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The Zodiac killer film brings forth a murderous mystery in film form. Switching styles is bringing you everything you wanted or needed to know about the film’s soundtrack in this article Reviewing Zodiac (2007). “I like killing people because it is so much fun. [from segmented cipher, or coded message, sent to three local newspapers following the 1969 murders of Mike Mageau and Darlene Ferrin.]” —Zodiac Killer Introducing The Film as A Film Zodiac killer is a film about, well, the serial killer. Directed by David Fincher and based upon a screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Zodiac brings a horrifying cold case file to light. Based on the novel by Robert Graysmith, The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.. Fun Fact: Jake Gyllenhaal was David Fincher’s very first choice for the starring role. If he had declined the role, the second choice was Orlando Bloom. The film follows the Zodiac killer, a case that’s been described as the most famous unsolved murder case in American history. Hunting in the San Francisco Bay Area between December 1968 and October 1969, the Zodiac killer murdered five victims that we know of. The name Zodiac killer came from the murderer himself. This is what he called himself in a series of letters and cards that he sends to regional newspapers. This was his way of taunting both the public and the police. These letters stopped in 1974. However, in his letters and ciphers, he claimed to have murdered 37 people. “The Zodiac usually targeted young couples in secluded areas. He used both guns and knives as weapons. On at least one occasion he wore an unusual costume. On two occasions he telephoned the police afterward to report his murders” Tom Voigt, the curator of Zodiackiller.com explains the killer’s M.O. or the modus operandi. For a film about a serial killer, this was a great film. This specific murder case inspired this critically acclaimed dramatic film  Zodiac  (2007), and the influential 1971 action film  Dirty Harry , starring  Clint Eastwood . Despite this film being a fantastic crime drama, it doesn’t bring much authenticity from the case. Voigt explains that “Zodiac” is an entertaining film. However, it’s only about 35% accurate.” For example, Robert Graysmith and Paul Avery were not friends. their amicable relationship was fictionalized for the film. Reviewing Zodiac (2007) Soundtrack This Is a film that you’d expect drama, intensity, and horror. One thing you may not expect is a soundtrack that is on fucking point. Originally, the director wanted the soundtrack to have more of a vintage feel by using popular movies during the nearly three decades of the investigation. Fincher and the music supervisor George Drakoulias explored songs of the era such as Three Dog Night ‘s cover of “ Easy to Be Hard “. The starting introduction song, “Easy to Be Hard” by Three Dog Night sets the mood for the film. It’s certainly a poignant first song with the lyrics, how can people be so heartless? How can people be so cruel? Easy to be hard Easy to be cold”. Adding in music that’s upbeat is chilling. That’s what the soundtrack adds to the film because this isn’t a horror movie. This film isn’t a story about a fictional serial killer like Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees. This is the Zodiac Killer that has killed 7 people within our lifetime. It’s real-life horror. Final Thoughts: Who Is the Zodiac Killer? In the end, we’re still left with eh question “Who is the Zodiac Killer?” If you’re like me, then having a story as scary and real as the Zodiac killer, you need closure. That’s what adds to the horror of these killings. There’s no one to hold accountable. Although they had a suspect in mind, authorities were never able to directly connect him to the crime. That’s what adds to the horror. It’s unsolved. There are many theories and many more questions to this case. It remains an unsolved murder. As of the April of 2004 was closed and remained inactive until March 2007. Though Napa County, Solano County , and the California Department of Justice have maintained an open file on this crime spree. The Zodiac killer is responsible for the deaths of David Arthur Faraday, Betty Lou Jensen, Darlene Elizabeth Ferrin, Cecelia Ann Shepard, Paul Lee Stine that we know of. There are over 30 potential victims of which we aren’t aware. May they rest in peace. Photo by Aviz from Pexels Want to know where I got my facts for Reviewing Zodiac (2007)? Check out my citations list below to learn more about the Zodiac Killer. Fagan, K (2021). Zodiac ‘340 Cipher’ cracked by code experts 51 years after it was sent to the S.F. Chronicle. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/Zodiac-340-cypher-cracked-by-code-expert-51-years-15794943.php Graysmith, R (1976). Zodiac (1st ed.). Leah Asmelash and Cheri Mossburg, C (2021). After 51 years, the Zodiac Killer’s cipher has been solved by amateur code breakers. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/us/Zodiac-killer-cypher-340-code-trnd/index.html Sarah Moon and Cheri Mossburg, C (2021). Group claims it has solved the identity of the Zodiac Killer as law enforcement investigates. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/06/us/Zodiac-killer-identity-law-enforcement-investigation/index.html Voigt, T (2021). Homepage – ZODIACKILLER.COM. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://Zodiackiller.com/ Wang, H (2021). Half a century later, the Zodiac Killer’s identity is still a mystery. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://thevarsity.ca/2021/10/24/Zodiac-killer-discovery-unsolved/ Watchmojo.com (2021). Top 10 Things Zodiac Got Factually Right and Wrong. Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn9Jdc8fEQ4 Zodiac killer | History, Murders, Movie, Letters, Suspects, & Facts (2021). Retrieved 28 October 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Zodiac-killer

