Good old fashion rock and roll is one of the best cures to all ailments.

Have a broken heart? Maybe had a tough week? Rock and Roll has a song for that.

Or on the flip side- have a great week? Got some good news? Rock and Roll has a song for that, too.

And when the world is at it’s most upside down- which it certainly feels like it is during 2020- rock and roll has been there to keep us sane, keep us moving and keep us entertained despite the rocky road ahead.

But how are the experts at rocking and rolling who normally spend their days on the road, connecting with fans and playing live music handling the uncertainty that 2020 has thrown at all of us? We had the chance to chat with one of music’s rising rock acts, Ghost of Sunset, to find out what they are doing to stay busy and how they are learning to connect with fans and share their passions in new forms- including relying on social media instead of live shows to help spread the word of their upcoming EP.

You can read our full interview with Ghosts of Sunset below where they chat about all things 2020, their new songs and more, and be sure to check out their latest single “Never Goodbye,” out now.

Second Society Report: How are you holding up during this insane year that is 2020? Hopefully your friends and families are staying safe and healthy! 

Ghosts of Sunset: We’re all hanging in there. You never think you’ll live to see something like this, but here we are. The good news is, we’re seeing creative people remain creative, seeing some amazing “quarantine” collaborations, and hopefully re-enforcing the fact that human beings NEED the music and the arts to survive. Artists will continue to process and report on the insanity that is happening right now. It’s how the story is told and has been told throughout history. Artists are the communicators. 

SSR: Did you have any big releases or tours that were put on hold because of the pandemic? How has that affected the band? (could be personally, financially, morale wise, etc.) 

GOS: We finished up the Ghosts of Sunset EP just as quarantines were put into place, and released it during a worldwide pandemic. The good news is people were available to listen and connect, the bad news is it’s prevented us from going directly to them. It’ll happen. Any uncertainty takes a toll on people so we’re all feeling that additional stress of “what’s gonna happen tomorrow?” Financially we fund our band business via live music and merchandise revenue. That’s been taken away from us and so many others. Not only musicians, but venues, crews, transportation, catering, etc… Our industry is in a tailspin and we need support from any avenue we can. But again, music will survive. It’s what we do.

SSR: How have you been spending your newfound “downtime” while the world has been essentially shut down? 

GOS: Writing, recording, collaboration, navigating the “new” ways our industry is run. Every day we’re learning and adjusting. 

SSR: Have you picked up any new hobbies while quarantining that you’d like to share? 

GOS: Personally, I’ve been grateful that I’ve been a distance runner for several years. It’s the perfect socially distanced, pandemic proof activity. Outside of that, it’s still music driven. Write, record, release, promote. It’s just what we’ve always done. 

SSR: Have you worked on any new releases during this time? Any that are already out or that we can get a sneak peak of? 

GOS: We’re currently promoting our single “Miles In-Between” on Golden Robot Records and our second single “Never Goodbye” is also out now.

SSR: If already out- what was the inspiration for the release? Have you written any songs specifically about the state of the world right now? 

GOS: “Miles In-Between” tells the story of how the road and touring can take its toll on relationships. It’s part of an overall conceptual story that is told on our EP Headed West which is due before the end of the year. The EP follows as a fictional band from their small Midwestern town to the Sunset Strip in an effort to find fortune and fame in the 1980s “hair metal” explosion that took place. The odd thing is, the idea of physical distance negatively impacting lives is unfortunately too relevant in the current situation we find ourselves in. 

SSR: How has it been being an artist in a time when you cannot tour? How have you been working to promote your music and expand your reach? 

GOS: We’ve very lucky to live in an era when the internet has opened avenues to sharing and promoting music. We’ve been lucky to talk to music journalists, podcasts, and other information sources about what we’re doing. However, NOTHING on Earth compares with sharing actual physical space with other humans and exchanging the energy that occurs during a live show. 

SSR: Do you have any words of advice for fans that are feeling particularly bummed out about the live music world coming to a halt? 

GOS: Know that throughout history there have been those who wished to put an end to music itself and never been successful. Don’t think of it as a hard stop, think of it as a pause. It’ll be back and better than ever. We’re learning new things that are going to make live music safer and more enjoyable for everyone. 

SSR: When the world returns to a safer spot and we are able to (hopefully) attend live shows again- say in 2021- what do you hope to achieve? 

GOS: Incredible gratitude for every single face we see at those shows. Hopefully on the other side, audiences will be more engaged, attentive and grateful as well. Maybe we needed something to shake us awake and remind us that MOMENTS matter. It’s not about capturing a moment on your cell phone, but it’s about actively PARTICIPATING in a moment with your fellow humans. We’re all being shown the value in all the arts.

SSR: Is there anything you wish your fans would know about you or about the current state of the music world?

GOS: We appreciate all the support and love. We appreciate the fact that people will get music via alternate sources and listen to something new. Yes, the music BUSINESS is in trouble, but MUSIC is bigger than any business and certainly bigger than this pandemic. It’s woven into the fabric of who we are as human beings. We’ll all be back together soon.

You can stream “Never Goodbye” out now, and be sure to connect with Ghosts of Sunset now via the links below in order to stay up to date on all things Headed West.

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