Like many other artists, Manchester artists DJ Silver and DJ Prophecy, better known as North Base, have seen a lot of events where they were supposed to perform, getting cancelled because of Covid. What is it like being an artist in the music industry at the moment? Laura Van Alphen, an intern at Unity Radio, talks to one half of the duo, DJ Silver.
Q: How did the pandemic change your diary?
A: ‘I have got no diary now, all my gigs have been cancelled. They have all been moved forward to next year. At the minute it is very hard. I feel like the climate that we are in is not really ready to sell music. I am still putting the same amount of effort into it, but I am not getting paid, but it’s all I know.’
Q: You are giving shows through livestreams. Is that something you started doing especially because of the pandemic?
A: ‘We have done a few livestreams in the past but not actual DJ ones, more like where we’ve been at events so we filmed the event. But with what’s happened with us not being able to DJ and a lot of our supporters and fans want us to come and perform so we’re just doing what we can.’
NORTH BASE TV PT.21 https://t.co/Ixt4ZaSE2D
— NORTH BASE (@NORTHBASEUK) October 16, 2020
Q: What are you doing with your ‘free time’?
A: ‘I am here, I am in the studio, just making music. We just got a single out, about 3 weeks ago called ‘Light It Up’, which did really well. Other than that we haven’t really done anything. We have got to promote our stuff online or via the radio but that has taken 50% off all our listeners straight away, just gone because a lot of our listeners and people who buy our music are people that come to the events. They don’t know who you are until you turn up on that stage.’
Q: You have got events planned for next year, some are abroad as well. How are you feeling about that?
A: ‘Hopefully the ones abroad will happen, it’s mainly the ones here that I am quite scared of. I have got a few shows in April but they’re saying we are not going to get out of this until another 8 months. It’s a bit touch and go with the shows there. I am excited for the shows but I am very wary about them as well. At the moment I am just playing it day by day.’
Q: How do you see the future in the music industry?
A: ‘If I can stay a DJ then I will, if not I’ll just have to find another job. But it’s all I know. I don’t have another trait, I am just a DJ and a producer.’
Q: Any advice for artist who are having a hard time at the moment as well?
A: ‘Talk and listen to music and create more music.’
Check out their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and listen to ‘Light it up’ on our playlist here.
Article by Laura Van Alphen
