I had the good fortune of seeing Rescue Pets play at the Rusty Nail in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, a few months ago and was immediately captivated by their stage presence and the quality of their songs. I also have a soft spot for rescue pets of all stripes — and spots — so I reached out to the band’s leader and songwriter, Samantha Goodman, with a few questions.

Can you talk a little bit about your musical journey? How did you become a musician, and what led you to form Rescue Pets?

I’ve felt deeply and dreamt big throughout my life, so I turned to music and poetry as an outlet. I’ve sung for as long as I can remember. I took some voice lessons growing up, but I didn’t like the rigidity of them, so I turned to self-teaching.

When I was around 15, I started writing music and playing a ton of covers as I felt out chords on my acoustic guitar and the piano my family had in our old living room. I learned as I went and listened to a lot of Regina Spektor, Kate Nash, Amy Winehouse, Imogen Heap, and MARINA (fka Marina & The Diamonds) in my adolescence. Sadly, I was too shy to share any original music until I was 21 and a junior in college.

That’s when I became inspired by then-indie artists like Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, King Princess, SASAMI, and Okay Kaya. Vocally, lyrically, and production-wise. So I bought an Akai MPK Mini controller and Blue Yeti mic and started making demos in GarageBand and sharing them on SoundCloud. It was beyond freeing and cathartic to finally get my music out there and have it resonate with people, even though the production sucked. It felt like I waited my whole life for it – and that’s because I did!

I knew I had to keep the momentum going, so after I graduated, I temporarily abandoned my career in marketing and took a job as a sales associate at my local Guitar Center. I learned as much as I could about recording, live music, and the local scene there, which ultimately led me to form my very first band… Rescue Pets.

I love the name Rescue Pets. It reminded me a little of Pound Puppies, a plush toy line from the 80s. What does the name mean to you, and how does it reflect the ethos of your music?

I love that. I’ve never heard of Pound Puppies before, but I get Wonder Pets a lot. In case you didn’t know, Wonder Pets was a children’s show in the mid-2000s, and I think that’s really cute and on-brand. It’s always so funny to hear people’s associations with the name. 

Rescue Pets, however, is inspired by rescue animals who have endured terrible trauma and neglect before being rescued and given a second chance at life. Obviously, they can’t speak about what they’ve gone through, but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. To protect themselves, they can be withdrawn, aggressive, skittish, or mistrustful, and this is often misunderstood and seen as “bad.”

But with patience, compassion, and a lot of love, they can be incredibly resilient beings and transform into the best, most loyal companions. Rescue animals are often flawed, complex creatures with a story. They’re also cute and fluffy! I think that captures the project’s essence and the music’s ethos.

I’m also struck by the photo that’s currently on your Bandcamp page. In it, you’re playing pingpong, and the other members of the band are offering encouraging gestures. Does that image reflect the dynamic of the band?

So from left is my bassist Ethan Archer, me (Samantha Goodman), and my drummer Sam Stewart. That’s our placeholder band photo that we took with a tripod, Sam’s iPhone in Portrait mode, and a vision. It captures us perfectly. As the bandleader, I’m tasked with serving while I’m cheered on by my highly charismatic bandmates. That’s the dynamic right there. I think the three of us are united by our passion for the craft, connection to the music, and willingness to get a little silly with it. That’s a beautiful thing I will never take for granted.

You currently have two songs out, “Moving Fast (Standing Still)” and “Orbit.” The first has a strong, acoustic singer-songwriter vibe that reminds me of Beach House, while the second has an 80s alt-rock sound. Did anything change between one song and the other, or was it just a matter of finding the right sound for each song?

I love Beach House! I’ve never gotten that comparison before and that makes me really happy. To be honest, my intention with “Moving Fast (Standing Still)” was just to roll out some dreamy, fluffy padding for what’s to come. I wrote some heavy hitters but wanted to save them for later. I wasn’t expecting immediate world domination with my first release. Instead, I focused on forging my musical path, finding my sound, and feeling things out. So why not capture the innocence of falling in love in your mid-twenties as a start? It made sense to me, and my bandmates/collaborators, Dave Harvey and Nat Wiseley, were on board.

