37 Magazine
Heatwave: Baring It All
Powerhouse frontwoman Goldy Locks has never been one to shy away from the spotlight — but she’s never been one to chase it cheaply either. Known for her commanding vocals, candid presence, and fierce independence, Goldy has been grinding out a living in music long before social media defined “success.”
“When someone told me I should just start an OnlyFans instead of promoting our album, I thought — wow, that’s where we’re at?” Goldy says. “They weren’t even trying to be cruel. That was the advice. Not ‘push your single,’ not ‘book more shows.’ Just… take your clothes off.”
Rather than retreat, she retaliated — but with intention.
“I figured, fine. I’ll strip — but I’m gonna use vinyl records to cover the parts everyone’s trying to pay attention to. Because it’s not about the skin. It’s about the songs.” With that, she launched #OnlyTalent — her sharp, satirical spin on OnlyFans — turning the tables with a campaign that used strategically placed records not to tease, but to provoke a conversation.
Fronted by Goldy’s fearless vocals, THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND radiates a sun-charged energy that can’t be faked. Ninja drummer Rod Saylor brings the thunder, guitarist Johnny Oro ignites each track with raw fire, and bassist Wandley Bala delivers the groove that holds it all together. They’re not just part of the lineup — they’re the driving force behind the heat.
This isn’t a band assembled for looks or likes. It’s a unit forged under pressure — long hours, hot lights, empty wallets, and stages that test your limits. Together, they’ve built a sound that’s raw, tight, and fearless.
They’re not backing tracks or background players — they’re the flame that lets Goldy burn brighter, knowing she can bare it all and never stand alone.
Burned out? Maybe.
Scorched by the system, lit by their own spark. And still burning.
Buy the Record, Not the Rod
Goldy launched a movement and bold campaign titled Only Talent: Buy the Record, Not the Bod where she and Rod appear using their band’s actual albums to symbolically shield themselves in stark, provocative visuals. The resulting images are as jarring and risqué as they are effective. A provocative commentary on how female musicians are often marketed and objectified in the industry, and a passionate plea for fans to support the music by purchasing the work.
And as Goldy puts it, “I’m not just the chick on the cover. I’m the one writing the damn lyrics, producing the tracks, editing the videos, booking the tours. So yeah — buy the record, not the bod. Please and thank you.”
Rod didn’t sign up to model. He signed up to make music. But when he saw the way the industry responded to his bandmate — a woman consistently asked to sell her body instead of her records — he knew it was time to make a statement of his own. “It started as a joke, but it stuck. And it matters. Because if she’s going to put herself out there to make a point, I will too,” he says. “Sex and objectivity are what sell in today’s world. That needs to change. True artistry has been buried.”
Rod’s approach is thoughtful but raw. He’s not posturing. He’s pushing back — against the streaming economy, the club owners who lowball touring bands, and the fans who think “likes” are the same as support.
“I’ve watched some of our singles reach over 600,000 streams,” he says. “That felt amazing… until the payout hit. It’s heartbreaking, really, when you think about how much soul, time, work, gear and money goes into every track.”
The Double Standard & Shared Struggles
The campaign doesn’t just target misogyny — it invites a wider conversation about how all artists are being undervalued. And Rod knows that while women face more visible objectification, men in music aren’t immune to pressure.
“I come across female drummers all the time that have millions of views, but usually for the wrong reasons. They’re wearing V-necks and short skirts and raking in views. Meanwhile, we’re out here grinding, hauling gear, playing four-hour sets for gas money.”
Still, he’s quick to note: it’s not jealousy. It’s systemic frustration. “I’m not mad at them. I’m mad at the system. We’ve made image more important than sound. It’s about showing up for music.”
He’s not pointing fingers at the artists themselves — he’s calling out a system that rewards image over musicianship. “Somewhere along the way, image started mattering more than sound. That’s the real issue. We’ve trained audiences to click for skin, not skill. And that hurts everyone — not just the artists getting overlooked, but the integrity of the art itself.”
