Goth Babe and his dog Sadie. Photo via Protect Our Winters.
On May 16, 2025, Kesey Enterprises, Mammoth NW, the University of Oregon Music Industry Collective, and KWVA 88.1 FM will be hosting the Over & Out Festival at the Cuthbert Theater in Eugene, Oregon. With Still Woozy and Goth Babe headlining, and UO’s Verb8im, Dana & Alden, and Miss Mia also in the lineup, there is a lot of anticipation for this collection of artists. But who exactly are they?
Griff Johnson, known by Goth Babe in musical contexts, is just one of the amazing artists performing at this festival, and not one that you want to miss. Originally based in Nashville, Goth Babe started his music career around 2015, releasing his first single, “Breathe,” in 2016. Since then, he has uprooted to New York, then Los Angeles, and most recently is traveling up and down the Pacific Northwest, continuing to make music along the way.
Goth Babe records and releases music independently from his truck, gaining musical influences wherever he goes. In an interview with Honey Punch Mag, he talks about the influences that his move from the East Coast to the West Coast has greatly impacted his sound, and his outlook on music and life is nothing short of inspiring. In the same article, he talks about his biggest inspirations being Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, and Youth Lagoon.
His most recent EP, “Oregon Coast,” was released in September 2024 and is a collection of three songs that perfectly encapsulate the experience and feeling the Oregon Coast possesses. The first song, “Doug Fir,” is the most popular for a good reason. This song has a very nice balance between the lyrics and instrumentation, and creates a feel-good energy that automatically puts you in a good mood. While the EP is relatively short, the other two tracks, “Whole World” and “Afterglow,” round it out very nicely.
His other top songs include “Sadie” and “Weekend Friend,” which have similar vibes to those in the EP, and are the perfect summer tune. In January 2024, Goth Babe released his first and only album titled “Lola,” consisting of 11 songs. “Orcas” off this album stands out as being fully instrumental and is very mellow and calming. This album proves the variety and talent Goth Babe holds for creating music. While he has a distinct sound, similar to bands like Surfaces and No Vacation, Goth Babe is a musical visionary when it comes to conveying the liveliness of the environment around him through music.
I would recommend Goth Babe to anyone who is looking for an artist who encapsulates the perfect spring and summer spirit. Every song follows a similar sound while each one remains unique. Goth Babe lives life carefree, doing what he loves, and that comes through strongly in the energy of his music. You won’t want to miss his performance at the Cuthbert Theater on May 16. To learn more about the festival, you can visit @overandoutfest on Instagram.
