When the novel coronavirus sent our lives into upheaval in the early months of 2020, people around the globe faced the effects of isolation. Despite the knowledge that social distancing, quarantining, and all other preventative measures are for the health and safety of everyone around us–including loved ones–humans are social creatures, and it’s extremely difficult to maintain composure under these continually distressing circumstances. Some turned to breadmaking, others to memes–even music came to be a coping mechanism.
Although exploration of current favorites and discovery of new artists was bound to happen, quite a few people returned to childhood obsessions during these unprecedented times. The troublesome times that we’re all enduring led many down the path of nostalgia–longing for a better time and transporting themselves to it via song. The benefits of listening to music are widespread–from reducing anxiety to quelling physical pain, and the combination of those effects and the desire to get lost in another time created the perfect storm for people to return to their childhood or teenage favorites.
Personally, this meant digging into the depths of my Spotify playlists. Unbeknownst to me, most playlists I’ve created are a pretty good mnemonic device for the time of life that I made them in. With the click of a button, I can recall a joyous period where everything seemed to be going right. Or, I can return to a low point to remember that I did, in fact, get through that dark moment, and maybe, just maybe, I can make it through this one. Songs, playlists, albums, and the memories attached serve as an auditory scrapbook for the intangible and unrecordable emotions that define our experiences. With a limited amount of new stimuli going on in our pandemic lives, it’s easy to seek comfort in the familiar, and music provides an easy way into that.
On the industry side of things, smaller musicians continue to struggle to make ends meet with the loss of touring revenue. Even for well-known musicians on independent labels, most of their revenue comes from tours rather than album or merch sales, especially in the age of streaming services. To quell the financial distress of the pandemic for musicians, Bandcamp, a platform between a streaming service and a music storefront, offered a solution. In March, they had a “Bandcamp Friday” where the service fee was waived and all money spent went directly to artists. Intended as a temporary solution, it proved to be a popular event and became a monthly occurrence.
Many artists who are in a secure financial spot (a feat of grand proportions with our current circumstances) have taken to donating their earnings to good causes. Proceeds from Homeshake’s Haircut EP and Jeff Rosenstock’s 2020 DUMP have both gone to charitable organizations.
The pandemic has really put a spotlight on the importance of art and the act of creation. Making or creating art has become an outlet for so many during this time of crisis. Music especially can serve as a sanctuary–something so valuable in this time of strife. Check out the date for the next Bandcamp Friday here, and let us know what your pandemic jams have been. SCAD Radio has compiled a playlist of some of our favorite nostalgic throwbacks here.
