Fresh Picks For April’s Bandcamp Friday
From our ears to yours, Afterglow Staffers compiled a list of Bandcamp-friendly indie artists who have been recently dominating our playlists.
Written by Afterglow Staffers
Image courtesy of Bandcamp
Last March, the online music marketplace launched a series of revenue share days in an effort to support small artists facing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19. When it’s business as usual, Bandcamp typically takes a 10% cut for physical merchandise sales and 15% for digital music, with the rest of the proceeds going to the artist after payment processing fees. But on these “Bandcamp Days,” the company waives its cut in favor of the artist.
Seeing as we unfortunately remain in a pandemic, the platform continued Bandcamp Fridays into 2021 — with the last scheduled revenue-sharing day set for next month, May 7, as of publication.
For these final few Fridays, take full advantage of the day’s opportunity to boost your faves and find new artists to support, like the ones we’ve recommended below. To discover even more talent, check out Afterglow’s previous Bandcamp lists for Texan artists and Black American artists.
All day today until 11:59 p.m. PDT (2 a.m. CT), 100% of profits made on Bandcamp will go directly to the artists.
Gun Aid LP - Various Artists
Image courtesy of Rusty (@personality__crisis)
Bandcamp Fridays are typically reserved for supporting artists as much as possible, but this week you’ll also get the chance to support a venue in need with the Gun Aid LP. With the first location founded in the 17th century, The Gun’s various pubs have been long-standing institutions in London’s underground music scene, launching a wide array of musicians from countless genres to success throughout the years. Some of its most accomplished electronic graduates have banded together, donating tracks to the Gun Aid LP and hoping to do their part in saving the struggling historic venues. GLOK, Daniel Avery, Bon Voyage, Mister Deltoid and many more comprise an eclectic group of electronic acts who will be sure to deliver a bone-rattling mix from top to bottom. Whether it be techno, house, industrial, dub, or EBM, there won’t be a corner of your dance taste buds left unsatisfied. Grab the LP in vinyl or donate what you can — Bandcamp Friday means every last cent will go straight to some of London’s most important venues in need! If you’re a fan of any electronic music coming out of the UK, this just might be the most important release you get a chance to buy. — Adithya Srinivas
Duval Timothy
Photo courtesy of Sophie Davidson
UK experimental producer Duval Timothy puts together an ensemble cast of features and collaborators for his project Help, and the result is an incredibly diverse range of tracks that demonstrate Timothy’s immense potential. With co-production credits from Rodaidh McDonald (known for work with The xx and King Krule) and Marta Salogni (co-producer for Björk), Timothy creates a thoughtful, beautiful, but often dark record that still finds a way to be danceable around every corner. His versatility is apparent in the genres he manages to traverse, from piano ballads to synth heavy bangers, field recording ambient to jazz, and hip-hop to some classical-infused tracks. The forays into each genre are supported by the featured artists, like Vegyn, Twin Shadows, Melanie Faye, and Lil Silva, each of which offer performances that complement Timothy’s chameleon-esque instrumentals that flow underneath. This phenomenal diversity in sound is very apparent through Timothy’s earlier discography as well, a promising sign for a burgeoning career. — Adithya Srinivas
Nautilus vs. Pangolin
Photo courtesy of George Glass
Nautilus vs. Pangolin may only have a few projects available on Bandcamp, but what this four-piece lacks in repertoire, they easily make up for with their attention to detail and unbelievable ability to span multiple genres in just a few minutes. Their recent EP, Littleroot, is a captivating audible adventure characterized by copious melodic surprises and some djent-y mischief that encapsulates their jazz and metal influences well, allowing them to mold those sentiments into something unique. They single-handedly elevate their music to another level with bold creativity and headstrong fearlessness that they put into every production they release. You never know exactly what you’re going to hear from the next solo or drum fill; sometimes it takes a second or third listen to hear every little detail at the core of a track. And although you may find yourself headbanging to the chugging 8-string, you also can’t help but sway to the groovy basslines that weave in and out of songs like “Cartel.” The band’s sound easily places them into their own category — they aren’t just another prog band, and they aren’t just another garage band either. Nautilus vs. Pangolin is a group of dedicated musicians with innate musical ability and a level of technical skill that has come after years of meticulous cultivation. — Micaela Garza