After a two-year hiatus, GoodGirl LA is back on the music scene with a new song titled, Goodgirl. The singer, songwriter & producer is well known for her artsy visuals, free spirited mien and adept fusion of genres. Goodgirl, her latest release blends GoodgirlLA’s soulful vocals over a backdrop of Pop and R&B fusion, two genres that she traverses seamlessly—resulting in a song that’s one of 2025’s best offerings.
With her debut EP on the horizon—slated for release on the 4th on July—we sat down with Goodgirl LA to get a deeper insight into the music and also interrogate her headspace.
You were previously known as Laden, which later turned to Goodgirl LA, what inspired the initial Laden and the transition?
Ladern was initially my secondary school nickname back then, when I left home for the real world and became a studio rat. Later on, my friends shortened it to LA, and that became my artist name. However, I still needed to personalize it because LA is quite popular, so I translated the meaning of my first government name Euphemia; the “Euph” means ‘good’ in greek and I attached it. That’s how GoodGirl LA was born.
How did you fall in love with music? Did it come from your background or family influences? or maybe even peers in school?
Well, according to my mother and a few memories—Immediately I gained cognitive abilities I started moving and singing to what i heard and saw on the TV, Radio and everything around me. I was vibing along and imitating everything. I just loved sound and somatic movement, but they were some pivotal things that sealed and confirmed the deal for me as a kid. One of these was Britney Spears’ 2000 tour performance compilation CD, that my Dad got me.
Also, one time I visited a fast food spot in Apapa, Lagos—I saw a Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance MV playing on the screen. I froze and couldn’t hear my Dad calling me, because I was so gagged like, “who is she? she’s doing what I imagine.” Then there’s also the first time I saw Michael Jackson performing on TV, for the first time. And every other time I watched Rihanna and Beyonce on tour, they reaffirmed to me, that music was what I came here. I had already seen and felt myself as that, even before I actually knew what being an ‘artist’ entailed, so it was like staring at a reflection in a mirror, looking at them. That’s how I knew.
You left the university of Calabar to pursue music if I’m correct, was that terrifying for you?
Leaving UNICAL for music wasn’t terrifying because I never wanted to leave lagos for school in the first place. I wanted to stay for the music, knowing the business was in lagos. Studying med-surg nursing was my parent’s wishes for me. They wanted me to be like everyone else and play by the rules but i knew what I wanted and it was only a matter of time. I knew I was going to leave, my friends at the time had to waybill my bags and books to lagos after i left. I’m happy I did.
A lot of people discovered you on Early Momo with Vector, where you guys had amazing chemistry. What was it about the song and your relationship with him that made it click?
Early Momo happened so randomly because I was only going to see someone else when I met Vec there, in the room. There were talks of him putting me on his album so I told him let’s go record it right now. He had somewhere to be, but we made it work and linked up that same night and made the record in the early momo, for real.
You’ve not released new music since 2023. What have you been up to during that hiatus? Asides recording music of course.
I’ve been reconnecting with self and nature, learning more about the business of life ’cause I love a lot of things around the arts and technology. Also further customizing my avatar through dimensions, because I believe life is about fulfilment and creativity not just keeping up appearances.
Your upcoming EP, Goodgirl is preceded with a song of the same name, where you sing, “good girl don bad.” What happened to good girl?
GoodGirl has been transmuted into a symbol of rebellion and defiance against the status quo of compliance and smallness, that has been placed on femininity. I want to destroy the status quo through the name, so much that the name loses its original meaning, as a tool of control over women and becomes a symbol of a woman’s power and reclaimed control over her own life. So it’s an awakening for me and the fem collective consciousness.
Talk to us about this new era of heading into the cosmos, and what it means for you?
I know I have so much to share with this world, the fire in my guts is burning me alive because I’ve been held back in so many ways, and I’m sick of it. I want to stab my knife into everything soft, then space jet to the cosmos with it.
Are we correct to assume that Andre Vibez is on board and working with you in some capacity?
Yes I’m signed to him at this time with VMF worldwide. We’re building something for the future.
Goodgirl, the EP coming very soon, are you pumped?
Absolutely! Andre and I have made so much music and we’re pacing the art properly. So anticipate the release in July ‘25. I’m so stoked, it’s time!
