Musicians Dig Deep to Bounce Back From Pandemic
The last time we met, we made space between recording equipment and speakers. This time, we center ourselves on the camera and sound check before we get started.
His hair is short, his beard has more salt than pepper. But he still wears his lion necklace, over a lion hoodie, and two hoop earrings like he always had. He’s cool. Easy. Relaxed. In his studio, in his space.
The music industry was hit hard by the 2020 pandemic, with Pollstar estimating a 9 billion dollar revenue loss in 2020 alone. Many musicians have taken deep losses, and others have had to shift their focus from live performances to alternative venues.
Producer and musician Michael Anderson has been doing music since he was sixteen in the mid-eighties when his mom surprised him with an upright piano in his room. That was it. “The more I began to touch the piano, the more it began to touch me.”
He’s continued playing since he left high school in the late eighties. Throughout the 90’s and into the 2000’s, he kept himself connected, always working, always recording. He’s worked with major musical artists like Christina Aguilera and helped launch careers of those who would come after her.
As the pandemic approached, Anderson was managing and producing for pop-country trio, Auburn Road. They had just released their single, Warning.
Shortly after they signed on a label, a radio tour was lined up. They had performed at the Stagecoach Festival, had opened for Rascal Flatts and Radio Disney was playing their song. The air around the band was electric, palpable.
“It was wild.” Auburn Road singer Kristen Brown remarks, “We were [on a radio tour] meeting a bunch of people and doing handshakes and hugs and everything.” Brown continues, “We were so happy! Three hours later, all our live stations [performances] in California were cancelled. And that next day, the entire country shut down. It was all so crazy how fast it happened.”
To date, it’s been just over a year.
“It’s about adapting, “Paxton Martin, Auburn Road singer adds, “what people need has changed. So now we have to find our lane.” Martin continues, “Because in a time of craziness and sadness, [listeners] needed an outlet that makes them feel better.”
They moved their concerts to social media including Instagram and played in their pajamas in their living rooms.
“Necessity is the mother of invention.” Anderson says, putting down the guitar he was playing. This year, he reasoned, people had to rethink everything.
Streaming has changed, some for the better, some for the worse. The Guardian reports that early in the pandemic streaming actually went down by 11%. Live venue gigs were out, but according to Rolling Stone — and with a little controversy, some are opening up again.
Auburn Road would have their work cut out for them. Undaunted, they say they’re working on songwriting, harmonies, social media and preparing to be better than ever.
It appears they’ve been taught well.
The times are different. “But there ain’t nothing new about discipline.” Anderson quips. “Ultimately”, he says, “you have to re-define success. The win or loss is yours. Creative people, innovative people always find a way.”
Music hasn’t changed, he argues. COVID-19 can’t change that. “If you don’t love music — COVID becomes an excuse.”
Anderson mentions that he’s prepping himself for an upcoming project where he will be working with Will and Jada Smith’s daughter, artist Willow Smith.
He leans back, revealing his workspace. He has framed a custom ink portrait of Prince — one of his music idols. His awards and framed album-covers fill the wall behind him. Anderson has seen a lot of change in his thirty plus years of making and playing music. He says he relies on his faith in God to see him through.
He picks up the guitar one more time and rubs his sore forearm. “Watch this.” He plays more of a montuno he’s been learning. “Yeah, it’s super-fast. I just need it to be clean.” He loses himself in the song.
Anderson’s extensive experience in music has kept him grounded during the pandemic. Always hustling, always working. He’s not worried.
If he was coaching you, he’d tell you to relish in the bad gigs — that’s where you’ll learn the most. He’d tell you it’s about paying attention and discipline. He’d tell you to hustle, that if you want it, you can have it, but you’ll have to earn it. He’d tell you that the pandemic can’t take that away from you.
Then he’d tell you to get back to work.
