Adapting To Crisis

Original image from The Leaf

Musicians have been particularly hard hit by the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists and performers all over the globe have had their sources of income canceled with no end in sight. At this point in time, reports are showing it could get worse before it gets better. This devastating news can be hard to adapt to. How do we create stability during this time of global crisis?

Here at ccMixter, we are doing our best to provide our community and our listeners with the best information and strategies to cope with the disruption caused by this pandemic. That's why we're posting this blog with links to resources we've found that can help guide us through this catastrophic chapter in our history.

Music creation is our passion, and we care deeply about the musicians who participate in the collaboration that takes place on our site. Music is healing, connecting, and a source of comfort. But when your worried about basic survival it can be difficult, seemingly impossible, to get in that space where music is regenerative. We hope these resources help.

Links:
Some Advice On Working From Home-from Creative Commons
Solid advice for organizations and individuals working from home
Corona Virus Update for Musicians: What you can do today
Damian Keyes Video on strategies for working musicians
9 Way To Stay Positive During The Corona Virus Pandemic
Simple but effective things to do that can help get you out of a funk.
Musicians Cope With Corona Virus Crisis-NPR
Audio interview with musicians

Us Universe Secret MIxter

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~Albert Einstein

In times of crisis, personal or global, we can easily forget our true connection to each other. We might isolate ourselves into imaginary shells of security, or withdraw into silent shadows. Perhaps we let fear guide us instead of reaching out for support. If we fall into an Us and Them mentality, we might lose our sense of compassion for each other --  and forget that we are all part of the whole.

Our global community at ccMixter is connected by the most powerful language in the world -- music. Our creativity is based on collaboration, and sharing is integral to our process. With each remix we upload, we experience the wholeness of Us.

That is why we titled the upcoming Secret Mixter "Us Universe." From March 8 through March 21, participants commit to creating music in the spirit of widening our circles of connection and compassion.

Have you never experienced a Secret Mixter before?  Follow this link.
http://ccmixter.org/topics/view/69008

Sign up here:
http://ccmixter.org/mixup/spring_2020

I am with you together, part of the whole -- Us, Universe.

Minimoog Voyager, The Smithsonian, and CC Zero

This is the Minimoog Voyager that J. Dilla used to create trend setting lo-fi Hip-Hop tracks that still influence music creation today.  Why is this picture so important?  Because it's part of the collection the Smithsonian recently released to the world using Creative Commons CC-0 licensing.

What?  Read on my #ccmusic music lovers....read on.

Smithsonian Releases 2.8 Million Images + Data into the Public Domain Using CC0

https://creativecommons.org/2020/02/27/smithsonian-releases-2-8-million-images-data-into-the-public-domain-using-cc0/

Minimoog Voyager synthesizer used by J Dilla

https://www.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.139.2a

Falling in Love with Falling on YouTube

The video for Falling by Madam Snowflake is now released on YouTube, just in time for the most romantic time of the year.  Produced by Loveshadow and mastered by Nico Fyve, the artistic video production of Kara Square is a perfectly paired with Snowflake's ethereal vocals and Loveshadow's lush sounds -- filling the senses with heartfelt emotions.  Happy Valentines Day.

Falling is the fourth track from Madam Snowflake's 2018 release Honey Valentine and can be enjoyed freely at her website here.  The collection is a must have for any romantic occasion.

We here at ccMixter are quite proud of Madam Snowflake and grateful for her loving contributions to our community.  She has a way of bringing the best out in all of us.  Keep digging, keep creating, and keep love alive!

Rise From The Ashes: Australian Wildfire Relief

The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite; revive from ashes and rise. ~Miguel De Cervantes

The devastation of the Australian wildfires will be with us forevermore. There is no way to truly scale it in a way that is comprehensible.  The fires are still burning, and when they subside, the effects will leave scars for longer than our lifetimes. It is in how these scars heal where we have a choice. Part of that healing is through acknowledgement and in expression of what we have experienced.

For this reason, ccMixter has decided to hold a special remix event to honor the need to express and share our stories through song. Rise from the Ashes is inspired by one of our long standing members, Scomber (and his family), who is experiencing first hand the impacts of the Australian bushfires. His song “Ordinary People (Rise from the Ashes)” will lead us in an event that gives hope and healing through music. We all have a story to tell, we are all experiencing some form of Climate Crisis wherever we are on Earth. Scomber invites you to add your voice and talent to our culture and community that shares music and empathy with the world.

"As musicians, we can give voice through song to the underlying causes of these bushfires and the actions needed to prevent them in the future"  states Emily Richards,  "We can use use our talent to raise awareness and lift up spirits out of despair."

CcMixter sends love to all our esteemed Australian artists, including Rob Walker, Debbizo, and Ash Stewart.

In addition, ccMixter artist Sackjo22 has generously offered to donate $1 per uploaded remix for this event to an Australian bushfire nonprofit. Inspired by Sackjo22’s pledge, Snowflake, Jonatha Chance, and Apoxode will do the same. Should anyone else wish to join the team of donors, let us know and we’ll add you to this list.

More details about participating in Rise From The Ashes can be found on the ccmixter forums here.

Love Songs For Creatives

Do you need love songs for your Valentine's Day films, videos, games, slideshows, and more. Do you want a playlist that sets the mood.  Here's the playlist for your creative productions. 

Remember, please include attribution and adhere to the Creative Commons licenses using these tracks. Attribution is the way to show you really care.  Here's how--> http://ccmixter.org/how-to-attribute-ccmixter-tracks

Spin's Picks: ccMixter Best of 2019

These are Spinningmerkaba's picks from the 1000's of uploads we received in 2019.  We all have our favorites, and a lot of them are right here in a playlist that is dynamic, user-friendly and free!  

Listen, Download and Share!

Best of 2019 Spin's Picks Playlist