Pop punk darlings Gold Steps have shared “Empty Space,” a deeply personal new single and music video. A song inspired by the loss of lead singer Liz Mauritz’s grandfather, “Empty Space” is about losing a significant other – missing their presence, their smile, their laugh. Fans can watch it now, exclusively on The Noise.
“Seeing my grandmother cope with my grandfather passing devastated me; their marriage was the bar I set for my own, and I can’t imagine losing my other half,” Mauritz shares. “The pain of losing a loved one is universal, and ‘Empty Space’ is about the aftermath and anguish of life moving on while you’re stuck in the cycle of grief.”
Gold Steps set out in 2016 to create catchy, powerful music inspired by New Found Glory, State Champs, and Hit The Lights. In their short tenure, Gold Steps has toured the US extensively, sharing stages with As It Is, Sharptooth, Belmont, The Ataris, Keep Flying, and Forever Came Calling, as well as performing at the Vans Warped Tour, Summerfest, and SXSW.
Liz Mauritz (vocals) leads the energetic firestorm, rounded out by Zach Duarte (lead guitar), Alex Maranto (rhythm guitar), Ruben Tirado (bass), and Erasmo “Raz” Garcia (drums). Crisp guitars, upbeat drums and dynamic vocals entertain your ears, while Mauritz’s honest and raw lyrics get to your gut. The frontwoman is open about her struggles with anxiety, self-harm and panic disorder, an overarching theme in Gold Steps’ catalogue. “I know what it’s like to hurt, to feel alone, to want to give up in a moment of darkness; if we can make one person feel understood and less alone, we have been successful.”
The ups and downs of mental health burst and bloom on Gold Steps’ latest, 2018’s Incandescent. Mauritz explains, “These songs reflect my mental state at different points of my life in the last year: fiercely refusing to give up in the face of adversity; struggling with my sense of purpose outside the band; and glimpses of hope that I was ‘getting better,’ just to knock myself out again with self-esteem issues.” Tracked at Overcast Recordings and produced by Rick King of King Sound, the EP showcases the band’s strengths, with bright leads and fill-heavy drums supporting the vocalist’s dynamic range. Incandescent also explores the pain of those observing a loved one struggle with their mental health; closing track “Manic To Panic” expresses the exasperating desire to understand, while reassuring “we’ll get through it again.”
To further their message of support for recovery, they’ve partnered with nonprofits HeartSupport and Hope Through Headphones to increase awareness and reduce stigma around mental health conditions, addiction, and survivors of abuse.
