Coronavirus has changed the music business due to lockdowns and social distancing. Global News Ink will be interviewing artists from the award-winning dance music promotions company Sobel Promotions (www.sobelpromotions.com) to learn how the music business is being altered by the global pandemic.
The legendary, chart-topping and award-winning “Drag Queen of All Media,” Pollo Del Mar, gives her thoughts.
What are you doing musically now?
Presently I have several projects I have written and recorded. Many were in the process of being sent to my current favorite production collaborator Spin Sista to be polished and prepped for release. Unfortunately, Spin — Eric — is extremely sick at the moment, and my thoughts have been with him. Any projects I even considered working on right now have taken a serious backseat to concerns about him and so many others in my life. Music can always wait, but the health and well-being of those we care about near and far really take precedence at this extremely difficult time.
We were told things will never go back to the way they were prior to Coronavirus until we discover a vaccine. If social distancing remains, what do you think the future of the music business would look like?
Whether social distancing stays or goes, whether we find a vaccine for COVID-18 or not, I’m not certain life ever WILL be “what it was before.” People’s perspectives on social gatherings, even direct personal contact, are being reshaped in front of our eyes every day — and those changes will become more dramatic and lasting the longer isolation, quarantine, and fear for public and personal safety continues.
The beautiful thing about music — whether producing, writing, recording or enjoying it — is how it brings us together without even requiring interpersonal contact. Some of my best work was, of course, done in a studio with others present. However, my last single “Rule the World” is completely driven by incredible vocals by Carly Ozard, who was in New York at the time we were producing that track in San Francisco.
While Carly and I have an awesome personal relationship, we were never within 6 feet of one another at any time during the production, remixing, release or charting of the song! Likewise, I am working remotely with producers, remixers, other vocalist and my amazing manager Barbara Sobel on every song that’s on the horizon.
So in terms of how all this impacts the behind-the-scenes aspects of music, I’m not sure it will. And once those songs make their way to release — which I would LOVE to be sooner rather than later — anyone and everyone can enjoy, appreciate and dance to them in the privacy of their own homes!
Do you have any advice to DJ’s and artists on how to remain relevant and keep their names out there during lockdown?
My suggestion to anyone who is feeling withdrawn from the world, separated from their artistic identity and following during this lockdown, is to use this as an opportunity to engage with those who have supported you on this journey. This is a chance to allow “fans” to feel like “friends.” For those DJs who have thousands of followers, but such limited interaction because their time is already spent isolated in a DJ booth, reach out to those people, thank them for listening, let them get to know who you are as a person.
The support I have felt over my lengthy career as an entertainer certainly doesn’t come from others’ unwavering appreciation for my creative endeavors — PARTICULARLY music, because my contributions are sporadic, extremely niche and never intended for mainstream consumption.
The support I appreciate and am so grateful for is because people feel a personal connection to me, a bond with me, as a person, not just a drag performer, a personality or musician. They want me to be happy like they want a friend to be happy. They want me to succeed like they would want a family member to succeed. And I want that for them, too, because I’ve taken time to get to know so many of them through social media interactions. It pays off down the line because when I DO put out a new project of any kind, they show up for me.
They download or stream the songs. They watch the videos. They share and tell others about it. Now that everyone is FORCED to slow down, to take a break time from the grind, from travel, from gigs around the world, the hustle and bustle, my suggestion is to use this truly unprecedented time to engage with, show love and appreciation for those people who are in your life on whatever level and have made that possible. Eventually, we WILL return to “normal,” even if it’s a “new normal,” and that won’t be possible. To me, that is the best way to not only make sure you ‘stay relevant,’ it is also the best way to pass this time and leave ourselves better for it.
For further information regarding Pollo Del Mar contact Barbara Sobel/Sobel Promotions at sobelpromotions@gmail.com
