THE BEAT GOES ON
Virtual Electronic Music Summit aims to assist artists and build community
How can the music industry adapt following COVID -19?
Particularly the electronic music industry, largely based around events and festivals that see people congregate in sweaty surroundings to not only enjoy the music but make meaningful connections?
The Virtual Electronic Music Summit aims to answer those questions and help industry professionals forge ahead during the pandemic. Running online through Sunday, the free event features a series of online workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers and question-and-answer forums.
The event aims to bring hope, purpose and structure to many artists and industry workers whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the industry shutdown, and the uncertainty of having events cancelled through at least the end of the calendar year.
“It’s a challenging time for everybody, but especially the music industry and musicians,” says Jonathan Hamill, a psychiatrist and DJ who will facilitate a panel discussion called Pandemic Panic: Staying Safe and Sane, COVID and Beyond that will touch on mental health, exploring the effects of the pandemic and future realities for public gatherings and music events.
“Given my background working in mental health and the music industry, the organizers felt I could contribute,” says Hamill. “Overall, the summit is focused on different strategies, including transitioning to more open-air events to allow people to get together while prioritizing safety.”
The Virtual Electronic Music Summit will address several industry issues, including how musicians can adapt to COVID-19, the livestreaming economy, digital marketing for artists and leadership from the industry’s front lines. The event will also focus on the music itself, offering an introduction to electronic music production, as well as workshops on vocal production and mixing.
The summit is co-ordinated by Alberta Electronic Music (AEM), which has hosted an annual music conference — AEMCON — each November for the past four years. More than 4,000 guests attended last November’s event, with about 650 music industry leaders participating in industry discussions. Unable to gather in person this year, the event shifted its timeline forward and moved online.
“The event is a response to the devastating impacts that COVID has had on the music industry,” says Hamill, “and to keep the sense of community alive at a time when festivals, tours and live performances are cancelled, venues are closed and musicians are struggling to stay afloat financially and to find new ways to stay connected to audiences.”
Hamill has a background as a classical pianist, earning a bachelor of music degree before transitioning to the medical field. He attended Aemcon for three years before serving as a panellist last November, highlighting mental-health issues and the need for artists to focus on self-care.
“The music industry sees higher rates of depression and anxiety, substance use and ADHD, and the challenges the lifestyle poses, being on tour and feeling isolated,” says Hamill. “The pandemic has left people reeling. The sense of community has been taken away and we’re all scrambling to find that sense of belonging. People are live streaming on Twitch or Facebook, and staying in touch through Zoom, but everyone is trying to find ways to build that sense of community.”
Hamill performs under the name Jay Slay, specializing in electro-house and hip hop, with drum and bass mixed in. He was scheduled to attend electronic festivals Shambhala and The Womp this summer before the pandemic forced their cancellation, and had begun producing events through his own company, Vibe Raiders, prior to the pandemic.
“The biggest adjustment for me was looking forward to planning more events, and having that opportunity taken away” says Hamill, who co-ordinated his first event — Velvet & Velour — on Valentine’s Day. “We were looking forward to some new events, silent discos and things like that, but everything has been put on hold.”
Registration for the Virtual Electronic Music Summit is free, although in light of recent events it has transitioned a by-donation event, with full proceeds going to Black Lives Matter groups in Canada and the United States. Several sessions will discuss how the music industry needs to change to address systemic racism, with attendees encouraged to attend a Re-building Safer Spaces panel scheduled for Sunday.
For anyone who can’t participate in the live sessions, the event will be recorded for playback at a more convenient time. Hamill encourages anyone involved in the music industry to attend the Virtual Electronic Music Summit, noting the networking and community building opportunities, particularly in light of COVID-19.
“For anyone involved in music or the arts, these panels and workshops are great opportunities for learning, to be inspired, make connections and for strategies to survive and thrive in a music world going through a pandemic.”