😷 by calmcalmcalm

All proceeds will be donated to the Center for Grieving Children in Portland, ME.

“This collection of covers, recorded near the end of 2021 in my bedroom, feels like a step in a new direction for my music which I hope to explore further. These songs have helped me meditate on and process the pandemic, and I chose them to record because I feel they have the capacity to be cathartic for a lot of folks' experiences over the past couple of years. I believe that what we are continually facing upon waking everyday will be understood differently in a few years, once there is more time for reflection- The surface of a body of water looks far different, and is much more difficult to use as a mirror, when below the surface. I’ve chosen to attach an excerpt from Samuel James’ ‘Racisms, Home for the Holidays’ (Mainer, 2021), as he is able to express the thoughts and feelings I’ve been trying to explain to folks better than I ever could.”
-calmcalmcalm

“Just so we’re clear on what we’re up against, regardless of the fact that Maine has some of the highest vaccination rates in the country, we are losing our fight against COVID-19. Our hospitals are at a reduced capacity due to healthcare worker shortages. On top of that, our hospitals are already full. Last November there were 67 COVID deaths in Maine. As of this writing, there have already been 136 COVID deaths this November. New cases, hospitalizations and patients on ventilators are all at peaks far beyond anything we’ve seen so far in the pandemic. And, again, we have some of the highest vaccination rates in the country. We’re obviously doing something wrong and I haven’t even mentioned the new Omicron variant yet. 

I know many of you are thinking ‘these goddamned unvaccinated people are gonna kill us all!’ I know this is not a popular idea, but that’s not really the problem. I know they’re a problem, and their existence points to our ever-crumbling society in a variety of ways, but them being wholly at fault here just doesn’t make sense. In order for them to be fully responsible for our terrifying growth in numbers, their numbers would also have to be growing. But there are not more unvaccinated Mainers than ever. The opposite is true. They’ve been steadily dying this whole time.

Our problem is institutional. If there is a public emergency of any sort, you expect the institutional response to be a type of evacuation, then some sort of identification, evaluation and eventual nullification of the threat before resuming normality. If a tornado is ripping through downtown, you don’t expect the Emergency Broadcast System to screech out that tone only to then tell you to have a nice day at work. An approaching tsunami shouldn’t inspire the lifeguard to compliment some children on their sandcastles while telling others to behave themselves. Imagine there was an active shooter in your area and the police response was:

‘Don’t worry! There are tons of people in the area and he’s only got so many bullets. The chances of you being one of the particular individuals to be shot are actually pretty slim, if you think about it. Plus, even if you do get shot, people survive bullet wounds all the time! We’re actually encouraging everyone to start wearing bullet-proof vests. Some people don’t think they work, but they actually greatly reduce the chances of dying by gunshot. No, they’re not perfect and yes, a bullet can still kill you, but have you thought about living a healthier lifestyle?’

Obviously, if that was the response to a public emergency, we would feel as though our institutions had failed us. Stimulus checks have dried up, but FEMA will give you up to $9,000 from their COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program to bury a loved one, so make of that what you will. With the new Omicron variant and the inevitable post-Thanksgiving surge approaching, our situation is about to get really bad. Shutdowns work, but not without stimulus, so contact your representatives. Badger them. And, of course, get vaccinated, wear your masks, and please stay home for the holidays.”

-Samuel James, “Racisms, Home for the Holidays” Mainer, December 2021 issue.

Find the full article here:
https://mainernews.com/racisms-40/

Here's each artist's bandcamp:
Hovvdy: https://hovvdy.bandcamp.com/
Alex G: https://sandy.bandcamp.com/
Horse Jumper of Love: https://horsejumperoflove.bandcamp.com/
Purple Mountains: https://purplemountains.bandcamp.com/
Foxing: https://foxingtheband.bandcamp.com/
Cassandra Jenkins: https://cassandrajenkins.bandcamp.com/
Laura Marling: https://lauramarling.bandcamp.com/

Music, soundscapes, and sound art by or involving $hane Cynewski.

Based in Portland, ME.

Mixing and mastering services available!

Contact info below.

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