The music industry has seen a major shift in recent years. Artists are breaking through online by going viral on social media platforms. Gone are the days, it seems, of being ‘discovered’ at a gig or being in the right place at the right time.
This has meant that the pressures to be ever present across all social media platforms have increased tenfold, particularly since the pandemic began and all live performances got cancelled.
Rising singer Nathalie Miranda, who has just released her latest single ‘Battle Scars’ feels very strongly about the responsibilities placed on independent artists and the subsequent consequences of having to be online almost 24/7.
“I grew up in a time where the only place I could hear about my favourite artists was on TV or in magazines. You had to wait to hear the latest single or to read the latest interview. Today, everything is literally at our fingertips, and with this comes immense pressure to not let your fans down. I engage with my fans every single day across multiple platforms. I feel guilty if I don’t have the time to do this every day, even if that is to my own detriment.”
“Especially during lockdown, artists are taking every opportunity to get their name and music heard. Last year, I agreed for a few of my videos to be placed on a company’s page on social media. I was not prepared for the trolling that followed this video being posted. I have never in my whole life been subjected to the abuse that I experienced with this video. The comments were so awful, ranging from people telling me that I should never sing again, to people commenting on my appearance. I was devastated and I couldn’t sing for around 4 days after that. My confidence was shattered. I got the video taken down the morning after, despite the video having been viewed 30k times. Thanks to my friends, family, and loyal fans I was able to get through this experience. But it has affected me deeply, and has left me with a certain fear every time I post something.”
Nathalie feels that there should be moderators across certain platforms to help curb these keyboard warriors, and to maintain a safe space for genuine social media users. “The internet should be a safe, happy place for users of all ages to enjoy, connect, discover and learn,” she explains.
Nathalie goes on to say that “it is impossible to please everyone. There will always be someone that doesn’t like what you do. My method of coping now is to delete any comments that are inappropriate and move on. But I can’t deny, the experience I had, albeit minor compared to others, will never leave me. It has, however, made me stronger and more determined to succeed.”
Check out Nathalie’s empowering comeback single ‘Battle Scars’ out now on all major platforms!
Opinions expressed by NY Weekly contributors are their own.
