GRiZ, the Michigan-born electronic music producer and DJ, never fails to brighten our December with love, music, and holiday cheer– and this year is no different. Each year, he hosts a Twelve Days of GRiZMAS tradition of concerts, meditation, and community engagement to bring his fans together in the celebratory spirit of music and the holiday season. Of course, this year’s events have been tweaked in order to accommodate virtual events and COVID-19 guidelines– instead of Detroit venues filled with bustling concert-goers, we have livestreams and virtual auctions.

There has been virtual baking with mama GRiZ (beware, the cookies look irresistible), a Global Mic Night on Twitch, Yoga sessions, and the opening of an online auction that features an array of tempting prizes (like GRiZ drawing your next tattoo!!).

Involvement among the electronic music community– between fans and artists alike– has been a heartwarming representation of our starvation for music and connection. Several performances for charity, through Seven Mile Music, raised $24,000 for kids’ music education, prompting a sincere “thank you” from GRiZ on Twitter.

“I am SO greatful for Adam Deitch, Eric Bloom, Borahm Lee, Chrishira Perrier, Kevin Donahue & Josh Fairman for playing so passionately and donating their time to the evening I want to thank the crew fr making it happen nd providing a covid safe environment for us to perform”

And it’s not over yet!

The best may be yet to come, with an intense lineup of incredible artists to perform in a virtual festival on the 23rd in a Digital GRiZMAS Festival. “Cooking up something nice for GRiZMAS next week.” Tweeted ZEDS DEAD in preparation for this final GRiZMAS event.

Tune in on December 23rd for an unforgettable night of virtual music– the ultimate end to a bonkers year. Thank you 2020. Thank you GRiZ. Check out the lineup below!

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No cause of death has been officially confirmed, but it certainly came as a shock to electronic music fans and artists everywhere, as his latest release “Castles in the Sky” was just released on November 20th. The shift from Soundcloud plug to obituary tweet is not one easily softened– and the impact hangs heavy over our heads this week.

This Los Angeles based artist drew much of his inspiration from deadmau5, a fellow producer and pillar of the electronic, techno, and progressive house community. “Going to miss you my dude,” Joel Thomas Zimmerman (deadmau5) tweeted on the 24th, “it was a real pleasure working with you and watching you succeed… may you find rest, and let your music live on into eternity.”

The two often worked together since Lockhart’s debut as i_o in 2017, and he frequently released music under the mau5trap label. “It has been an absolute pleasure and honor working alongside i_o and his incredible team for the past few years, building this passion project from the ground up.” one Billboard article quotes, referring to Zimmerman and Lockhart’s collaborative efforts to bring the i_o vision to fruition. The comments beneath his statement are overflowing with a mix of sadness, praise, and memorable i_o sets. One fan posted his Halloween Virtual Rave-A-Thon performance, and I have it on now as I write this.

Rezz also took to Twitter to express her sorrow for the loss of this talented, creative soul. It truly is gut-wrenching to see these artists mourn from such a distance, separated by pixels on a screen and covid in the air. This death adds yet another absurdly heavy straw to our backs as we trudge to the end of 2020.

Dancing Astronaut hosted a livestream in memoriam, broadcasting an array of iconic sets and virtually toasting i_o’s legacy.

A playlist was also curated in his honor, featuring tracks from both the Fawks and i_o eras. Rest in peace.

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The farm may be closed for now, but the internet is wide open!

From Thursday through Saturday, nearly ten hours of live stream footage played each night on the Bonnaroo YouTube channel. Now, I know we already talked about this virtual festival freaky fantastic fun (alliteration bomb!), but I wanted to include a recap– this way each day’s live stream can be linked here for anyone too lazy to find the playlist on YouTube (me, like next weekend probably). The whole thing was free, which was such a nice touch, especially right now. The playlist has since been set to private, but the fundraising and registering to vote doesn’t have to stop! Also, there are plenty of other gems on their YouTube channel. Personally, I plan to crack open some wine with my roommates, change the batteries in our light-up pumpkins, and turn our house into a Bonnaroo Halloween sensation.

Artists have also taken the liberty of uploading some of their Bonnaroo 2020 sets!

And don’t forget, it’s NOT all about us

Bonnaroo gave us the weekend for free, so click here to view/donate to the nonprofit organizations being supported this year. AND check out our previous Virtual ROO-Ality article to learn more.