Switching Styles introduces an Adrian Sutherland album review of When Magic Hits with nine breathtaking tracks. Introducing the Album Adrian Sutherland has numerous talents, dreams, and plans for ways he wants to give back to his community and his fans. His new alum is just one way he connects with his audience and listeners. Released on September 17, 2021, this American roots rock album is phenomenal. This album holds an important meaning right now. Getting inspiration from the global Covid-19 pandemic , Adrian Sutherland has created an album to share his thoughts, concerns, emotions, and concerns. He explains that “The world we live in seems to be in chaos, with no signs of settling back down to ‘normal’ anytime soon. Some of these things scare me at times. Not knowing where all the love is, not knowing where we’re heading as a country. Are we truly ready to walk with each other in a good way? I was thinking about all of these things as I was writing this album.” When Magic Hits Track List Big City Dreams (4:53) Paranoia (4:19) Magic Hits (4:10) Once That Was You (3:31) Nowhere to Run (3:31) Scared (3:31) Right Here (3:21) Walk with Me (4:36) Make Me Better (4:49) Final Thoughts When the Magic Hits is a beautiful album. It is created from a very emotional place for Adrian Sutherland, “When the Magic Hits is about deeper meaning for me. These songs allowed me to explore some personal stuff I’ve never been able to on past albums. Some of the themes are sensitive but it was important to write about them.”

KDrummer 16 Is a drummer working on his music career during the pandemic. Below he dives into your questions in a Q&A with Switching Styles. Photo by Josh Sorenson from Pexels Introduction The covid pandemic has impacted so many different aspects of the world. The Coronavirus pandemic has made it hard for many citizens around the world to function day to day. The pandemic has interrupted normal functions such as work, school, visiting family, recreation, entertainment to name only a few. The music industry is one of the hardest-hit industries. Musicians throughout the world are feeling the hardships of the COVID-19 lockdowns. KDrummer 16 is just one of the artists being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. KDrummer 16 provides “ Fun, entertaining, and unique drum covers of hard rock and metal songs from various artists”. With drum covers such as “It is the End” by Ice Nine Kills , “ Riot” by Three days grace , “Ticks and Leeches” by Tool, and so many more! Interview with KDrummer 16 and Covid-19 Below is a Q&A with Switching Styles and KDrummer 16 where we delve deeper into how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted him and his music career. What has your experience been during Covid-19? My experience with Covid-19 has been luckily minimal with bad news, but it has definitely impacted my life. I’m currently in school right now, and all of my classes are now online. My job is taking all the proper protocols to present the spread of the virus, and it’s been months since I have seen certain friends and family. For my musical pursuits, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in time to see my band a few times a month up until recently, when cases began to increase once again. My band, The Extremity Complexion, formed just before Covid-19. It’s been quite an interesting journey trying to write original material, perfect cover songs, and even promote ourselves. Luckily, we’ve put out quite a bit of material given our circumstances, and I’m hopeful for the future that lies ahead with the band! How has it changed since March? Right now, not too much has changed for me since March. With case numbers rising again, we were put on quarantine for another three weeks. With that comes limited contact with my friends and family as it was like in March. However, during the summer months, I lived a semi-normal life again, which was very nice! I practiced with my band, started a new job, and was able to do short vacations throughout those months. Wearing P.P.E has become a new normal for me, and even though it’s been almost a year, not too much has changed with the state I’m living in and how I view this whole pandemic. What impact has it had on the music industry? Unfortunately, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the music industry. Bands are unable to tour, and some are unable to record new material. With all of this time now available, many bands have written entire albums to generate revenue once again, which is good. Musicians had to make a shift on connecting with their fans, and many have done it well; live streams, drive-in concerts, and virtual performances are now a new normal. For new artists, to be discovered requires an expansive social media outlet compared to the normal playing gigs and becoming known approach. What are the supports available for musicians? Supports available for musicians ultimately boil down to the fans and followers. To make a career out of music involves other people to enjoy what one puts out, creating a dependency on the artists from the fans. For these artists to have support during these unique times, fans need to purchase merchandise and to show that they still want to hear from the artists. In turn, the artists will put out new material creating