Songbirds Magazine - Spring Summer 2021

Songbirds VOLUME 1.

SPRING | SUMMER 2021

The 2020 Issue:

Stories of the good, the sad, and the ugly moments of the global pandemic and how we're making it work.

Music Moments Life

Notes from the Editor Hello there! As we have some new faces here, I believe some introductions are in order. We are Songbirds Magazine. We take many shapes, but what we truly value is individuality and staying true to ourselves, even if it means we go against the grain. Music is our love language and one of our greatest passions. We house a community of artists, activists, and dreamers a-like - we’re not afraid of letting our hair down and letting our voices be heard. Even if you don’t go by any of these titles, you’re welcome here. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or just an interesting read. This project was born in the time of quarantine - I hope this issue brings a small sense of relief or joy during these times.

Stay safe & happy reading.

Cheers!

Chloe

Contents SPRING | SUMMER 2021

4

down the stream

transcending traditional music vehicles, streaming is taking over the music industry - but what does this mean for musicians and industry workers during a global pandemic

14

the dangers of social media addiction, power, and the long-term effects on our world

18 how to

create at-home spontaneity: during a pandemic

20

philly moments: a look

back at the past year

22

artist spotlight: meet krisy

Down the stream Streaming transcends traditional music mediums, but what does this mean for musicians and industry workers during a global pandemic?

" The

abundance of digital music Is a doubleedged sword. "

W

hen we think about evolutions in artistry, we often see subtle changes in culture from decade to decade. Some patterns repeat themselves, like wideleg jeans or black-and-white films, and some moments are outright game-changers. The kind of shift you can’t see in the moment but seems so blatant when you look back on it. The music industry is no exception. When we take a step back and look at the vehicle in which we experience music, digital music platforms have not only impacted how we listen to music, but how we create, produce, and think about music.

Once upon a time, there were just vinyl records and cassette tapes. They were considered ground-breaking for the time and easily accessible to the public. Ease and simplicity aside, the initial spark of portable music from the Walkman and MP3 player planted the seed for what would become the iPod and eventually the iTunes store. In this key moment, we were able to retrieve any song ever made and no longer needed to buy a physical album or record. Your library was fully customizable, no longer bounded to a single album - loading up thousands of songs on your iPod, at a mere cost of 99 cents per song. Apple was not the pioneer of digital music, but they sure as hell popularized it.

They had their time to shine back in the mid-2000s, but it was Spotify that truly paved the way for the subscrip-

tion-based “unlimited streaming” business model, which has now become the foundation for most music streaming platforms today. Spotify has found itself nicely positioned as the most listened to music streaming service, with it’s personalized algorithms and vast libraries of playlists, having a user base of nearly 300 million and superseding its competitors.

With this plethora of options for the listeners, we’re seeing small subtleties within music culture. New genres and subgenres are being introduced, with independent artists deeply saturating the market, artists are at liberty to express themselves creatively. They are in complete control of their craft, which has been a known struggle with many represented artists.

Micro-communities and niche audiences come to fruition and allow artists to gain popularity within their genres.

Meanwhile, songs are becoming increasingly shorter, as our attention spans grow shorter.

EconSultancy says, “the average length of a Top Single in 2009 was down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds, compared to 1980, it was 5 minutes”.

The battle between Spotify, Apple, Pandora, and others gets bloodier and more convoluted, as does the competition in the world of artists. The abundance of digital music is a double-edged sword. As listeners, we marvel at the idea of endless playlists and songs, but what does this mean for

artists and industry at large?

Production can be done right from our laptops, with little studio equipment necessary.

Musicians and artists are more likely to be discovered, as streaming platforms have embedded themselves within the mechanics of social media.

A surprise visit from COVID-19 last year crushed the live music and entertainment industry, and we have been forced to pivot.

The Rules of the Game: The all familar story of becoming discovered overnight stems from the classic 1950’s american dream. It typically involved a young artist moving to New York or Los Angeles and performing at dive bars

until an agent or producer discovered them. They would sign their name on the dotted line and be contractually obliged to their record company, with a team of managers, publicists, producers by their side - their music would be heard and they would take the stage.

In today’s digital world things have changed, as we have accessibility to technology that produces music right from our laptops, we can just as easily create music particularly in the electronic genres. There’s less of a need to rent out a fancy recording space, especially when you’re just starting out. The prospect of truly becoming an artist is more possible than ever, but becoming a well-known one

can be the perpetual struggle.

