This image, the supposed cover of “Donald Glover Presents,” has come to reflect the general feeling of what this world is like right now. Here’s hoping for better days. In the meantime, Donald’s shared music with the world for us to enjoy while isolated. How wonderful it is that music like his can bring us together. Art by Miles Tang.

Music may Save Us in the Age of COVID-19.

Op-Ed: Bold title, I know, but hear me out on this one.

I can’t claim to be any sort of expert on pandemics or illness. I would really stick to following the advice of people who would know far better than I about those things. All I really know that, based on most forecasts, the COVID-19 pandemic has really only just begun, and that shutting everything down is us merely bracing for the true impact this virus might (and very likely will) have nationwide and worldwide.

The only thing I really know is that there’s going to be a massive shift in how we live and how we are social with each other. It needs to be that way if we’re to isolate, test and find ways to prevent more deaths.

And in these times, I’m almost certain that music is going to be one of the biggest things that could save us.

Before you go “Yo, music can’t physically heal you, wtf are you talking about,” allow me to explain my line of thinking:

A lot of us are anxious and very on edge, because we’ve been told by many that this is going to get far worse before it gets any better. We all cope with this anxiety and fear in very different kinds of ways, but one huge coping mechanism is just by putting on our favorite music, or playing, singing or writing music.

Music is one of the biggest balms in general for anxiety; heck we even have whole studies of the benefits of music and music therapy in our lives.

At the same time, creativity and entertainment is a huge industry, and one of America’s biggest economic exports. Live music, music shows and all sorts of events related to music are crucial ways that both artists and the businesses behind them make money, and the spread of this virus has only just started to impact the live music industry in very significant ways. Many tour cancellations and re-schedulings are underway, and this impacts the industry massively, ESPECIALLY for independent or recently signed artists who are just trying to get their careers off the ground and rely on touring and gigging to finance not only new opportunities, but in some cases their livelihoods.

One quick example that comes to mind for me that I personally follow is the band Feralcat and the Wild, a jazz / metal instrumental band who were slated to perform down at South By Southwest, until the City of Austin cancelled the festival altogether.

This band is DOPE, and deserves incredible support from you (yes, you reading this!) if you’re interested new and exciting multi-genre instrumental music with some incredible saxophone playing!

These guys are DOPE. Stream their records!

This whole thing has reminded me how (maybe now more than ever that there’s specific niches that can be built online) there’s this beautiful symbiosis between artists and their audiences:

Just as much as an audience needs to connect with an artist’s music to bring emotional resonance and satisfaction into their lives, so too does the artist need the audience to make a connection with their music.

That sentiment seems simple enough, but you’d be surprised how often that thought can be forgotten, and how extreme events like a global pandemic might remind us of those simple thoughts. It’s a microcosm of the notion that even as we are forced to become disconnected, we still *need* each other deeply. It’s a truly human thing to want to stay connected, and I think being able to connect with each other by sharing music from afar will become crucial in the coming weeks.

I look at places like Italy, where folks are on LOCKDOWN and they’re literally singing and connecting with each other via their balconies — keeping a safe distance while still embracing the joys that community can bring us.

I believe that we’re all capable of this kind of community building, even if we’re confined to our homes.

To my fellow artists, producers and creatives: make stuff and put it out, as well as become resourceful and find ways to earn money for the hard work you put into your craft.

Even if it’s not perfect, you can find a home for it somewhere because someone is going to want to listen. Doesn’t even have to be Spotify or Apple Music, but maybe SoundCloud, or YouTube, or even Twitter and TikTok. Share your craft as you continue to hone it while you’re away. Help others realize and hone their craft as well by providing services and opportunities to cultivate community and earn money remotely. It’s going to take quite a bit of work and resourcefulness to get it done, but I’m confident in your abilities and believe in you.

To my fellow audience members and curators: SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW ARTISTS. NOW MORE THAN EVER.

Audiences do have the easier part to play in all this, but I feel like we need to be just as active. It’s hard out there, and one of the greatest things we can do for each other is lift each other up, through both art and commerce.

Be fans of each other. Compensate each other for work. If the artist has made merch, purchase merch or bundle packs. If the artist is streaming and performing remotely, tune in and send words of encouragement as well as (if on Twitch or YouTube Live) small monetary tips. Curate playlists of your favorite artists to spread the word and share with one another. Contribute to their Patreon or YouTube memberships if they have them. There are so many ways to lend your support without showing up to shows, and in most cases, that support is so incredibly important.

As we’re bombarded with a lot of news and updates about the spread of the illness, we also need to make sure that we don’t lose the magic of the music we make, nor lose ourselves in its magic either. Be realistic, be courageous, and find peace and comfort through the music you make and / or share.

Ever since my grandparents on my mother’s side passed last year, I’ve reflected on how they impacted their local community through helping others by running a small business and being charitable towards organizations and people they loved and cared for.

Their generosity always inspired me, and has motivated me to at least do better in trying to impact communities I’m a part of on a similar scale. This year my goal’s been to *feed* as many folks as I can through my artistic work and business instead of aiming to entertain the masses, and honestly if I can inspire someone to do the same in their communities, that’ll make all the difference.

I’m swinging for the fences to impact the world around me. Go Big to Help Small. We’re all capable of doing that.

Call me naïve, but I believe in the power of music and its ability to cultivate community. It will prove an emotional salve as we adjust to this new, hopefully temporary way of living in the time of the novel coronavirus.

Some music things to check out RIGHT NOW:

1. Electro-R&B band Saint Mela will be doing a livestream THIS FRIDAY (3/20), where proceeds will go to the venue C’mon Everybody in Brooklyn. Go support and donate where you can! They’ll also be releasing an EP for the Spring Equinox! More info can be found here.
2. Industrial metal band Code Orange did a very high quality broadcast of what was supposed to be their album release show to a very empty venue the other night, and at one point there were 12K CONCURRENT VIEWERS. Check out the rebroadcast on their Twitch page here!
3. Live looping artist Marc Rebillet just announced a possible livestream tour on his social channels to make up for missed Australia and New Zealand! Go show him some love and support when he broadcasts!
4. Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, has dropped an entire album, streaming on loop right now at https://donaldgloverpresents.com/! The main image of this article is the cover to the album. Check it out!