MAGNET Exclusive: Premiere Of Johnny Goudie’s “All New Flavor”

Johnny Goudie is living proof that versatility is an asset in Austin. The singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor and podcaster has found a sustainable niche for himself in that competitive Texas city—and that niche is pretty much everything.

“As you get older, you realize you’ve got to make a living,” says Goudie. “There was a time when I was very hyper-focused, when all I did was write songs and rehearse with a band. The sad thing now is that there’s so much to do, and I really don’t have that focus.”

An accomplished guitarist since his teens, Goudie was involved in several successful Texas bands in the late ’80s and ’90s before eventually signing with the Music Company, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich’s short-lived label. Calling itself Goudie, the glam-leaning hard-rock band was set to release its debut in 2000 when Metallica declared war on Napster.

“When our record came out in July of that year, [Ulrich] had already attached himself to us, and a lot of our story revolved around him,” says Goudie. “His fight with Napster directly affected us at that time.”

Simply put, it upended any shot at mainstream success. “We became vilified,” says Goudie.

“All New Flavor” is one of a handful of tracks Goudie has been working on in recent months—his first new music since 2018’s Leper Hands EP. Cowritten with Austin producer Gabriel Rhodes, it features Scott Garber (Giant Sand) on bass and John Chipman (Band Of Heathens) on drums and Rhodes on keyboards. Not one for overt political statements, Goudie says “All New Flavor” was inspired by long stretches at home in his apartment watching the news.

“You start realizing that there’s this need for a person we can either hate on or love on,” he says. “And that person ends up being incredibly disposable.”

For now, Goudie plans on releasing a tune a month until the well runs dry. You can also hear him interview fellow musicians and industry types on his podcast, How Did I Get Here?, which is creeping up on 950 episodes.

—Hobart Rowland