Many artists are coming out as independents, with no formal ties to any record label and promoting themselves on social media. Although we do see occasional success stories we find this often tough for some. For one, actually making money is hard! Streaming services have proven to be a weak source of income, with an average per-stream payout being between $0.006 and $0.0084, Rolling Stone tells us. Regrettably, not too many of us are still buying CDs and Vinyl consistently enough to give artists that consistent revenue that goes right into their pockets. Bottom line: if you’re a little fish in a big pond, you won’t be paying rent with that kind of income.

Money always seems to go hand and hand with success these days. If you’re independently wealthy enough to hire an agent or publicist, or can launch an advertising campaign to promote yourself, then kudos to you! For the rest of the world, it’s not that simple. It’s a tricky game as gaining fame and notoriety takes time - although social media can be great gateway.

Most commonly, when we see artists do begin to pick up momentum with their careers, most of them will opt to sign with a label, which in turn leads to more notoriety and success.

Wounded Troops: Despite the changes we’ve seen in the last few

decades, nothing compares to the shocking realities of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To say this is disrupting our lives is a harsh understatement; demolishing entire industries and crushing businesses both small and large - the music industry included.

With the major shutdowns across the nation, live performances have come to a screeching halt. Concerts, music festivals, and world tours have been postponed indefinitely. Many artists have publicly announced taking a break from music as they work through the trauma of this past year. Some have taken a different approach, burying themselves in their work to make it through these challenging times. We’ve seen many new releases referencing and eluding to the events, a big one being Twenty One Pilots’ “Level of Concern” (artists are ultimately just like us and process stress in different ways). With radio stations and television networks attempting to keep morale alive, putting on livestream concerts or events where we can watch our favorite artists perform from the comfort of our homes.

Thankfully, the creation and distribution of music continues but the shutdown of live music isn’t merely a hit to artists’ revenue streams, but a much deeper rooted issue of thousands of jobs on pause. Behind the scenes major industry players, sound technicians, stage crews, touring musicians, and venue managers are all out of work

and unsure when the next gig or event will return. Longstanding music venues have been forced to close their doors and even permanently close due to the lack of shows.

They’re hurting, with little to no government aid passed this far. If you listen to music, no matter the shape or form, we urge you to donate and support these artists and music industry workers!

Purchase merch and music directly from artists, donate to any of the various musicsaving organizations, if you can. But most importantly, keep listening.

Ways to Help: As a lover and supporter of all music and its mere existence, Songbirds urges our readers and listeners to support the survival of live music in whichever way feels best. We

have several organizations listed if you are looking to donate to the cause: NIVA: https://www.nivassoc.org/ support-niva Musicares: https://www.grammy.com/ musicares/donations PRS Foundation: https://prsfoundation.com/ spotifyrelief

Sources: https://econsultancy.com/ the-impact-of-technologyand-social-media-on-themusic-industry/ https://www.rollingstone. com/pro/features/howmusicians-make-money-ordont-at-all-in-2018-706745/

As much as we’d all like to fast-forward and have 2020 become a distant memory, it’s impossible to ignore the catastrophic events of the past year. A global pandemic keeps us separated from our loved ones and emotions run high as our political climate continues to heat up. In these trying times, social media makes us feel more connected than ever.

We can virtually hang out with friends and family on Zoom, while Instagram Live now serves as a platform for talks and speeches.

As our usual societal and community outlets diminish, social media gives a stage and voice to anyone that’s ever wanted one. as big Tech continues to rise, do we ever stop to think about the repercussions and what’s really happening through the rapid spread of mass information via social media? In a world where our politicians tweet and everyone is Googleable; social media is exploiting our privacy, crushing our mental health, and twisting our perceptions of reality.

As film releases like The Social Dilemma and Agents of Chaos come into picture, we learn these companies hold more power than we could ever understand. The amount of data and intel they have is beyond belief, and we continue to fork it over, like giving our credit card for the latest Supreme drop. Everything you’ve ever liked, reposted, scrolled past or watched is all up for grabs.

It’s formed into an elaborate mindmap that houses all that information - and then stays there, forever. Savvy algorithms can tactfully predict our next move. It’s capitalism at its finest, creating products that are so addictive, to where we physically can’t stop. Let’s face it, these companies are not concerned about honoring your privacy rights anytime soon. They say the business goal is to sell to you on advertisements, but the reality is you are the product and your data is what’s being sold.

