The coronavirus pandemic has seen the music world hit pause on scheduled albums and tours around the world. From established icons to local, unsigned acts, fans are facing up to a year’s wait before they can see their favourite bands again.
Dundee and Perth based rockers Tapedeck 45 had to postpone a planned summer tour around the UK as well as the release of their debut EP. To combat a period of inactivity, the five-piece have managed to create a three-track EP recorded from their own homes, with the belief that they could make something positive from this unprecedented situation.
The Songs for the Social Distanced EP kicks off with Home, a song written about the emotions everyone connected with the band had been feeling during the lockdown period. The song features two choruses, the first sung softly before a heavier follow through, which the band claim is “a resounding kick back against some of the negativity”. Although written about times of adversity, you can’t help but nod your head to the instrumentals accompanying lead singer Samuel Stewart‘s voice.
The acoustic-led Reclaim Me follows, with Stewart’s lyrics wishing the listener stays strong during the pandemic and try to maintain some sort of normality through basic tasks and hobbies. The singalong chorus, including the line “I let the emotions take control of me. Got to stand tall now, got to reclaim me” certainly sends a powerful message, making sure that everything will be okay in the end.
The final song of the collection, All You Gotta Do, certainly sounds a lot more upbeat than its predecessor; however the lyrics paint a different story. The band states that the song “addresses the issue that most musicians will face when locked up, becoming an alcoholic”. Like Reclaim Me, the words sung in the closing part of the release can be influential to a listener who may feel down on their luck during these testing times. The jam involving all five members at the end of the song definitely needs to be played loud!
Songs for the Social Distanced is now available to stream on all leading distributers including Apple Music, Spotify and Soundcloud. The band has kindly informed listeners that should they feel that it is too difficult a time to spend money or if they do not have access to any of the mentioned platforms, then they should email Tapedeck45music@gmail.com to receive a free download. They would also like to ensure that they are in no need of financial reward and urge anybody who wishes to make a donation to send this to the NHS and Social Services in a time of need.