The new track arrives ahead of Blue Élan debut album Father’s Daughter
We're proud to announce the release of “The Gamble,” the latest single from Essence & Gold Country’s forthcoming debut album Father’s Daughter. The track captures the exhilarating uncertainty of love—balancing the comfort of the familiar against the thrill of taking a leap into the unknown.
Written in the wake of personal transformation, “The Gamble” finds sixth-generation San Franciscan Essence Goldman—yes, that’s her real name—channeling the emotional push and pull of choice, risk, and reward. “It’s about deciding whether to stay where it’s safe or take a chance on something new and electrifying,” she says. “It’s scary, but sometimes your heart knows before your head does.”
Produced by David Simon-Baker (Black Wings, 2016) and recorded at Allegiant Records in Marin County, the song showcases Essence’s warm, distinctive voice against a backdrop of shimmering pedal steel, rich harmonies, and the organic interplay of her band, Gold Country. The result is both tender and propulsive, steeped in the Appalachian, Americana, and classic country influences that define Father’s Daughter.
Father’s Daughter—out September 26—marks Essence’s first release with Blue Élan Records. The album is a deeply personal journey, shaped by the loving single father who raised her, the grief of losing him, and the rebirth that followed a difficult divorce. Known for her evocative songwriting and emotional candor, Essence first won national attention through her viral NPR Tiny Desk appearance with Bernie and the Believers, a collaboration with her late friend Bernie Dalton, whose battle with ALS inspired a forthcoming feature film.
Following the empowering first single “Free,” “The Gamble” offers a different facet of Father’s Daughter—a reminder that love, like life, is always a risk worth taking. “Every major turn in my life has involved a leap of faith,” Essence says. “This song is about trusting yourself enough to take it.”