Addiction comes in many shapes and sizes, but try telling someone they can’t use Instagram for a week straight and you’ll see the intense hold it has. Checking your Facebook feed first thing every morning. Scrolling through Twitter as you sip your coffee. It’s trying to meet the post quotas to keep followers happy. It’s a vicious cycle of give-and-take and we’re just trying to stay afloat.

We’ve all heard stories of bullying, intense pressure, and isolation which is then followed by detox, reflection, growth, and change. But even with the ebbs and flows, we always crawl back. Even if we’re able to see a sliver of truth, it has too much power for us to give up forever.

As humans, we have an innate need to connect with one another and for this reason, these tools are truly a blessing. But this level of accessibility to each other

opens us up to scrutiny from billions of people, which most people are not prepared to handle. A video you posted goes viral, you see an uptick in thousands of views, and suddenly - all eyes on you. Some can ride out the pressure better than others, but for most of us - we crumble over the intense reactions and nasty comments. We often compare influencers to celebrities, both are expected to handle that pressure and have their lives out for everyone to see.

It’s the dream lifestyle for many, but can be emotional rollercoaster-version for most.

The most common side effect we see is the immense pressure to be influential and well-liked. Instagram has built its platform on “Influencers” or personas - where you can find carefully curated realities, highlighting angles and moments that seem so perfect you begin to question the quality of your own life.

With thousands of followers that easily look like a thousand best friends, we begin to blur the lines between virtual and reality. Many people isolate ourselves in their day-to-day lives, to uphold their influence over our following. We choose followers over friendship, and the results can be damaging to our mental health.

As if the pressure to be super-liked isn’t stressful enough, we’ve seen these same lines being crossed on a global level. Many of us can’t bear to watch the news, and understandably so. People turn to Facebook and Twitter for their daily dose of information. This is where the fundamental issue lies: Twitter is used regularly as a means for our leaders to communicate to the country. These platforms were not meant to house such important and reputable information. Not to mention, these platforms aren’t known for their factchecking.

"We’ve all heard the terms

fake news floating around, but the question is, what fake news is really fake? WE’RE LOOKING TO OUR GOVERNMENT AND TECH EXECUTIVES TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS." The most relevant example of misplaced power was January 8th, following the break-in of the U.S. Capital building. Donald Trump tweeted an encouraging statement to his followers and Twitter

responded, permanently suspending his account, due to “the risk of further incitement of violence”. Where was this kind of response during the 2020 presidential election or throughout the last presidential term? The former president also stated that “children are virtually immune to the virus”. Facebook responded, updating their policy back in April claiming to limit the amount of miscommunication on COVID-19, but this seemed like a desperate attempt to band-aid a fix to a much larger problem.

Of course, the spreading fake news goes beyond domestic political campaigns and spreads across our wolrd. Back in 2017, we saw the mass division, persecution, and genocide of thousands of Rohingya militants in Myanmar. These events were carefully cultivated and planned through the spread of miscommunication and fake news on Facebook. Another grand example of Big Tech not taking action to prevent or stop the spread of misinformation. Facebook later

admitted some responsibility saying, “we can and should do more”, but it’s a little too late for shoulds and coulds.

It’s scary to think a single entity can hold that much power, as tech executives in The Social Dilemma stated, “We didn’t anticipate this” when asked about the original intent behind these platforms. The masterminds behind the products themselves can’t even control the beast, let alone billions of users. It is up to our country’s leaders to set restrictions and guidelines into place, so there’s some type of control of the reins. We are firm believers in free speech and self-expression, but things need to be reanalyzed once lives start to be lost.

As we fall deeper into the grasps of social media, it’s more important than ever to educate ourselves and know the risks. Just as we would do for any other product out there. This technology is so second-nature to us, it’s often hard to see what’s happening right under our fingertips.

It’s certainly far from harmless.

How to Create At-home Spontaneity *during a pandemic

GET ON A SCHEDULE:

We’ve technically surpassed the New Years’ hump so to speak, but we’re still feeling the aftermath of 2020. Many of us confined working at homes, or not working at all. Without our normal communities and social outlets, loneliness and routine can feel exhausting. As the days of the week are nebulous and start to bleed into one another, we can easily fall into this slump, so quickly. Do not fret - these tips and tricks will help you survive and revitalize those long days ahead to keep things interesting and spontaneous!

1

At first glance, this sounds rather backward. Doesn’t a schedule create a mundane routine that leads to boring repetition? In some cases yes. But the point of this schedule is to set yourself up for success with healthy habits that inspire. Pick a couple of your normal activities that always put you in a good mood. It could be going for a morning run along the river because the sun energizes you. Or setting your alarm an hour earlier in the morning, to create space to sip your coffee and read your favorite book, because it’s calming. Make a plan and do what feels good. Practice daily gratitude and remind yourself what you’re grateful for every day.

