[Photos courtesy of beabadoobee and KennyHoopla]
Nobody must long for blinding stage lights and sweaty mosh pitters more than musicians. To stand onstage and perform is more than a means for a living. It’s therapy, a chance for artists to bond with a couple dozen or a couple thousand people.
An album plus a tour is the music industry’s most basic equation. A deadly virus erased half of it. With more time on their hands, artists put pen to paper and crammed recording studios to keep fans close while they socially distanced.
An endless list of excellent alternative songs from rising artists dropped during the pandemic keeping the spirit of music alive as well as connecting fans from a distance. To say that it’s been exciting to watch rising artists earn more listens on streaming platforms while continuing to engage with fans on social media would be an understatement.