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Answer: No

Sorry, I know the title of this article misleads the reader to think that I had some seething review of one reworked song. Turns out, remixes are fun. The band expressed their support on Twitter, so go give it a listen! While still featuring Clairo’s soothing voice, Mura Masa’s rendition presents a different energy from the original– truly a testament to the power of collaboration. Now I have different versions for different playlists, and so do you.

The music doesn’t stop there…

Wallows spent quarantine focusing on creativity and productivity, releasing another new single as a teaser for their upcoming EP, “REMOTE.” This latest song, “Nobody Gets Me (Like You),” is upbeat and poppy– a total feel-good jam for a brisk walk on a sunny day. They also took the time to create a corresponding music video, posting the news on social media earlier this month.

The Wallows band members have been busy!

On top of cultivating a new EP and music video, they performed in a virtual tour. Yet another example of artists making the best of an online-music-year, Wallows went live every night, broadcasting songs and interacting with fans. 30 minutes before each set, the band hung out online to answer questions and give viewers the closest possible thing to an in-person experience.

So, give Mura Masa’s remix a listen, check out Wallows’ latest single, and stay tuned for the release of their upcoming EP, “REMOTE.”

And hey, have some more remixes! You won’t get bored (I hope).

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Facebook also blatantly stated that: “You may not use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience … If you use videos on our Products to create a music listening experience for yourself or for others, your videos will be blocked and your page, profile or group may be deleted. This includes Live.” 

The guidelines go on and state that not following these terms could lead to an enforced ban. Facebook guidelines state, “You may not use videos on our products to create a music listening experience. We want you to be able to enjoy videos posted by family and friends.”

Due to the outrage and confusion, a Facebook spokesperson spoke with NME and clarified what the TOS could mean for artists.

“A spokesperson for Facebook has now confirmed to NME that, although new guidelines will come into effect across the site in October, the music guidelines have been in place for some time and will not affect artists using the site to livestream gigs or share their music... The music guidelines in Facebook’s Terms of Service have been in place since 2018 and we haven’t made any updates since,” they said. “They were written to balance our commitment to supporting musical expression on our platforms with also ensuring we uphold our agreements with rights holders, which remains unchanged.”

Facebook spokesperson to NME.

Hopefully, this news will settle down most worries people had over the TOS, especially in a time where most are doing live concerts to make ends meet.

The post Facebook Clarifies TOS and What It Means for Artists appeared first on Red Roll.

Thrill

This latest, passionate single will sit alongside “For Sure” on the fall 2020 album. It features Sam Herring’s signature vocals, giving us that unique sound so unmistakably Future Islands. The synth-pop band never ceases to put a fresh spin on the music so singular to the group. “Thrill” will undoubtedly be a heavy-hanging, emotion-filled addition to a highly anticipated album.

“Nobody gonna pick me up/ I’m falling down/ And I’m 5th Street. Bound/ Now nobody wanna fill me up/ I’ve fallen down/ None of my friends around.”

As Long As You Are

The band took to Twitter to announce their album’s release date and boost fans’ excitement for the live stream. Their energetic live performances are a sight to see, so the prospect of a streaming session on the day of an album drop gives us a glimmer of past years’ concert-filled evenings. It will surely not disappoint. Click here to reserve your ticket!

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Ah, what might have been…

This weekend marked what would have been Lollapalooza 2020, a booming weekend of music and colorful, piercing lights reaching up to grab the Chicago skyline. It comes as no surprise that the festival had to be postponed until summer 2021, but the music couldn’t be stopped! Artists went live on the Lollapalooza YouTube account, joining the live stream craze sweeping the globe this summer. If we can’t all migrate to the venue, at least the concert can come to us!

All weekend, Lolla has been live on YouTube, broadcasting performances by a myriad of artists, and encouraging donations to the festival’s nonprofit partners. These include the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, Equal Justice Initiative, and When We All Vote. Lolla even pledged to match up to $10,000 per organization for all PayPal donations between July 27, 2020, and August 2, 2020. Click here to pitch in!

The lineup did not disappoint. Artists have been digging deep to honor their allotted times. There were reunions, never before seen performances, and creative expressions that screamed, “I love Lolla and music and fans and performing so LISTEN UP and donate and SMILE!” (Yep, that’s an exact translation. I speak live stream… ).

