S.G. Goodman joins the Broken Record podcast to discuss the creative and personal foundations behind her third album, Planting By The Signs. The conversation traces the path from her widely praised 2020 debut, Old Time Feeling, to the broader sound and expanded themes of her latest work.
Goodman first emerged as a compelling new figure in Americana with Old Time Feeling, a project co-produced with Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album introduced her blend of traditional Southern influences and socially aware songwriting, earning critical recognition and placement on multiple year-end lists. Her perspective is shaped by her upbringing in Hickman, Kentucky, where she was raised in a family of row crop farmers and storytellers, an environment that continues to guide the tone and detail of her writing.
On the podcast, Goodman reflects on how that storytelling heritage informs her approach to lyrics, character-building, and regional specificity. She explains how family traditions and the realities of rural life influence the narratives she chooses to explore, often balancing appreciation for her hometown with thoughtful examination of its complexities.
Her new album, Planting By The Signs, extends those themes while drawing inspiration from a farming practice passed down through her family: planting crops according to lunar cycles. Goodman discusses how the concept shaped the album’s emotional and structural framework, allowing her to explore ideas of timing, growth, loss, and renewal.
Goodman also breaks down the process of co-producing the record and the intention behind creating a fuller, more atmospheric sound. She describes experimenting with arrangements and textures to build a wider sonic landscape than on her previous releases. The episode concludes with a live performance of “I’m In Love,” offering listeners a direct look at the tone and execution of her new material.
Through the conversation, Goodman presents a clear picture of how heritage, place, and evolving production choices continue to shape her work as she moves further into her career.
