Lockdown, Not Shutdown: 7 Ways You Can Still Support The Music Scene During COVID

There’s plenty you can do for the music scene, even when stuck at home (Credit: Marlene Leppänen, Burst, The Analog Vault [front], Pixabay [rear])

In these unbearable times, it’s imperative that we stay strong for each other. If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you deem the music scene more than “non-essential”. At the time of writing, we are now in a semi-lockdown state where events are frozen, entertainment venues are shut, and all we’re encouraged to do is to plonk our butts home. But does this mean that the scene is left to rot while it remains dormant for the foreseeable future? I think not.

There are plenty of things you can do while staying at home, and that includes small yet significant actions that can support artistes, labels, stores, venue owners and promoters in a motivational and reassuring way. Be open-minded, be generous, and be socially active in this momentary lull of activities. Here are several things you can do to help.

Musicians like .gif continue to drop new releases for your listening pleasure (Credit: Marc Gabriel Loh)

Discover new music and support musicians through digital purchases

One silver lining about musicians being cooped up at home is that they can put gigs on hold and get into the zone of songwriting. Lucky for music hunters, that means more original music to dig through and more local artistes to unearth. While performances are at a standstill, the digital sphere is astir with new compositions being released regularly – from well-known acts like .gif and Jasmine Sokko to indie entrants such as Bakers In Space and Hauste. Need a more in-depth introduction of such acts? Check out my list of 20 live musicians and producers pushing the local scene in 2020.

Streams aside, you can support these musicians by purchasing their songs on services like iTunes, Soundcloud and especially, Bandcamp – the latter drew praise worldwide when it recently waived revenue shares for 24 hours, boosting income for musicians. Bandcamp is also a convenient platform for getting your hands on official merchandise, further supporting the craft of these vulnerable acts. It’s hard enough for musicians to make ends meet as it is, so your contribution will go a long way in stimulating the scene and rewarding their hard work.

You can continue supporting local record labels like KITCHEN. LABEL (Credit: KITCHEN. LABEL)

Show love for local record labels and record stores online

Beyond the musicians and producers, your digital purchases can also support the milieu of homegrown record labels that have made strides locally, regionally and internationally. The existence of these imprints further cements the infrastructure and credibility of our scene, as they bolster not just Singaporean artistes but others around the globe. Similarly on platforms like Bandcamp, you can support by purchasing releases from dance labels such as Integrity Records, Darker Than Wax and Midnight Shift; and on the alternative front, labels like Evening Chants, Kribo Records, KITCHEN. LABEL and Ujikaji Records. Don’t forget that you can also support record stores that have digital marketplaces set up; The Analog Vault has discount promos during this semi-lockdown period, and #vinyloftheday continues to do deliveries straight to your home.

Collective Minds assures ticket-holders that the shows will go on (Credit: Collective Minds)

Keep your tickets for postponed events

No one likes a postponed gig, least of all, the promoters. Gigs and events have been decimated in the warpath of COVID-19, with many of them being cancelled entirely. For those postponed, however, there is still an opportunity for you to not just catch these acts, but keep the promoters afloat as well. Collective Minds and LAMC Productions are a couple of them that have urged ticket-holders, in good faith, to retain their tickets and if financially possible, not to request for a refund. Truly, if you can afford it, trust these promoters to make the show happen once all this simmers down. Your selfless gesture will help them recuperate from the losses they’ve incurred so far.

Follow your favourite artistes and tune into live-streams

Your favourite selectors and musicians aren’t all radio-silent during this rough period. Following their activities on social media is easy-peasy, and you’ll never know what you might stumble upon from their feeds – live-streamed sets from home, acoustic performances, or simply announcements on what they’ll be up to in the coming months. In these seemingly lonesome circumstances, it’s crucial to stay connected to the acts you love in the scene, so that they can come back stronger than ever knowing they still have your support once all this tides over. Even clubs have jumped on the live-streaming bandwagon lately, with nightspots like Zouk pumping out closed-door performances straight to your home speakers. You can also send positive comments and even gifts online, much like the cloud clubbing phenomenon that’s becoming more prevalent in the industry.

Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee does delivery daily during this period (Credit: Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee Facebook page)

Order delivery or pick-up from F&B venues that have supported events 

Events and promoters are helpless without the presence of venues – that much is clear. When the scene was alive and kickin’, you’d often find promoters and F&B spaces working together, producing parties that were memorable for rocking out in unconventional locations. The parties may be given the red light for now, but such F&B establishments continue to stay operational with delivery services and pick-up options. Some of these venues that you can show love to include Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee, No Sleep Club, and Chye Seng Huat Hardware. Let’s keep these joints alive.

Share what you find, and start conversations about music

Found a killer techno set online? Discovered a low-key gem while digging? Put together a new indie playlist at home? Share it! The scene is only as robust as its community, and it’s more vital now than ever that we all keep in touch and share our passion for music, no matter how big or small. Join a Facebook group, start a Reddit thread, or perhaps even start a website that lets you talk about what you love about the scene ;) . In these quiet times, our conversations online have the ability to speak volumes.

Just stay the f*ck home 

This one’s pretty much a no-brainer, isn’t it?

If you have anything you wish to share about supporting the local music scene, or if you are a musician, venue owner or promoter that requires support, reach out at kevin@lifeinarpeggio.com.