Livestreaming During the COVID-19 Crisis: Electronic Music Reviews From Isolation #3
Words by Hollie McGowan
It has been approximately one month since the entire world caught on that the pandemic is far bigger than we were once anticipating. As shops, restaurants, parks, schools, and all other public spaces began the domino affect of shutting down, we went indoors and have remained there since. ‘The 'New Normal’ truly has become our reality for an indefinite amount of time. Yet, within this ‘New Normal’ has been our relentless need to continue connecting and dancing. Below is our third installment of electronic music livestreaming reviews from around the globe.
Beginning on Tuesday April 7th during the full moon, local Vancouver DJ, Leland River, played an ambient set via twitch. At one point, he threw in Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers, another tribute to the late musician who passed away recently.
On Wednesday April 8th, a special premier of DJ Python’s new album, “Mas Amable” was being broadcast by New York’s Virtually Nowadays as viewers were taken on a virtual journey of a fire place and steaming hot cup of coffee to sooth their troubled souls. Afterward, Four Tet began with some ambient sounds before moving into uncharted waters of noise that can only be described as pure insanity. He then followed that with some more ambient with intermittent bouts of world beat and free jazz. It was an accurate musical description of where most of us are at during this global pandemic; all over the pace, utterly confused, and just plain losing it.
By midday Thursday April 9th, London based DJ and producer, Oneman had surfaced on his Instagram account and proceeded to give viewers a little tour of his living room and record collection. In his collection, he showed off an old Skepta record at a time when the British grime MC was but a mere seventeen years of age. Following that, Oneman threw on some garage courtesy of El-B before playing a little from Wiley.
At precisely 6pm PST, the 20/20 LND crew had began their second episode of Twenty Twenty Global via youtube, first beginning with Mike Gao who was streaming live from Los Angeles. The California based artist played a trippy, glitchy bass set over top mesmerizing videogamesque visuals. Next up on the roster for the evening was Huxley Anne who played out of Philadelphia. Appearing in front of her decks wearing a wedding veil, Huxley Anne got her set going first with some dancefloor worthy techno before taking things down a notch with some more experimental sounds as audio from a child speaking of existential thoughts and philosophies very fitting with the current pandemic played out. “Stay safe, stay inside, and be careful out there,” were her closing remarks. After Huxley Anne, was Bristol based DJ and producer, Om Unit who took his listeners on a journey of deep sound exploration while shadows of black and white visuals provided by Joelle Snaith accompanied his set. Jon1st performed afterward out of Leicester with a little scratching magic, at one point dropping classic jungle track, ‘Original Nuttah’ by Shy Fx.
By Friday April 10th before midday, a replay of a full live set at Depot Mayfield by legendary electronic music artist, Aphex Twin, was streamed via youtube, causing left-leaning electronic music lovers all over the globe to stop absolutely everything that they were doing and tune in. The next hour and a half was nothing but pure mind-bending, universe-warping electronic music madness that someone like only Aphex Twin could conjure.
At approximately 4:00pm PST, The Friendstival had officially commenced on twitch with Vancouver based loop machine guru, Woodyard. He began by whispering, “Welcome to the festival” in his mike, setting the tone of funkiness and good vibes which was dutifully upheld by all other performers and online attendees throughout the evening. Those present at the Friendstival were engaged in a lively chat right from the start, one claiming the virtual crew to be the ‘Quaranteam’. For the next ten or so hours, Friendstival saw a multitude of local BC talent play out of their living quarters and studios including DJ Soo, David Pelvis, Dunks, Telecoma, Epitomic, and Civillian who played not just one, but two online parties over the course of the weekend, Frienstival and SUBculture Sessions. The virtual event covered a multitude of electronic music genres fit for the liveliest of west coast festival dancefloors. Beginning his set with Nina Simone’s version of “The Times They Are a Changin’” by Bob Dylan before moving into some funk, Matty Reed eventually brought out the saxophone for some live instrumentation over top a PM Dawn vs. Spandau Ballet mash-up. It truly was a special moment to be put in a time capsule. Afterward, D. Jon began at roughly 7pm PST during what has become a daily occurrence of pots and pans banging in support of COVID-19 healthcare workers. He praised the frontline staff before turning to his listenership. “Let’s think about another kind of contagion, and that’s love. We’re here to spread the love. The thing about love is that even when you’re isolated, you can still catch it. Even when we’re here in our homes, I still feel all you out there. Love you guys,” He shared. Over in the chat, attendees had also started a zoom party where folks danced around in onezies while the virtual festival continued into the wee hours of the morning.
By 8:00pm PST, Vancouver based outdoor pop-up dance event organization, Public Disco, had initiated its contribution to the online pandemic parties happening worldwide. With Apollo behind the decks and Zandi Dandizette on the visuals, listeners who had tuned in via youtube were treated to over an hour of deep disco house amidst futuristic swirling pastel imagery.
Over at Quazar’s Arcade, the Vic Acid crew had also began virtually raving via wheel.fm featuring Victoria DJ’s Looting, Big Body, Hrdvsion, and Rhythmicon. Their last installment was certainly all things acid house and techno. However, this Friday went into other territories of electronic music genres as the crew played amongst video arcade machines, the Vic Acid happy face logo spinning in the corner.
At roughly 9:00pm PST, West Coast based artist, Michael Red, opened the 420Dance Jam on twitch with some luscious dancehall. Next up was Vancouver based DJ, Mandai, who began her set yet was unfortunately unable to finished due to some technical difficulties. Coming back online to maintain the party was Michael Red for another round who played out some heavier, deeper bassy beats through to the end, keeping the listeners’ ears satisfied and bodies moving.
Saturday April 11th brought some treats for hip hop aficionados on Instagram. Beginning at around midday, Vancouver DJ, Chadio, popped up on his social media to lay down a few tracks. A few hours later, DJ Premier and RZA began a collab of sorts over the internet.
Later on at around 9:00pm PST, Calgary based DJ and producer, Esette, had begun her ‘Isolation Station’ shenanigans going B2B with Theo Hansen. The two played off each other well into the night, bringing listeners a solid few hours of deep house and disco boogie surrounded by plants and lights reflecting off a twirling disco ball.
Things began winding down virtually after a weekend of online gatherings and goings-on, but not without a Sunday morning all-vinyl jungle/d ‘n b set, ‘Live From Wheel House’, from Victoria’s Rhythmicon via wheel.fm. Friends far and wide tuned in to chat about the music and the Easter holiday while sipping on breakfast mimosas.
Later in the evening at approximately 7pm PST, Dirty Bird head honcho, Claude VonStroke popped up on social media where he played his Sunday social distance set. In his usual heavy, bassy house style, VonStroke played while the Dirty Bird logo moved behind him on a green screen.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been this long that we have been collectively living this ‘New Normal’. Yet, our ability as human beings to be flexible and adaptable is proven yet again. Virus’ may be strong, but the collective power of the universal life force is nearly unbeatable. Mentally, physically, spiritually we persevere and stick together, dancing our way through the storm until it subsides. Tune in next week for another chapter of livestreaming reviews during the COVID-19 crisis.