The Perseverance of Music

In this pandemic, music has remained a constant, especially for a local record shop owner and two student music journalists.

It is no surprise that the music industry has changed since the early days of the pandemic. From 2020 to now, it has adapted to include online album releases, digital concerts and exclusive in-store record giveaways. What has not changed, however, is the persevering spirit of record shops and music journalists throughout these ever-changing times.

I chatted with small business owner Gary Farley and two music journalists; Holly Alvarado and Astrid Ortega, to get the breakdown of how these past few years have been in their professions.

The result; a clearer view of where the state of music is today, a more rounded image of what the effects of the pandemic are on the industry, and a better idea of what music staples pass the test of time.

Gary Farley 🎶

Third Eye Records is a music lover's dream. Photos courtesy of Gary Farley.

Music is a constant comfort for many during trying times, according to Gary Farley, owner of Third Eye Records in Long Beach, California. He has noticed how bringing music to the local community has been essential, despite pandemic setbacks.

When the pandemic initially began, he worked with his team at Third Eye Records to build an online presence to better connect with music enthusiasts in the local area. Adapting to provide an online platform for selling and purchasing records helped Farley navigate the changing climate of the music industry and keep his shop afloat.

“We were able to shift online, we were doing curbside pickups,” Farley said. “I was physically delivering records to people myself, during that time when we were locked down, as well as shipping records out.”

While developing an online storefront, Farley also worked hard at maintaining his physical record shop. Located on the iconic “Retro Row” on 2234 East 4th St., Third Eye Records remained consistent in its creation of a nostalgic and comforting atmosphere, where customers could safely come in to look through vintage records, and enjoy the authentic record shop experience.

"It’s having that kind of, you know, physical and kind of tangible experience of being able to touch things and experience things,” Farley said. “There is nothing like the smell of an old record shop.”

For other small music business owners, Farley shares that loving what you do is a reward in itself that helps outweigh the negatives. And as far as adapting goes, he recommends for others to stay true to their dreams and passions even when situations are difficult.

So, what does the “new normal” look like for Third Eye Records? It is a combination of online and in-person sales, but mostly cultivating a coronavirus-conscious environment, so customers feel safe and excited to browse records inside the shop, and get back to the old-school listening experience.

Holly Alvarado 📻

Alvarado in front of a music venue. Photo courtesy of Holly Alvarado.

Just as music stores have made pandemic adjustments, so have music journalists. Holly Alvarado, a Long Beach State student and freelance writer with bylines in a myriad of places like Trash Mag, the Luna Collective Magazine and Beyond The Commons, to name a few, has experienced the fast-paced transitions in the music scene first hand.

Prior to 2020 and the initial onset of the coronavirus, she was doing mainly in-person interviews and attending live shows, but quarantine and safety mandates changed that. In the early days of the pandemic and even now, almost everything has shifted to an online format where interviewing is concerned.

“Nowadays, every interview I have done, regardless of the publication, has been via Zoom or email,” Alvarado said. “It’s not something I’m keen on, but it’s just the reality of what it has become.”

Even with these changes, Alvarado’s passions for writing, music and journalism have kept her going. An advocate for bringing more women into the music scene, she has used her platform to amplify these voices and make sure they are heard; an issue she has continued to explore throughout this pandemic.

“We need more women in music,” Alvarado said. “We need more women, femme and queer-identifying music journalists. It has been a massive concern for me.”

As the pandemic reaches a slower state and venues are reopening, Alvarado is again having to transition her journalistic approach. While more artists are hosting in-person shows, she is selective about which shows she attends and reviews.

Remaining mindful of the changing coronavirus protocols and procedures, she is constantly adapting her interviewing methods to fit the current state of the music world.

Astrid Ortega 🎸

Ortega ready to review on a concert. Photo courtesy of astridortega.com.

For Astrid Ortega, an Emerson College student, writer and music curator for the Luna Collective Magazine, and a writer for the Underground Underdogs, the pandemic has been a way to see how artists approach music from different angles. More than anything, it has allowed her to see how experimental and fresh the music scene can be.

“One pattern I saw a lot from interviewing during the pandemic was that a lot of artists were experimenting a lot with their sound, or finally trying things that they have always wanted to do with their music,” Ortega said.

Although she has witnessed many changes in artistry during this pandemic, Ortega’s personal interviewing style has remained relatively the same. Even before lockdowns and mandates,

and this “newest” normal, she was interviewing artists primarily online and communicating with them via email, or phone.

“I don’t think it’s changed much,” Ortega said, “I’ve always just stuck to email, or phone interviews because it’s easier for the artists to put effort into their answers.”

Ortega believes that while in-person interviews give access to facial expressions and vocal tone, online interviews allow the artist more space to think, type out their responses and get their points across in the way that sounds best to them. She also adds that virtual interviews, or emails help artists respond to her questions when in a quick turnaround for an article.

As for the time being, Ortega is preparing to attend more in-person shows in the Boston music scene, while also keeping a close eye on new and emerging artists who are finding inspiration in these unprecedented times.

A Snapshot of Music During the Pandemic 📽️

Particularly in these past two years, music has shown us new ways to grow, adapt and move forward. Watch the video below and see just in what ways music has remained a constant for us.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/225ddc_8e7220a60a994a8a90856a5b9614706f/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

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(📸 Blog post cover photo by KOBU Agency on Unsplash)