5 Artists to Support on Bandcamp This Friday

This Friday, May 1, music-distribution website Bandcamp is once again waiving its share of revenue on all purchases made that day, from midnight to midnight Pacific time, in an attempt to ease the financial difficulties facing musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform has plenty to choose from, from names you’ll recognize to indie artists — and you should look into and support your local artists in particular — but here are five to add to your collection this week.

Bauer

UK band Bauer typically specializes in fun indie-synthpop, like January release “Separation,” but their latest offering mid-quarantine is a beautiful live piano instrumental called “Unbreakable” (both tracks are currently available as name-your-price downloads). But the band is also offering their full discography — 13 releases — for 40%, making it a great opportunity to save money while also ensuring all of it goes to the band.

The Von Tramps

Listening to an album right now called Sun’s Out: Strung Out is almost cruel — rock band The Von Tramps’ style is a mix of “rude girl ska” and fast-paced punk, with a little bit of surf rock on the title track in particular, and the album is begging to be played at the beach, something we can’t (or in most cases, shouldn’t) enjoy. But still, good rock is good rock, and fans of the genre won’t want to pass this up.

Teen Daze

Musician Teen Daze releases ambient music, often inspired by literature — new EP Pure Water, released in January, was inspired by The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina, and A Silent Planet takes its name and subject matter from C.S. Lewis’ famous space trilogy. The sounds of synthesizers and nature, such as crashing waves on Pure Water’s opening track, “Pink Sky,” make for relaxing listening, something we may all need right now.

Jherek Bischoff

LA-based Bischoff is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who frequently works with singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer and has also worked with her husband, writer Neil Gaiman; David Byrne; and more. His Bandcamp releases include compositions for theater, work with Palmer, and his own solo releases, all beautiful, haunting, and sometimes both in their own ways.

Jake La Botz

Nashville singer-songwriter La Botz is probably already known to fans of JD McPherson, as the two have toured together in the past and McPherson’s backing vocals can be heard in some of La Botz’s recordings. La Botz released album They’re Coming for Me in the fall, with lyrics that tell a story and the sounds of blues, Americana, and early rock. The album is available through Bandcamp digitally, on vinyl, and on CD, as is 2017 album Sunnyside.

Bandcamp has also released an extensive list of artists and labels offering special releases, merchandise, and discounts for the day. Happy downloading!