As expected, I evolved a lot in the year between the “Moving Fast (Standing Still)” and “Orbit” releases. I think “Orbit” reflects the current Rescue Pets sound. I can attribute some of that to Michael Trycieckyj, who recorded the demo with me and spearheaded the initial production. He has strong rock roots and also appreciates indie-pop artists like Clairo. In fact, I’m pretty sure he was initially inspired by Clairo’s “Bags” for that track.

You worked with producer Scott Radway for both tracks. What does he bring to the process?

In Scott’s words: “Good looks, inspiration, and class.”

He brings exceptional, well-rounded production chops with years (or even decades, not to age him) of experience to back it up. He’s also well-informed about a variety of genres. For example, he has roots in metal as the former drummer of Polkadot Cadaver. He’s going to be so impressed that I’ve done my research!

At the same time, he drew inspiration from Lizzy McAlpine’s “Ceilings” while recording “Moving Fast (Standing Still).” I have been lucky enough to work with producers with a lot of range. Something I especially appreciate about Scott is that despite running circles around me in terms of technical skill and mastery, he still sees me as a whole artist and lets me ultimately call the shots. 

He’s also incredibly patient with me in the mixing phases of each single, but especially “Moving Fast (Standing Still).” I wanted to make a good first impression and needed it to be perfect, but looking back, it was pretty silly. I think authenticity is much more important than polished, flawless execution and I’ve learned to appreciate the imperfections.

The lineup for the live version of Rescue Pets is different from the musicians listed in the credits for “Orbit.” Do you have any plans to record with your live band?

Scott and I recorded “Orbit” while the live band lineup was in transition, so I had complete creative control and got to handpick who was on that track. Gwen McFadden (who plays lead guitar in one of my favorite local bands, Best Bear) knocked it out of the park with bass and lead guitar while Ramon Gadea (who’s lent his talents to bands like Jamie and the Guarded Heart and Lo-Priestess, joined by Scott in the latter) delivered with his drum prowess (I love that word). I do plan to record with my live band and I’m really looking forward to it. They’re both assets. We got our work cut out for us!

And what do they bring to your music?

A lot. Sam’s musical studies and strong background as a music educator go hand-in-hand with Ethan’s attention to detail and highly intuitive approach to the songs. The result is magical; they know what sounds good in a way that beautifully complements the structural and lyrical content of each piece. They’re poised, professional, and tight as hell. They elevate every performance with the way they’re movin’ and groovin’ onstage. What more could I want in a rhythm section?

Also, between you and me (and everyone reading this interview), we’re looking to branch out with a lead guitarist and maybe even a keyboardist soon. Maybe this winter once the gigs slow down. That’s a decision that we’re ultimately going to make together.

Rescue Pets has been playing out quite a bit over the past year. Do any memories stand out?

Kung Fu Necktie this past September. All three of us have always wanted to play KFN, and this local band Birding reached out and asked us to support their EP release show. We knew we had to go big or go home, so we decided to cover Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” and enlisted Ethan’s friend Olivia Hoover to sing with us.

I had only known Olivia virtually at that time as she traveled around the country, but she was passing through Philly and I finally got to meet her in person. She showed up to the venue dressed to kill and absolutely commanded that crowd. It was incredible. There’s this photo of her fawning over us in the audience before she went onstage and it really sums up the absolutely infectious energy of that show. You could tell me that that whole night never happened and it was all a dream and I would believe you.

A little while back, you mentioned in an interview with Mustard that you and your bandmates were planning to make an image board to map out your next moves. Has that happened yet? What was on the board?

I did tell Mustard that. Yes! I picked up a canvas from Five Below and sat on the floor with Sam, Ethan, and a Sharpie. We wrote down everything we wanted to achieve within the next year. We listed specific venues we wanted to play, from Ortlieb’s to PhilaMOCA to Johnny Brenda’s, and included some bands we’d want on the bill. A music video, mini tour, EP, and merch were also on the board. I feel like I’m running a business as a bandleader sometimes and it can get overwhelming, so approaching our goals in that low-pressure, hands-on way was refreshing, motivating, and even kind of fun.

Is anything else on the immediate horizon?

The full-band outfit for Rescue Pets has only been around for a little over two years with different iterations, and it’s come such a long way, but there’s still so much to do. When I get overwhelmed, I think about the community I’ve created and the relationships I’ve built through this project – with others and myself – and I remember that this is my lifelong dream. This is my purpose.