Basically, the Lollapalooza spirit still swept the nation this weekend. Chicago is still a permanent home, but this year was special. The festival echoed through our bedrooms and backyards, reminding us that this year will end, and next year’s festival revival will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Click here to learn more about the virtual festival!

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“Chicago is our home, and we will continue to remain optimistic about Lollapalooza 2020. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to listen closely to government and public health leaders and stay safe.”

They assure fans that they will have sufficient information by the end of this month to make an informed decision about the fate of Lollapalooza 2020. I wonder what a music festival would even look like in the year of a global pandemic. Universities are proposing hybrid classes– melting the traditional classroom with a virtual one to eliminate large lectures and keep students at arm’s length. If those strategies are assumed to be in place this fall, what does Lolla plan to look like at the end of July? 

Honestly, I can think of quite a few times at the Perry’s Stage when I would’ve done anything (well, almost anything) for six feet between me and the other sweaty people kicking up dust. A festival where you never have to claw and jump for a breath of fresh air… is that even a festival at all? Just something to think about (oops)! Social distancing definitely has the potential to change the shape of music festival culture. Bumping into someone you don’t know looks a lot different now than it did a year ago.

BUT! If Lolla is optimistic, then so am I

In the meantime, Lollapalooza has joined the live stream craze, broadcasting old performances on their YouTube channel. This weekend featured an iconic 2018 performance by ODESZA (don’t forget to check out Bronson, by the way), and a Perry’s Power Hour led by FISHER. 

If you aren’t on the email list, you can stay up to date on all things Lollapalooza by visiting their website and following them on social media. Stay safe, stay healthy, and don’t give up on festivals just yet!

The post Lollapalooza: Last Festival Standing? appeared first on Red Roll.

Quarantine guidelines and orders against any kind of nonessential gathering have crippled the entertainment industry, canceling tours and shows and handicapping the livelihoods of musicians and performers at every level. Besides the obvious economic impact, the global quarantines also means that many people are being forced to stay at home, and the lucky ones, the ones who aren’t directly impacted by the virus, are bored on their couches, looking to new platforms for entertainment. Twitch offers at least a partial solution to both of these issues. 

Musicians who were forced to cancel upcoming shows and tours have taken to Twitch, in an attempt to recoup some fraction of lost profits- but also to bring live music to fans who are banished to couches, unable to attend concerts. 

As an enthusiastic fan, a somewhat avid concertgoer, and a recent addition to the Bored Couch Potato Brigade, I decided to check out what the music community on Twitch has to offer. I have to admit, I was skeptical of whether a livestream on my computer could really encompass the same kind of energy that sparked my love for live shows. Alas, I am a fool. Of course a livestream doesn’t have the same energy as a live show- you’re potentially thousands of miles from the performer and every other audience member. It has an entirely different energy. But it’s still fantastic, entertaining, intimate, and unique. 

I watched a pianist write a song in real time. A duet figured out and improvise covers by ear. Diplo DJ’d from his living room, and thousands of people in lieu of swaying lighters, spamming the chat with fire emojis. A Nashville artist, recently big time, who I won’t name, argued with a fan about the viability of shotgunning a White Claw. Then she treated us to a beautiful stripped-down version of an unreleased single. Many of the performances were obviously unrehearsed; they had a spirit of spontaneity and authenticity that’s so often lost in large scale productions, which require a village of people and choreography for every step.

There’s a sort of intimacy to watching a famous artist perform in their own living room. Also, with the recent influx of artists, you get to watch people who have no idea what they’re doing try to figure out how to use Twitch. Just yesterday Kenny Beats accidentally lost his temper with someone for donating money. So that’s amusing. 

That’s another thing. Amidst all of this entertainment, there are constant transactions. Like, a shocking amount. Any skepticism I had about Twitch as a viable platform for musicians to earn money evaporated almost instantly. Just about every stream was punctuated by notifications, at very regular intervals, that someone had tipped the streamer. I saw a drummer make hundreds of dollars in one hour of a stream. It probably won’t compensate for the lost wages of countless canceled shows, but, as far as supporting people in the arts, it’s a start. And it’s good to break up the Netflix binges every once in a while. Check it out below.

TWITCH MUSIC + PERFORMING ARTS

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