last year’s album, ‘Let’s Talk About Death’, Goodspace cycles back with Easier Said Than Done a charmed alt-indie number that was included on NZ On Air Music’s November NewTracks compilation.

What’s your given name? Where do you live, and what instruments do you play?

Jefferson Chen. I’m Tāmaki Makaurau born and bred. I play guitar, keys and some rudimentary use of my voice.

Any previous artist projects that we might we know you from?

I once had a dream that I was playing in Radiohead, but I can’t expect you to know that. In terms of actual projects, I’ve had the recent privilege of co-writing, recording, and releasing music with Iris Zhang (Haunted & Free), JAAM (album), ASHY (You Don’t Know Me, Darling), and dān dān (Cigarette Breakfast – coming soon!)

What were the first steps to Goodspace becoming a recording act?

Buying a shitty condenser mic off eBay years ago, and then other musician friends hooking it up. (Thanks Mike Collier in particular.)

In 2021 NZM wrote about Goodspace as a three-piece with Nick Annear & Lloyd Thomason. Has it morphed since? 

Lloyd was the one who came up with the name Goodspace at the very very beginning (we go back many lifetimes). After we officially disbanded I kept the name. Goodspace is now a project of multiple forms and collaborations – sometimes a solo performer, sometimes a scorer for film/theatre, sometimes a band, sometimes an installation artist. 

How has the Goodspace songwriting evolved over that time?

That’s a mega broad question that I might flip on its head. What hasn’t changed is that I’m still writing, recording, and releasing music out of my garage. And that I still love doing it.

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date?

In terms of things where the art and community has felt the most real: VENDOR: my week-long album release/installation in Lim Chhour Food Court, where the album was the menu, and the songs were the dishes.
+ Composing and arranging the music for This Room is an Island (an immersive theatre piece by Yin-Chi Lee).
+ Chatting to John Psathas through the APRA Mentorship Program and opening for Fazerdaze and Stellar*

What made Easier Said Than Done stand out as a single choice?

Christian Tjandrawinata, who co-wrote and produced this song, and I were in a session one day and I said, ‘Hey let’s finish a new song today, here pick one of these sketches,’ and he chose ESTD. So it was pretty arbitrary. When it got funded I guess we just committed to it being the single.

What is the story behind Easier Said Than Done?

It’s about leaving and leaving things behind. The foley sounds that inhabit the song are recordings of noises around my flat which we’ve been at for over five years, and which has been a wonderful refuge over the years (shoutout to our fantastic landlords). 

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

‘Everyday’s a bubble / that we haven’t burst in years.’ The super clunky piano and the foley sounds together, are also particularly pleasing to my ear.

Who did you write/record/produce the single with and where?

Mareea Paterson (Veruca Salt), Andrew MacLaren (Stellar*), and Christian Tjandrawinata (producer) all helped bring this song to life as writers and recording artists. We spent a day in Roundhead which was splendid. Callum Lee (Rewind Fields) and Mathilde Polmard sang BVs on the track, and my cousin Robin Chen played some stunning violin, too. Thanks team x

What would you like listeners to take away from the song?

Whatever they like, truly.

You released an album in 2024 called ‘Let’s Talk About Death’. How did it go?

Honestly, it was a pretty relentless, hectic, ambitious project releasing the debut album through the aforementioned installation (VENDOR). Commercially, the album got some great attention, but the best part was definitely sitting in a room full of strangers listening to the album top to bottom and feeling the energy shift and coalesce, alone together.  

What were some key learnings that came from that project?

That all of this art always just comes down to friendship.

Who else is in your team?

For this song in particular, Quentin Lind (filmmaker, designer, artist, everything guy), Heidi Watson (MV director), AAA Records (Matt Smith & Chris Nalder), Theo Tanchak, Kyung Ho Min, and all of the people mentioned above. And more. 

Which of your songs have done best for you so far?

Well, the song that consistently makes me feel the best is Sit Down.

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your song. 

Rewind Fields: Safezone
Jazmine Mary: My Brilliance
Big Heck: Secret Blue Trinket

Have any of your previous single releases been included on NewTracks?

Do What You Need (feat. Lloyd Kennedy), in 2024. It was written and produced by Jamie Martell, Nick Annear, Callum Lee, Lloyd Kennedy, Mareea Paterson, Andrew MacLaren, mixed by Mathias Durand, mastered by Rāwiri Waters. Thanks NZOA Music!

Easier Said Than Done got New Music Single Pan Asia funding. What did that mean in terms of its production?

That it sounds expensive (and was).

Have you previously applied for NZOA funding with other singles? Got any advice around seeking funding for others starting out?

Yep just a few thousand times. Keep applying, or don’t. Whatever the result, just keep making art that you care about.

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

I adore the Blindboy Podcast. 

How can we find you on social media?

@goodspacemusic
Instagram

Who did you make the music video with?

The MV is done in one-shot and we used the first take. Mostly out of necessity – the sun was setting rapidly and we had to chase the light – but I love how it came out.
We also released the song through an interactive installation called PEDAL, where listeners had to pedal a bike to power/play the MV/song. It was about ‘labour’ and how you get out as much as you put in.
Thank you to all my friends who turned up and made it happen – in particular those that I haven’t mentioned yet: James Buchan (editor/grade/DOP), Adrian Hooke (AD), Muy Chhour, K Road Business Association, Nicola Luey, Darryl Chin, Pennie Chang, Samantha Cheong, Rosbal Tan, and all the extras in the MV: Zed Xu, Dani, Te Oka, Nate Foon, Solomon Tāmehana, Ronnnawayyy, Bike Auckland, A Bike Shop, Got To Get Out Adventures, Rat World Magazine, Almighty, Punctum, Colab Projects

Any last words?

Thank you NZ Musician!

Featured photo by Quentin Lind