good company’s “MIME” is a deliberate, tangible pivot beyond alt-pop

Making a departure from his former alternative pop sound, Dan Wagg, a.k.a. good company, finds himself rekindling his love for music. His new single “MIME” gives listeners a glimpse into the end of a long-term relationship.

Progressive tension and release tracks good company’s experience with guilt towards a relationship’s end. “It can be very humiliating to acknowledge when you’ve failed at loving someone properly,” he explains, simultaneously recognising how writing “MIME” brought him a sense of relief. “I tend to feel a bit of stress and anxiety when I don’t have the answers to everything. My therapist pointed out how much I ruminate and crave control in my life.”

His passion for music traces back to his father, who’s played guitar since long before Wagg was born. Bringing him and his brother to his church’s worship band rehearsals at 6 a.m. every Sunday, Wagg learned the instrument for himself. As his guitar skills increased, he earned a spot in that same band, continuing to develop his playing abilities during weekly rehearsals.

2018, Wagg's second year of college, marks the beginning of his artistic journey as good company. He recounts: “I was a part of a band with a few friends of mine that had started because the drummer Bryan lied to one of his friends that he had started one. He booked a show before we even had a band put together.” Songs that were released under this band are among the first he had ever written, they unknowingly became stepping stones to CANINE – set for release in July via AWAL.

good company adopts a bare-bones approach on “MIME”. Production elements such as distortion and drive to draw interest, yet he scales back in the bridge with a concoction of five or six guitar tones. “All the tones are clean in nature, but when played more aggressively, it gives the song a larger feeling without taking up too much production space,” Wagg explains. Though initially against producer Brandon Rosiar’s suggestion, it achieved the balance and clarity he had hoped for.

Working on “MIME” and the rest of CANINE was a distinctly different process from anything good company had made before. Remote collaboration with Rosiar fuelled his desire to create a sound that is uniquely his own, with artists Pinegrove and Dijon inspiring him to create a sense of “roominess” across his music. “When pulling from artists who have influence within a genre, you have to be careful about what you choose to pull from it.” That caution translates into ambient yet relentless vocals that he puts onto the song, undoubtedly placing it into his own creative league.

The vulnerability in “MIME” elicits a sense of acceptance in the unknown. There’s an undeniable confidence and excitement, driven by pride in his work, evoking from good company as he continues to rollout CANINE: “I’m so much busier these days, but it’s a really positive shift. I’m looking forward to playing shows, connecting with people, and just working on whatever’s next after this.”