Lockdown, postponed tours and lack of inspiration: How are UK artists coping and what’s ahead?
A dark and sweaty basement. The crowd gravitates towards the stage, synching their bodies and lips with the music, as an energetic buzz from the beer and bass is filling the room… As we find ourselves in a third lockdown, the UK’s underground music scene seems nothing more than a distant memory. Not only has the pandemic left bands, promoters, venue owners, bartenders, and fans longing for the day they will be able to enjoy live music again – but it has also left the industry in a vulnerable state with bleak statistical outlooks. So what is going on with our beloved artists and venues now that we are approaching one year since the pandemic hit the UK?
“For me, it’s been hard. I’ve definitely lacked inspiration, especially when in strict lockdowns where the days really do seem to blur into one. It can be hard to fully grasp what you want to write about,” says Katy J Pearson. The 24-year-old artist, known for her hooky country-pop, admits that the pandemic has allowed her to slow down and catch a breath from an otherwise hectic lifestyle. However, there is no doubt that the current situation is far from ideal for performers like herself. Pearson’s debut album ‘Return’ was released in November, the same month as the annual Music by Numbers report predicted that the UK music industry will halve in size due to the pandemic. “Not being able to promote releases properly is hard as live gigs and touring around a release is so important. As well as live connection with your fanbase,” she says.
Your music in a nutshell?
“Country, pysch, rock, pop.”
One underground band you recently discovered?
“Bristol-based Robbie & Mona have just released a fantastic single called Queen Celine.”
One song you wish you had written?
“The River by Michael Farnetti.”
First thing you will be doing in a post-lockdown world?
“TOURING!”
Despite the obvious challenges she is facing as an up-and-coming artist, Pearson is determined to do what she can to keep up the stamina: “I think we have to accept that you need to utilise your social media in certain ways and do a few Instagram live streams and pre-recorded gigs. It may not be what we want but if you wanna keep the train moving you gotta compromise!” Bassist George Sullivan, 25, of the London-based band Talk Show, is in awe of how quickly people have adjusted to the new lifestyle: “Everyone’s had to take it in their stride and get creative with their ideas, podcasts, twitch, discords, live streams, and events”. Following the release of the band’s debut EP ‘These People’ in March last year, they held a public video call on the Houseparty app for friends and fans to drop in, have a drink, and celebrate. “I think everyone’s embraced as much as they can to keep each other positive and motivated,” says Sullivan.
“To be honest, it took us a little while to get into the swing of things. Our manager set us deadlines of creating two new tracks a fortnight which we’ll admit (don’t tell him) was perhaps the push we needed. In the long run, it helped us work better collectively and it has changed the way we share ideas back and forth,” he explains. Talk Show has been described as ‘a force of nature’ by Clash Magazine and recognised as ‘one of the most exciting bands about’ on BBC Radio 1. Sullivan now promises exciting things to come, as the pandemic has given them more time to work on their material. “It altered our perspective and observation which has in turn affected Harrison’s lyric writing too.”
Your music in a nutshell?
“We make gothic and punk inspired tunes for sweaty basements.”
One underground band you recently discovered?
“Robbie & Mona, they just released their new single Queen Celine ahead of their debut album and it slaps.”
One song you wish you had written?
“Unbreak my heart by Toni Braxton. I’ve got a soft spot for power ballads, don’t know why. This one bangs on its own, or as a house classic courtesy of Frankie Knuckles.”
First thing you will be doing in a post-lockdown world?
“Go see a band, don’t mind which, and then head to karaoke at The Sebright I’d imagine.”
In a similar character, Daisy Jean Russell (Dazey), 28, says that lockdown has confirmed to her that making music is something she will be doing no matter what. “There’s no better feeling than writing something that gets you all excited and buzzy. I’m gonna chase that feeling forever,” she says. Russel started releasing music just before the first lockdown, with influences ‘spanning from Björk to the Power Puff Girls’. Being unable to go to a studio with other musicians has given her more time to produce by herself. “I've learnt how to push through writing ruts and just enjoy the process of creating something new. I think, if anything, the lockdowns have been a great time to write. Either alone or working through the challenges of online Skype writing sessions. I'm excited to hear what else has been made during all this madness.”
The Cambridge-native band Ugly’s vocalist, Samuel Goater, 21, agrees that this time away from the stage has given them more time to focus on writing music. Though he makes sure to add that songwriting under Covid restrictions comes at a cost: “I definitely haven’t felt more inspired with lockdown. I’ve just become very, very lazy. There just feels like a lack of reasoning as well at the moment, as potentially more important matters are at hand.” Goater also points out that he misses the energy of live performing: “It’s a very immediate reaction of lots of people to something that you’ve created and worked very hard on. To have so many people working around that one idea is really special.”
Your music in a nutshell?
“At the moment it’s a real mish mash, we sort of just play together without any predetermined idea, but a lot of inspiration from 90s post rock and 60s pop.”
One underground band you recently discovered?
“The Long Faces.”
One song you wish you had written?
“Slipping through my fingers by Abba.”
First thing you will be doing in a post-lockdown world?
