Bandcamp are waiving their revenue share, so here are some WA artists you can support

It's no secret that the Australian music world is struggling at the moment, with the government banning all outdoor events with a capacity over 500 and, as of this morning, all indoor events with a capacity over 100 in a bid to prevent the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The result is mass cancellations across the board - tours often with months and months of work behind them cancelled overnight - and the financial losses from these cancellations are detrimental to the health of Australia's music scene, particularly in West Australia - where our close-knit and somewhat isolated community is really feeling the pinch.

To help support Australian artists in these times, many have pointed to Bandcamp - an often-overlooked music platform in the streaming era, who give a higher revenue split to the artists versus their major competitors - to support artists, encouraging people to take the money they get back from event and festival refunds and use it to support the Australian music scene, via methods such as purchasing merch and records - or digital downloads, if you prefer the purely online experience way - through Bandcamp.

This Friday (March 20th), from 6PM AEDT / 3PM AWST through to 6PM AEDT / 3PM AWST the following day, Bandcamp are waiving their revenue share of purchases - i.e. giving 100% of a purchase's revenue to the artists, instead of keeping the small cut they typically do - and because of this, we reckon there's no better time than now to dig deep, gather whatever cash you have leftover, and get yourself something special from a local artist bound to be struggling in this time; a small purchase - a $30 vinyl, for example - can really go a long way in this day and age, especially as artists' main revenue share - touring - gets snatched from underneath them.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is in full force, and artists have been hit especially hard as tours and shows are being cancelled for the foreseeable future. With such a major revenue stream drying up almost entirely, finding ways to continue supporting artists in the coming months is now an urgent priority for anyone who cares about music and the artists who create it," says Bandcamp CEO Ethan Diamond on the decision. "For many artists, a single day of boosted sales can mean the difference between being able to pay rent or not. Still, we consider this just a starting point. Musicians will continue to feel the effects of lost touring income for many months to come."

If you're not too sure where to start, we've compiled a handy list of West Australian musicians you should consider throwing your money at - they need it more than ever at the moment, and we promise they'll be forever grateful for your purchases and aid in helping them out.

Jack Davies

Jack Davies - often seen backed by his live band, The Bush Chooks - is quickly becoming a heavyweight amongst Perth folk-rock. His music is potent with rich lyricism and his strong songwriting abilities, which often combine with subtle and soft, guitar-backed instrumentals to really pull on heartstrings and make you feel things - even on songs with titles like Vegemite Sandwich. Time after time, Jack Davies surprises us with his ability to draw the emotional power of out music and emphasise it in the foreground, and it'd be extremely harsh to see this disappear in the current-day climate.

You can support Jack Davies on Bandcamp here.

Demon Days

Often found one-upping other bands in the West Australian music world through ongoing event series and showcases, Demon Days are all about the aspect of community and collaboration, and that's what makes their music so special. In their work, they navigate the intersection of gentle R&B and rich, melodic jazz, bringing together sounds both classic and modern-day and uniting them in a way that feels distinctly Demon Days - lush with passion, flavour and a whole bunch of soul. On their Bandcamp, they have a tonne of their work as well as some great merch, so get around it.

You can support Demon Days on Bandcamp here.

Noah Dillon

Another artist that thrives on collaboration and community - basically every West Australian band/musician does, mind you - is Noah Dillon, the Fremantle-based musician whose catchy, impactful indie-rock manages to span every facet of the genre and its wide-ranging variation. From slow-seeping indie to crunchy and raw bursts of energy, Noah Dillon masters whatever sound he attempts over and over again, and as a regular of Perth's live music world, his live show is one to check out when you have the chance - and when it's safe to do so, that is.

You can support Noah Dillon on Bandcamp here.

Web Rumors 

Web Rumors are a group quite unlike anything else you'll hear in Perth, and because of that, they're a group that won't disappear from the spotlight anytime soon. The six-strong outfit build their sound around nostalgia for the 70s and 80s, with more synth than you'll find in a Daft Punk record swimming around melodies that move with the groove of old-fashioned funk and new-wave disco, brought to life through a modernised lens. Their presence is always incredibly fun and joyful,  and their live show encapsulates this best than anything else.

You can support Web Rumors on Bandcamp here.

Airline Food

A band whose name references an infamous Seinfeld quote - "What's the deal with airline food?" - is one you know is worth supporting. Over the last few years, four-piece Airline Food have built themselves a name as frontrunners of twisting, psychedelic-pop, bringing Perth's internationally-recognised indie-psych-pop world - Tame Impala, obviously, and their many off-shoot bands are the big reason for the genre's localised success - and combining it with sounds that often sit outside of this area; shimmering synth-pop, groove-fuelled funk, and the list goes on.

You can support Airline Food on Bandcamp here. 

Grievous Bodily Calm 

There's a certain talent in being able to take completely instrumental music and utilise it in a way that makes it just as impactful as music with lyricism and the rest, and Grievous Bodily Calm are experts at it. Their brand of electronica is lush with melodies and rhythms that often layer deeper than anything else you'll find in the local market, using this beat-music-meets-jazz sound as a core that they expand upon and flesh out within their sprawling, high-intensity tracks. They're perfect for fans of The Avalanches and Haitus Kayoite, and their latest single Sync Step will prove it to you.

You can support Grievous Bodily Calm on Bandcamp here.

Mal de Mer 

Made up of a couple of members you may recognise from other Perth bands, Mal de Mer is a collaborative four-piece specialising in their distinct brand of catchy indie-rock. Their work takes the expected characteristics and conventions of this genre - big guitar melodies, tall-standing vocals, pacing percussive rhythms - and injects with everything from funk slides to pop hooks to crunchy surf-rock chaos, leaving a storm wherever they go and quickly becoming a go-to favourite of the local live music world.

You can support Mal de Mer on Bandcamp here.

Kopano

Kopano's music is best summarised with just one word - drama. Her work is roaring with dizzying synth melodies and dazzling glitter, capturing the lively energy of searing synth-pop and bringing it together with an energy and confidence that oozes through her music's every rhythm and melodies. What sets Kopano apart, however, is her ability to mould together the worlds of music, fashion and art - taking the colour and life of her work and bringing it to a fully-realised visual vision at the same time.

You can support Kopano on Bandcamp here.

We wish we had the time to cover everyone, but in case none of the above take your fancy, why not dive into some of the below:

Homebrand - grunge-rock. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Izatang - jazz-y soul. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Sara Salt - shoegaze-pop. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Tether - alt-pop. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Pot Plant House Party - alt-rock. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Tanaya Harper - indie-pop. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Grace Armstrong - folk. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Gazey - alt-pop/R&B. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Lana Rothnie - shoegaze. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Great Gable - alt-rock. Follow 'em on Bandcamp.

Hang in there, folks.