a cycle of buying and selling that the music industry needs to thrive. Are the supports enough? In my opinion, the supports are enough given the circumstances. Some fans can’t afford to support the artists the way they want to because of the financial pit they may be in. With many people on unemployment, spending money on wants instead of needs isn’t logical, and that causes the support musicians need to not be as good as it could be. But it’s enough for the musicians now because they too are struggling during these times. How have you seen the music industry change or adapt? As mentioned before, I’ve seen the music industry shift toward social media and virtual forms of material. Instead of playing live, bands are now doing virtual and live streams to connect with the fans. But live performances are still happening, with drive-in concerts becoming quite popular. Since March, I’ve watched about three virtual concerts, and I enjoyed all of them because it gave me camera angles unable to be seen experienced at actual concerts. However, nothing is quite as exhilarating as the actual in-person concerts that so many people are missing during these times. What advice would you give to musicians that are struggling? The advice I’d give to musicians struggling during Covid-19 is to just keep trying to promote yourself on all forms of social media. Even if you start with small amounts of likes and views, the more material you put out, the more followers and fans you’ll gain. People are desperate for entertainment now. If the material you put out is something people are interested in, I guarantee the views will begin to climb! Concluding Thoughts Being a musician during a pandemic is a difficult thing to maneuver. Whether it’s attempting to book shows as they’re constantly being cancelled or having to reschedule for some time in the far distant foggy future, it’s rough. Live music has certainly taken a hit throughout the world.

With Ether has been rocking the internet with their skillful and intricate guitar arrangements both original and covers. Below is an interview between With Ether and Switching Style’s very own Dylanna Fisher . Interviews such as this give a great insight into the heart of the music industry, our musicians. Check out With Ether’s work on YouTube , Spotify , Deezer and so many more . How did you each get started in music? Simon: I grew up in a family of musicians. Dad was a rocker. Mum was a classical guitarist. My musical tastes were shaped by what my dad used to put on the car stereo on the way to school, mainly classic rock bands and artists like deep purple, The Eagles, Joe Satriani etc. Started playing drums at 4 years old to be part of the family band, then picked up a guitar at 12 years old. Al: I come from a somewhat musical family. My mum played piano and my dad was a champion player of the erhu, a classical Chinese stringed instrument. I had taken piano and violin lessons, even erhu like my dad as a young child but never really took it anywhere. When I was 14, I made the mistake of choosing music as one of my elective subjects at secondary school. Which required me to perform a recital at the end of the course in the exam, while not being able to play any instruments well at all. I’d been into Rock and Metal music for a little while then. I’d always wanted to learn guitar but had been embarrassed to admit it. So I took my school music course as the excuse to start taking guitar lessons. How would you describe your sound? Al: It’s always difficult to describe your own sound when there aren’t other groups or artists doing it, especially when the influences are so broad. I personally tend to think of what we do as ‘Contemporary Acoustic’. But I’ve read comments describing us as ‘Acoustic Metal’ which is not entirely inaccurate I suppose. Who are your musical influences? Al: Our personal influences are so wide-ranging. We couldn’t possibly name them all. But for what we’re doing in the duo, we were initially very inspired by what the artists at CandyRat Records were doing, particularly Jimmy Wahlsteen, Andy McKee, Don Ross, Antoine Dufour, etc. Those guys’ influence very obviously all over our whole catalogue of music, with the guitar body percussion and use of harmonics. We’ve also been influenced by Japanese guitar duo Depapepe, who some of our viewers have flatteringly compared us to. As you could probably tell, we’re also heavily influenced by Rock and Metal. As Simon mentioned he was influenced by Joe Satriani and Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple). When I first got deep into guitar, I was into Heavy Metal guitarists like Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne), James Hetfield (Metallica) and so on. Learning their styles helped me get a solid grounding in the physical aspects of guitar playing. In terms of our arrangement and composition style, we’re influenced by the same composers who compose the music we rearrange. Nobuo Uematsu, Akira Yamaoka, and so on. We learn from the masters. Why perform under the stage name With Ether? Where did the inspiration for the name come from? What does that mean to you? Al: When we started the duo, it was originally a side project to the Metal band that we were in. Our idea was to go in the opposite direction with this project and create a kind of tranquil ‘healing’ music for ourselves and others. Simon started floating the word ‘Ether’ around, a typical name for a healing potion in RPG games. After we’d brainstormed for a while, we decided ‘With Ether’ was nice and snappy, and communicated what we wanted to do with our music. Why did you start on YouTube? Al: The original reason we started uploading to YouTube was really only to have links and examples of our playing to send to music venues and event promoters so that we could get gigs. It wasn’t until we started getting more popular with the rearrangements that we really considered ourselves ’YouTubers’ as such. When we started the channel, uploading videos to YouTube wasn’t really thought of as a career path by most people. How do you think YouTube functions as a platform for musicians? Al: I think YouTube is a very useful tool for talented musicians to get themselves out there and show their skills if they’re trying to get hired. However, attracting lots of viewers to your channel does require you to be a ‘content creator’ and not just a musician. As we know the YouTube algorithm is not always predictable or in our favour all the time. How do you feel about the internet in the music business? Al: For us personally, the internet’s influence on the music business has been positive. The ability for us to release music and garner an audience without having to go on the road, to collaborate with each other from halfway around the world, to even get financial support from our fans from all around the world directly through album sales and sites like Patreon. Saying that we aren’t a part of the ‘record industry’ as such, and YouTube is not a primary source of income for either of us. Perhaps if we were making and selling albums through the older medium of recording contracts and labels, we’d have a different opinion. But overall, it’s been a positive experience for us. What are your thoughts on copyright? Al: As far as copyright is concerned, I personally don’t have a problem with a portion of the ad revenue of a cover version or rearrangement we’ve released going to the copyright holder. It is their intellectual property after all, and they have a legal right to it. Some copyright holders can be excessively litigious and unreasonable. But that’s not a problem we’ve ever been faced with too much and we’ve never had a video taken down over copyright issues. Why do rearrangements in particular? Al: From our perspective, taking pieces from widely varying genres and arranging them for two acoustic guitars is a lot of fun and a great creative exercise. How do they tend to compare to the originals? Al: Comparing to the original largely depends on the piece. In general, our arrangements end up relying more on groove and a bit of backbeat, especially when it comes to the big orchestral themes such as Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy or God of War. With only two guitars, it’s not possible to replicate the magnitude and scope of these huge orchestral arrangements. It’s important to take advantage of the unique aspects and physicality of the guitar to give the arrangements its own twist, rather than be married to the idea of sounding just like the original. You want to be faithful to the original, but you want to create something people will want to listen to based on its own merits as well. What is the typical process? Al: Our process ever since we’ve been separate has been fairly simple. One of us will create a full arrangement on our own. Then send the separate parts with metronome for the other to record over. Once that’s done, audio and video get sent over to mix and sync up, and it’s all done. When we get together in person, we like to create arrangements and write songs in a collaboration, but since we live halfway across the world from each other this process is much more efficient. You’ve been revered by composers such as Akira Yamaoka, and Noriyuki Iwadare. How did that come about? Al: If anyone’s doing the revering, it’s definitely us. We have been very lucky to receive praise from several composers of the themes we’ve rearranged, such as Akira Yamaoka and Noriyuki Iwadare as you’ve mentioned. We’re not entirely sure how they caught wind of our work. Most likely one of our fans must have gotten in touch with them via Twitter and showed them our work. It’s a surreal experience to get noticed and encouraged by these composers who we admire and are inspired by. With Ether also performs original music as well as arrangements, why do you choose to have both? Al: As I mentioned earlier, when we started the channel, it was really just a tool to have our songs and performances on video so that we could send the links to venues and promoters in order to get gigs. For the first few months of the channel existing all the material was original. We didn’t start doing video game rearrangements until Simon one day came up with the Metal Gear Solid Medley, and since people enjoyed them, we continued making more. Our channel is about doing the music that we both enjoy. If a song takes our fancy, be it original or cover, there’s no reason not to do it. How do they differ? Al: The processes of writing the rearrangements compared to originals aren’t too much different from each other. When it comes to originals, obviously you have the freedom of creating the music from scratch, which could be a plus or a minus depending on who you ask. For me personally, there’s an intellectual challenge involved with creating rearrangements, especially highly complex orchestral pieces with lots of moving parts when you’ve only got two guitars. Deciding which elements of the original to draw from, what to leave out, what to add your own personal spin to. All these little things make rearranging a bit more challenging. What is the importance of music? Al: The importance of music is immeasurable. Outside of YouTube, we are both music teachers. Learning music even as only a hobby