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San Francisco-based Americana artist Essence Goldman of Essence & Gold Country chatted about the new single “Good Mom,” which comes out just in time for Mother’s Day.
The best way to understand Father’s Daughter, the debut album on Blue Élan Records from Bay Area singer-songwriter Essence Goldman and her band Gold Country, is to start at the end. Over the course of the record, Goldman takes the listener on an emotional rollercoaster of hard-won highs and bruising lows, all culminating in the closing track, “Hymn #9.” The song is a devastating and quietly beautiful reckoning with a life lived at full emotional cost: the loss of a father, the birth of children, a first marriage sacrificed in the search for self, and a second marriage that curdled into something darker. Goldman describes it simply as “a prayer, a surrender.” On record, it sounds like both — and something even deeper.
“This ‘Good Mom’ video is about the beautiful chaos of motherhood and the truth that we don’t have to lose ourselves to be a good mom. It holds that tension between giving everything to our children and still claiming space for our own soul, and taking care of ourselves so we have more to give. – Essence Goldman
The San Francisco-born singer, songwriter and vocal coach is set to headline Sweetwater Music Hall with her band Gold Country on Oct. 22, marking the release of “Father’s Daughter.” The collection, recorded near her Marin County home, is rooted in Appalachian Americana and country traditions but turns squarely on her own life, exploring themes of love, loss and resilience.
September 26, 2025 - Today, Blue Élan Records proudly releases Father’s Daughter, the debut album from Essence & Gold Country. A deeply personal and autobiographical work, the record chronicles Essence’s journey through love, loss, and resilience—woven with the Appalachian Americana and country influences she has long cherished.
Bernie Dalton hoped to fulfill a lifelong dream of making an album when he replied to a Craigslist ad for vocal lessons.
Bernie Dalton always wanted to record an album of his songs. But when he lost his voice as a result of motor neurone disease - also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - singer Essence Goldman stepped in.
The story of Bernie and the Believers is the most powerful I’ve ever come across at the Tiny Desk. It’s about a beau’s about a beautiful act of compassion that ultimately led to this performance, and left me and my coworkers in tears.
The story of Bernie and the Believers is the most powerful I’ve ever come across at the Tiny Desk. It’s about a beautiful act of compassion that ultimately led to this performance, and left me and my coworkers in tears.
When Bernie Dalton was diagnosed with an aggressive form of ALS, he lost his ability to speak and sing. So Essence Goldman became his voice, helping him fulfill a lifelong dream of making an album.
Read their story: bit.ly/sung-from-the-heart
Bernie Dalton hoped to fulfill a lifelong dream of making an album when he replied to a Craigslist ad for vocal lessons.
A couple of years ago, Bernie Dalton was a strong, physically fit, 40-something-year-old surfer. Every morning, he would get up at 4 A.M. to watch the sunrise in Santa Cruz, Calif. Bernie wasn’t a musician at the time, but he was passionate about music. His lifelong dream was to record an album.
Bernie was a pool guy and a single father—your average joe. But Bernie also had creative aspirations to be a singer-songwriter.
When Bernie began taking singing lessons with renowned Bay Area vocal coach and songwriter Essence Goldman, a deep friendship was formed.
Just months later, however, Bernie’s dream of becoming a singer-songwriter was tragically cut short when he was diagnosed with ALS. But Bernie was undaunted. With just months left to live, he and Essence set out to record an album of Bernie’s original music.
Wry, soulful, and heart-wrenching, these songs are a testament to his love for life—and his teenage daughter, Nicole.
'Bernie’s Song’ follows Bernie, now only able to communicate by blinking, as he travels to the recording studio where he, Essence, and their musicians put the finishing touches on the album, and as Bernie shares his musical legacy with Nicole.
Now, Bernie needs our help. He is currently in a nursing home, separated from his community of support, where he is struggling emotionally and physically. We need to bring Bernie home to his loved ones to spend the time he does have left with his family and friends.
Visit Bernie's GoFundMe: http://bit.ly/2DgMxQX