“Hopefully playing some shows at long last!”
Talk Show’s Sullivan says that there is no denying that the band is missing standing in front of an audience and engaging with them. “We’re very much a live band so it’s been quite a change for us. We’re missing the gigs and everything that goes with that, for sure. Mostly though… I don't know, the excitement of playing new places maybe? Getting a big reaction from the crowd? Service station snacks? Tequila? Monday mornings have definitely been a lot easier.” He looks back at the last show they played before the pandemic hit – with the Big Moon and Drug Store Romeos, as a part of the Annie Mac Presents festival. “In hindsight, I think we should’ve stayed out all night. I mean, there were people, and lots of them, chatting, dancing, singing. Strange that that used to be a thing.”
With the music scene being stripped of gigs, musicians have had to refocus and find new ways to work. “I built a studio with a buddy of mine in the first lockdown. I wrote and made a new album in there and now I can just keep working on putting music out as much as I want,” says indie-rock artist Nile Marr, 28. However, at the end of the day, nothing truly beats performing: “You can’t bullshit in front of an audience. I miss that accountability.”
Your music in a nutshell?
“Melodic guitar band. I dunno, think if Elliott Smith and Built To Spill had a super optimistic child?”
One underground band you recently discovered?
“My pal Blood Wizard has a new record coming out, and it’s the shit.”
One song you wish you had written?
“Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade. I bet that rakes in some sweet doh-ray me, if you’re picking up what I’m putting down.”
First thing you will be doing in a post-lockdown world?
“I’m really looking forward to resuming my career as a professional lamppost licker. I’ve been missing normal shit, like going to the cinema, eating in a restaurant. Though I think after this whole pandemic I’m never going to look at bowling the same way again.”
In spite of his personal productivity throughout lockdown, Marr emphasises the toll that the pandemic has taken on smaller artists and venues. “I feel like the industry as a whole is operating almost business as usual. True independents are still fucked. Big businesses are all fine, maybe a few people didn’t get as big a bonus as they wanted. I feel like it’s just given people more excuses to pay bands less for their work,” says Marr. According to a survey by UK Music, 65% of music creators’ income will be lost as a direct consequence of Covid, which can reach over 80% for those most reliant on live performance. One of the bands affected is Ugly as their UK/EU tour has been postponed indefinitely. The tour was supposed to kick off in April 2020 with destinations including Leeds, Brighton, Paris, and Luxembourg. Goater says: “It feels like a lot of smaller artists and musicians are really struggling as well as pretty much every other corner of the industry, as most are dependent on some kind of contact.”
As live music is the hardest hit sector of the industry, many venues are in danger of closing despite fundraisers. Russel explains: “Even before the pandemic, the closure of smaller venues was really sad to watch. These are places myself and so many other musicians have grown up in, met other creators and reinforced our love for making music.” She continues: “It’s so important to support local venues and smaller bands by going to see them at gigs, physically buying their merch and just showing up. But with that taken away because of Covid, I’m worried about how we’ll ever regain what we once had.”
Your music in a nutshell?
“Creamy electronic alt-pop bops.”
One underground band you recently discovered?
“Late last year I discovered this guy called Louf. He makes these super emotive electronic instrumentals. I've been rinsing Troposphere recently when going on walks.”
One song you wish you had written?
“The Dogs Outside Are Barking by Arthur Russell or any song from his ‘Iowa Dream’ album. His lyrics are really endearing and relatable, you can hear a kind of honest fragility in his voice.”
First thing you will be doing in a post-lockdown world?
“Ah man, hugging all of my friends.”
On a more positive note, Russel promises that once restrictions ease and it will be possible to go to live gigs, she will be at the door. “Each ticket comes with a free hug from me,” she says. Pearson also has a positive message in the midst of gloom: “Change is constant and because of that this awful situation we’ve all had will not be permanent. And, I believe things come in threes. This is official lockdown three so there can’t be a number four!” While Pearson assures that there will be a big belated album launch post-Covid, Marr has something slightly different in mind for his return to the stage: “I’m technically ordained by the great state of Illinois to officiate a wedding that couldn’t happen. So I’m going to live out a dream of mine to start marrying people left right and centre from on stage. Captain style.”
In other words, there is a lot to look forward to as we impatiently wait for our favourite venues to reopen and greet us with raw vocals and tireless beats. However, for that day to come, the industry is in need of constant support, and like Russel, we may remind ourselves that of one of the best things about UK’s underground music scene is that “there's loads of insanely creative and devoted bands, promoters, venues, fans and more who all bring their own value. Everyone really cares, and not just about the music, but the community that surrounds it too.”
Support:
#Saveourvenues: Donate to ‘a new national campaign to save hundreds of grassroots music venues at imminent risk of being closed down – permanently.’
Help Musicians UK: Offering a wide range of support for artists, including mental health support.
You can also support your favourite artists by giving them a listen. Here is a playlist featuring all of the above as well as their recent discoveries and songs they wish they had written!
Photo credit:
Katy J Pearson: @serencarys
Ugly: @alexandredesmidt
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