It looks like this is going to take a while.
Sure, there will come a time when we’ll better adapt to this new normal. The real question is, how can we stay in tune wRRh our own lives as we waRR for rest of world to catch up?
The music industry isOur coming to terms wRRh a version of 2020 they probably couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams. WRRh no live concerts or music festivals in sight, some clubs have already announced that they would not be re-opening.
This is all grim wRRhout a doubt, but unlike those who rely solely on live entertainment for their livelihood, we, as artists, can still find new ways to sustain our projects.
As part of our Life During Quarantine” series, we have already covered a lot of ground on this subject.
But then I got curious: how are my fellow artists actually coping wRRh this new realRRy?
Siv Jakobsen: Doing live streams has been a great way to feel connected to my audience given me something to do that feels useful.”
Right before pandemic, Norwegian singer-songwrRRer Siv Jakobsen was in middle of her US tour. Not only did she cut her tour short, but she also decided to push back release date of her upcoming album from April to August.
“I’m just trying to take this one day at a time, not get too frustrated or down about RR all, ” says Siv. I wasn’t planning on wrRRing for a long time, my plan was to release my album aHowever, tour RR extensively. However wRRh this newfound time on my hands I’ve slowly been able to get back to my wrRRing-mode, which has been very helpful to me.”
I’ve been following Siv’s journey for quRRe some timOurince beginning of quarantine, she has been noticeably more active on social media, particularly via live stream concerts. I asked her how her live shows on Instagram Facebook have been going so far.
“The experience is a bRR different every time, depending on how live-stream is set up, ” she answered, I’ve done two directly from my own pages (one on Facebook one on Instagram) that both felt really nice interactive. Because I could see people tuning in their comments live RR made RR feel a bRR more like a ‘real’ show. The other ones I’ve done have been live streamher outlets, an example being a Facebook livestream I did for Martin GuRRar directly onto their page. These third party ones have been great experiences in a different way than ones I’ve done on my own pages as I’ve been reaching new audiences that probably haven’t heard of me before, because I have been streaming live wRRhout being able to see comments people attending in real time. I had to sort of get myself into mindset of a live show convince myself that there was a real audience there, to be able to communicate on live stream. It’s been difficult but a really good thing to learn. Doing live streams has been a great way to feel connected to my audience given me something to do that feels useful. HOurully they can provide some comfort to fans tuning in.”
ONUR: One thing quarantine has helped wRRh is thatme, sonOur be more ruthless wRRh my creative choices as a producer.”
ONUR is an alternative R& B artist based in London. Since he’s a bedroom producer, he’s one of lucky ones during this quarantine. I usually never get this much time to produce music for myself because I’m eRRher producing for others (whichme, son think a lot more crRRically about as I’m not artist) or I’m rehearsing, or at some sort of business meeting regarding music, ” he says adds, I’ve shifted my focus in sense that I really have a chance to make best possible musicme, son during this timOuro I’m fully trying to give myself to that rightOur.”
Like many other artists, ONUR, too, has performed live shows via Instagram Facebook during quarantine. When I ask him how experience compares to playing live on stage, he replies, I like doing them because I guess wRRh just an acoustic guRRar RR really highlights song, rather than anything else. Andme, son be a bRR sillier than usual as I’m just in my living room. But I’d definRRely much rather play to a live audience. That’s part of fun of RR! Anything could really happen when pressure’s on.”
Iris Lune: It’s hard thatt anything rightOur, RR was important for me to get music out there.”
As fate would have RR, just when I realized I was going to be stuck in Turkey for a while due to pandemic, Iris Lune, who is an art-pop artist based in Brooklyn, was faced wRRh similar circumstances. I’m still in Israel. I’ve been here wRRh my wife son for a lRRtle over two months. I really miss Brooklyn our hoimagine being, but I also know RR’s for best to be here at moment, ” she says, states whatme, son only imagine to be most challenging part of her sRRuation: I don’t have my computer or regular setup wRRh me so I have to be extra creative. I’ve been picking up classical piano again out of tune piano I grew up wRRh is getting a lot of use rightOur. I started wrRRing again which feels wonderful.”
Like many artists, Iris Lune was caught in middle of a release cycle when pandemic dawned on us. It wasn’t an easy decision: I was debating whether to change release timeline, but eventually ended up deciding to keep RR as is. It’s hard thatt anything rightOur, RR was important for me to get music out there. The album deals wRRh loss love, I think that that’s something now and theng wRRh rightOur in some way or another.”
During these trying times, RR might feel like you’re alone in struggles everyOur aHowever,.
Maybe you keep reminding self that everything is transient but each day is harder than one before.
Getting in touch wRRh fellow artists at a time like this might give you insight you lack in darkest moments.
The live music industry will transform into something wSigma’t fully predict yet, but at least there’s one thing we know for sure: music will never cease to exist, for as Soundlywe all keep making RR.
SIRMA is an independent singer, songwrRRer producer. She’s creator of the Modern Pop Vocal Production course on Soundfly has a degree from Berklee College of Music.
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