His hope? That listeners start paying attention with intention. “We need to get back to showing up for the music — not the spectacle. If we want a better scene, we have to support the parts of it that are built on substance.”
Why “Buying” Still Matters
At the heart of it all is a plea that might sound old-school, but it’s never been more relevant: Buy music.
“We’re not anti-streaming,” Goldy clarifies. “We’re just anti-starvation. There’s this idea that art should be free, but the people making it still have rent. We still pay for gas. Our gear still breaks.”
Rod echoes the sentiment. “From my perspective, until you can gain the financial support of a prominent management company, or agency, most artists are nearly forced to “other” means in order to keep the lights on. As uncomfortable as some of these videos are to do, I truly believe the campaign is working. It’s bringing a massive amount of awareness to direct artist support.”
And it’s not just about money. It’s about experience.
“We make our albums like a full meal,” Goldy says. “You don’t just stream a song and toss it. You sit with it. You read the liner notes. You feel the story. That’s what we want people to come back to.”
“I don’t think many people realize how much it costs just to record a track,” Rod says. “It’s not a tape recorder and a dream anymore. It’s thousands in equipment, time, mixing, mastering. Buying a CD or a shirt isn’t charity — it’s survival.”
Too Hot to Ignore: A Message for Fans & the Industry
Both Goldy and Rod hope the campaign resonates beyond their own band. “This isn’t just about us,” Goldy says. “This is about every artist out there busking in the rain, pouring their soul into a mic, hoping someone notices. We’re just loud enough — or naked enough — to get your attention.”
Rod puts it bluntly: “Support your local scene. Buy a ticket. Buy a record. Hell, buy a coffee for the sound guy. We’re all in this together.”
As for the music industry?
“It has to change,” says Goldy. “Artists can’t keep giving away their work for exposure. You can’t eat exposure. You can’t press vinyl with exposure. If you love music — prove it.”
Rod agrees. “Yeah, some of it’s corny. Some of it’s over the top. But that’s what makes it work. You can’t fake this kind of passion — or pain. We just want people to feel again.”
“We’re not trying to be edgy just to be edgy,” Goldy says. “We’re being honest. It’s funny because it’s real. We laugh at the desperation sometimes because if we didn’t, we’d cry.”
The campaign blends humor, vulnerability, and absurdity in a way that’s become signature for the band. Whether it’s Rod trimming weeds and baring cheeks while breaking down streaming royalties or Goldy bare in an empty grocery store cart (a not-so-subtle nod to the fact that streaming doesn’t even pay for groceries), behind the laughs is a razor-sharp commentary on just how little streaming pays.
Here Comes the Sun
At a time when art is constantly competing with algorithms, THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND has found a way to make people stop scrolling — and start listening. It may have started with a vinyl record held over a bare chest, but it’s become something bigger: a movement for fairness, for visibility, and for value.
“There are countless hours spent learning your instrument — and just as many spent buying the gear you need to capture those inspired moments when they hit. And that’s if you’re doing it all yourself. If you’re working with a studio, things get even more complex — and expensive.”
There was a time when reaching certain milestones meant financial support from a record label. But in today’s oversaturated market — packed with countless artists, genres, and bands — that support often never comes. Artists are expected to build everything on your own… and then the industry might take notice.
That’s why direct support from fans — buying the record, not just streaming the song — matters more than ever.
“Record labels have become almost obsolete for up-and-coming artists in today’s market. They only step in after musicians have already poured in the time, money, and heart to build something on their own. That’s why, as independent artists, every album purchase matters. Buying the record isn’t just support — it’s connection. It’s a deeper look into who we are and what we’ve built. We make it an experience, the way music should be.”
Learn more about THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND and their Only Talent campaign at GoldyLocksBand.com
Support independent music: Buy, Don’t Just Stream.
- Nashville, TN
- Publication: 37 Magazine
- Writer/Editor-In-Chief: Jamee Beth Livingston
- Photography: The Factory
- Livingston Publishing