These things may seem trivial but having a couple of small things to look forward to at the start or end of the day can give you a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment. Plus, it gives us back some sense of normalcy.

2

START A NEW PROJECT: Are you tired of sitting on the couch watching the same shows every night? Do you want to try something different or bold? Think of the thing you’ve always wanted to do but never felt you had the time to really devote to it. Whether it’s a long-time dream or nagging project, take the time you’d normally spend out and about with friends or commuting and spend some time on this new endeavor. Write a novel, start a Youtube channel, paint your living room, or organizeyour closet - a new project can be a great pick-me-up, something to look forward to in the looming stayat-home months ahead.

MAKE IT SPECIAL: The easiest trap for us to fall into is monotony or a mundane routine. This was a problem even pre-global pandemic, and regardless of if you love stability, most of us crave a little novelty every once in a while. Consider planning special nights during your week that spice up your life! An easy example is date night: this could be a night-in or out, spent with a partner, roommate, or just yourself. Cook an elaborate meal or splurge on take-out, put some music on and make an evening out of it. Perhaps treat yourself to some dessert....because we deserve it, right?

When we’re stuck at home living the same day on repeat, it’s natural for us to put in just enough effort to float by. So trust me, putting in a little bit of extra thought and planning into some quality time can help make us forget the state of our present reality, even if it’s for just one night.

4

3

REACH OUT: “Well-duh”, you’re thinking to yourself eyes rolling - but honestly being quarantined all the time can be inherently isolating. We’re removed from institutional and societal circles by merely not going out as often. We’ve seen a huge surge in social media usage as an effort to connect with others; Zoom, Instagram, Facebook, those tools have been so vital for connection. Plan a virtual game night, create a digital book club, or have a monthly zoom call. There are ways to gain a sense of community without physically being with others (bonus points for rekindling friendship with those out of state friends). As we go through our daily routine - this may not be top of mind, so give yourself a gentle nudge to phone a friend, join that online community, or reach out to a long-time pal, it will surely be well worth it.

Philadelphia: one of the most momentous cities in our nation’s history, continues to lead the way in the year 2020. Exemplifying grit and leadership through the iconic moments of the past year.

Philly Moments

from my home to yours

THE ELECTION: As a significant amount of mailin ballots came in from Philadelphia and neighboring counties in the recent 2020 election, the country anxiously awaited results during the final days. This influx of votes shifted Pennsylvania’s stance, making us one of the keydeciders in the results of the election outcome. We claimed our right to vote and utilized this means to vote safely from home. Good things happen in Philadelphia.

love one another

BLM: In June of last year, we were horrified by the unjustified death of George Floyd. We responded - coming together as a community, we marched throughout the city, arm in arm, as one.

Rallying for equality, police reformation, and our basic rights to be and exist in this country. We spread awareness, advocated, and listened to one another; fighting and still fighting, for systematic change and a brighter future ahead

COVID-19: Philadelphia, among other cities, had to adjust to a new way of life. As restaurants, movie theaters, and retailers took a hiatus; our front-line and essential workers stepped up and continue to be leaders for our communities while risking their lives every day. We wore masks and zoomed with our families, and still do, knowing the necessity for some discomfort now to yield a much more comfortable future tomorrow.

city of brotherly love

Artist Spotlight meet:

KRISY Image Source: Sound Cloud

This artist has been in the game for over a decade with his original mixtape "Weedtape", which came out the gate in 2010. He paved his way as a producer in his early years, and his production work as a sound engineer for Damso brought him into the spotlight. You may know him by his alias “De la Fuentes”, but more officially recognized as Krisy.

This Belgian-Congolese artist has been steadily gaining popularity in Belgium, Switzerland, and France.

He continues to flex through his collection of singles and with the release of his newest album “Par-

adis d’amour”. Krisy strikes a delicate balance with his distinct sound - a mix of chill, low-fi beats, and street-ready verses. He takes you on a journey from smooth tranquil sounds to upbeat melodies. He keeps it hush-hush when it comes to social media, but there’s nothing shy about his music. Krisy launched his independent label “LeJeune Music”, and hones his skills as a jack of all trades: producer, rapper, and label head. Whether you’re looking for cool rhymes or something to just chill-out to, he’s certainly worth the listen.

Songbirds Photo captured in Philadelphia, PA