Deep-inelastic reactions and gamma-ray spectroscopy have been used to study excited states in Au-195. A three-quasiparticle isomer with a mean-life of 18.6(3) mu s has been assigned at 2461 + Delta keV, with decays into newly identified structures. Possible configurations for the isomer are discussed including a J(pi) = 31/2(-) intrinsic state produced by coupling the 11/2(-)[505] proton hole to the 10(+) state obtained from the 9/2(+)[624], 11/2(+)[615] two-neutron holes, expected from configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations. Residual interactions are evaluated within a semi-empirical shell model basis. New lifetime information is also obtained for the 21/2(+) and 25/2(+) states at 1813 and 1980 keV. The relationship between these and other newly identified states and the negative-parity states in the even-even neighbors is discussed.