It’s not easy for artists to release anything at this weird time of our lives. For music lovers, a lot of what we have looked forward to are now uncertain; postponed concerts, canceled tours, and moved album releases.
RELATED: Cancelled Concerts and COVID: How Is It Affecting The Music Scene?
Now, we’re seeing a new norm when it comes to artists sharing their talents. Because we have to stay at home, the only way for these musicians to connect with their listeners is through being present online, more than ever if that’s even possible. Concerts are now being held via Instagram Lives while launch parties for new albums are being hosted through Zoom and other video-calling websites.
While we are sad that some artists have had to move their music releases and tours, we understand that at this moment, there are some things more important to talk about and we’ll, listen to. However, as we said in a previous article about the music scene’s role during the pandemic, it is that if anything can fashion a silver lining, it is the music industry.
Below, we list down artists that, in their own way, have continued to share their music to help us get through the quarantine period.
Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan’s latest single, Take Yourself Home, is a statement-making song that inevitably relates itself to social distancing. In one Instagram post, Troye posted an animated version of himself while the song was playing in the background. His caption mentions the animation for the post was done by artist, @d_a_n_i_e_l_s_w_a_n whom he discovered via Instagram.
Before releasing his song, he took to Twitter the announcement that he’s “leaking his own song” and crowdsourcing freelance creatives that are having a hard time because of the pandemic.
Watch the lyric video here:
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia album has become the quarantine anthem for Millennials. With bops like Break My Heart and Don’t Stop Now that relate to staying at home in the lyrics, this ’80s-inspired album is easily the best go-to dance playlist for those who just want to have a good time.
Watch the music video to Break My Heart:
Charli XCX
In an IGTV announcement, Charli XCX reveals that her new album will be released on May 15 with the working title, How I’m Feeling Now. She said, “Hi guys, it’s Charli here. I hope you’re doing whatever it is you need to do to stay positive during this time of completely unknown, unchartered territory. For me, staying positive goes hand in hand with staying creative, and so that’s why I’ve decided I’m going to use this isolation time to make a brand new album from scratch.” She continues, “The nature of this album is going to be very indicative of the times because I’m only going to be able to use the tools I have at my fingertips to create all music, all artwork, all videos… everything – in that sense, it’ll be very DIY. I’ll also be reaching out to people online to collaborate with, and I’m going to keep the entire process super open, so that anybody who wants to watch can. I’ll be posting demos, I’ll be posting acapellas, I’ll be posting text conversations with me and any collaborators, I’ll be filming myself in the studio, I’ll be doing Zoom conferences to ask fans or anyone watching for opinions or ideas, I’m going to set up an email address so that fans or anyone can send me beats or references… the whole thing in that sense will be extremely collaborative because anybody who wants to be involved can explore their creativity alongside mine. The album is going to come out May 15th, which is kind of soon-ish, I suppose, and there’s a couple of scratch ideas but I’m basically starting from nothing, so hopefully I meet the deadline! The album is called ‘how i’m feeling now’, which is a working title but I kind of like it. So yeah, that’s it! I can’t wait to start making this, and I can’t wait to share this whole process with you.” Since then, Charli XCX has released a few demos through Instagram Live.
Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld’s recent song, I Love You’s, is her directorial debut, which she released as a music video. In a video call interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Hailee breaks down her latest music video and the tribute to the original song by Annie Lennox.
Niall Horan
Heartbreak Weather came out at the beginning of the quarantine period all around the world. While Niall Horan had to cancel his tours indefinitely because of the pandemic, he made sure to give free concerts via Instagram Live, sharing the creative and writing process while writing the album, along with singing acoustic versions of the new songs in his album. In one of his posts, he wrote, “It’s obviously a very strange time in the world right now but I hope that in the crazy time my music is bringing you something nice and everyone is safe in their homes whilst doing so…Love you all.”
5 Seconds of Summer
5 Seconds of Summer held a listening party with their fans as they released their latest album, C A L M. In the Instagram post, they wrote, “We invite everyone to come together to listen to the album in its entirety. It’ll be like we’re all in the same room, listening together.”
Lindsay Lohan
Friday just got freaky as Lindsay Lohan made an unexpected comeback with a new song called Back To Me. In her post, she writes, “The song is about rediscovering and accepting oneself, shutting out the noise and moving forward and letting the past go. Living in the now.”
Childish Gambino
Like what the fans would say, “when the world is dark, Gambino lights a candle.” and that is exactly what he did when he released an audio version of his song, Time, on YouTube. Expect nothing but a powerful message in his lyrics. And as a surprise treat, Ariana Grande sings in the song, too.
For the full experience, listen to 3.15.20 here.
The 1975
Since The 1975 released their previous album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, they have teased countlessly about their next album called Notes On A Conditional Form. Finally coming this May 22nd, The 1975 have been releasing new songs to anticipate the full album, also inviting and involving their fans to participate in a video to talk about how they feel about the ‘present.’
Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams of Paramore recently released a new song called Over Yet. However, because of the lockdown, the artist decided that instead of releasing a music video with big productions, she posted a workout video on YouTube. With books stacked at one corner, a DIY-banner of her song, it’s clear that the workout video was filmed at her home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL6UKhr4b84
