The financial implications arising from the Covid-19 pandemic for performing artists are clear and obvious.
If venues close down, musicians lose out on a vital source of income. Touring and gigging represents the ‘steadiest’ source of revenue for many if not most musicians – so this outbreak is bad news blues for Irish and international artists in an industry with a well-established reputation for fiscal hostility.
Luckily, there are some facets of the industry looking to give musicians a dig out.
Bandcamp, the online music hosting and merchandise platform, are waving their revenue shares for all purchases on their site from 7 am this morning to the same time tomorrow (translating the time difference from Pacific to GMT).
The global service usually takes 15% of all digital sales and 10% of physical, that’s the increased revenue margin all artists will receive if you purchase through Bandcamp during this ‘sale’. The artists will receive payment for all purchases made today within 24-48 hours (source).
Bandcamp offers digital sales, physical releases, merchandise and gift card purchases to their prospective customers.
While there is a global pandemic going on and its financial effects are ubiquitous, your direct financial support today can and will be the difference between a musician potentially making rent this month or not.
If, during self-isolation, you’ve found yourself listening to more music, Irish or otherwise, now is the chance for you to show your thanks to the artists who made it.
With that in mind, we wanted to share a few recommendations of fantastic artists, albums and labels you could invest your money into today. Think of it as a prospective shopping list.
This is absolutely not an exhaustive list, or meant to be taken as definitive. If you like an artist, support them. Hell, shoot them a message and ask if they have something on Bandcamp you can buy.
Irish Artists
- Apartment Records – Discography
This dance label, based in Cork, has long been a bastion of Irish dance music. Their discography includes work from a plethora of Irish producers, have a gander. - Arvo Party – Discography
Much of the Irish producer’s work is available on the platform, including his excellent new LP Love Above All. You can grab that for €7. - Defekt – Magnetic Resonance
The Dublin producer’s best EP is available for €4 digital or €10 physical, some of the best techno around. - ELLLL – Febreeze
The Dublin producer has long since been active through her involvement in Gash Collective, the ‘Febreeze’ single represents her breakthrough to a more international audience. For fans of experimental dance or alternative club. - Gadget & The Cloud – Running Away From Ghosts
Cork producer and member of Gash Collective Gadget & The Cloud dropped two previously unreleased singles just for the occasion. The very industrial, PC music tinged ‘Get Away’ stands out a highlight, but you can purchase the whole EP digitally for €3. - Mango X Mathman – Casual Work
You can grab the lads’ superb debut LP for €10 and you definitely should. - Maria Somerville – All My People
Blissful dream pop from Somerville on her debut outing for €7.50. - New Jackson – Romancecar
New Jackson’s best collection of work is available for €5. Get it, spin the title track next time you’re playing out and people will dance, I promise. - Nina Hynes – Discography
The Berlin-based singer-songwriter is offering her back catalogue plus access to her new material for €3, sweet. - Pear Label – Discography
The Dublin based dance collective’s Bandcamp is brimming with excellent techno and house. - Sim Simma – Pass The Aux Chord EP
One of the standout Irish hip-hop releases, perfect for prospective DJs looking for material to spin or regular punters trying to figure out what this whole Irish rap thing is about. Just a fiver. - Yenkee – Cannibal Tree EP
God this is an excellent EP. Cork native Yenkee is perhaps the nation’s finest bedroom pop artist. His 2019 EP Cannibal Tree is available for €3.
Further Afield
- Android Apartment – Discography
Italian producer specialising in future funk and city pop, grabbing his The Stars Through Your Eyes for £1 is an absolute steal. - Boogie Idol – SD27
Some of the strangest and most forward-thinking future stuff I’ve ever come across, sounds like space jazz. Well worth your time for $5. - Daniel Romano – Visions Of The Higher Dream
This Ontario native is a gem of modern country/folk-rock. He’s released a new album which will only be available during this self-isolation period. You can grab it now for $3. - Jaimie Branch – FLY or DIE II: Bird Dogs Of Paradise
The best jazz album of 2019 for $12. - Satellite Young – Sanfransokyo Girl EP
Some of the very finest Japanese city pop, sweeter than trying to eat all the powder in a sherbert at once. Only costs ¥700. - Sault – 7
A band that blew up on the Bandcamp last year. Sault are a UK outfit whose music recalls aspects of trip-hop, dub and post-punk. You can grab the excellent 7 for £7. - Slift – Ummon
If guitar jams are your thing then you’ll love the dark, sludgy rock of Slift’s debut LP Ummon. Available for €10. - Squiggle Dot – Discography
This online label boasts an impressive catalogue of vaporwave, future funk and all things internet dance music. - Toytonics – Discography
Berlin-based dance label perfect for all you dance music geeks.
Looking for more? Dave Burgess put together a list of all the Irish acts currently on Bandcamp, you can find that here. A thread with Irish artists and labels selling merch is available here.
If you want to scroll through Bandcamp directly, links to works tagged Irish and Ireland are available here and here respectively.