is a great experience for children and adults alike. Even just listening to music has been a transformative experience for countless people. Do you notice a difference between online music and live music? Al: Online music and live concerts are obviously very different from each other. There’s something unique about being in a room watching a musician play. That experience can’t be replicated at any other time or place. Being able to record and upload your music online is obviously a great thing, especially now in these times when a lot of us are still forced to stay home. There’s something exciting about being at a live show that film can’t capture. What are some of your fondest memories throughout your music career? Al: There were many great moments early in our YouTubing days. One that stands out to me is the time we crashed London’s Hyper Japan festival when we scored performer’s passes playing guitar for our violinist friend Masa in 2012. In the process, we managed to get on Nico Nico Douga’s (popular video streaming site in Japan) live stream of the event and performed the Metal Gear Solid Medley. Almost immediately after that, our subscriber count shot up by about 200 in the space of maybe 30 minutes. Right then we realized we were on to something with these rearrangements. Other than that, my fond memories are just us goofing around making the arrangements. Keeling over laughing at the mistakes we would make after 20 takes. What are some obstacles throughout your music career? Al: I’m not sure we’ve experienced any great hardship or obstacle as a group. One challenge we did face is when Simon initially moved from the UK back to Thailand and we first started doing videos in split-screen. It was a challenge working out the system of how we would do it. If there was ever an obstacle, it may just be us finding the time to write and record the arrangements. Our lives have gotten far busier from the time when we were students, which is why sometimes we’ve gone as long as 6 months without releasing a video. What advice would you give to musicians just starting out on YouTube? Al: For any young musicians just starting out on YouTube, just keep making the best stuff you can and putting it out there. Any YouTuber much bigger than us will tell you; you just have to be consistent. What are some projects you have in progress right now? Al: We always have new projects on the way, but we don’t want to spoil any surprises. You’ll just have to visit our channel, subscribe, stay tuned, and stay ethereal! Final Thoughts With Ether, known for their intricate guitar arrangements, has gained popularity through their original works and covers. In an interview with Dylanna Fisher, band members Simon and Al share their musical backgrounds and influences. They also explain the origins of their name, which conveys a tranquil, healing aesthetic. They discuss the importance of YouTube as a platform for musicians, their philosophy on copyright, and the creative challenge of rearranging complex orchestral pieces. Additionally, they reflect on the significance of music, the differences between online and live performances, and offer advice for budding musicians. New projects are also in the works, inviting fans to stay tuned. Keep an eye out for more of their amazing content by following both Switching Styles and With Ether on social media.

With Ether is made up of two amazing musicians. Simon Leong and Alasdair Poon are an Acoustic Guitar Duo that specializes in Guitar music, Covers, Originals themed around video games, anime, and pop culture. “In Japanese Role-Playing video games, Ether is an item commonly used to restore the player’s life force; in 2009, we formed with a mission statement to create music with that same healing quality,” they explain the inspiration for their namesake in their website . They’ve received 8,678,531 views on their YouTube Channel since February 26, 2011. Their instrumental music is amazing, to say the very least. With skillful and intricate guitar duet arrangements, they have gained revered praise from composers such as Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill) and Noriyuki Iwadare (Grandia) and been featured by Capcom Unity. Meeting in 2008, Simon and Al discovered their kindred musical spirits. Two years later, they started their guitar duo under the name With Ether to commemorate their shared passion for video games and popular media. With Ether Originals They also have their original work that is fantastic to listen to. With Simon living in his hometown in Thailand and Al continuing to live in the UK, it’s been interesting for them to continue making music as a team. With the help of split-screen videos and online music production, they can bring their musical talent to the rest of the world. Here are a few examples of their original music for your listening pleasure. “Two Steps Away” by Alasdair Poon, performed and recorded by Simon Leong and Alasdair Poon “In One Hour” by Alasdair Poon and Simon Leong, Video vignette by Stephanie Leong. “The Ebb and Flow” is an Original Acoustic Instrumental, Written and performed by Simon Leong and Alasdair Poon Highlighted Covers Switching styles is here for the music quality in general and more specifically for their covers. Simon and Al bring their passion for music. They are also passionate about the artistic content of video games and popular media. Combined, this passion makes for some amazing covers. “With only two guitars, it’s not possible to replicate the magnitude and scope of these huge orchestral arrangements, so it’s important to take advantage of the unique aspects and physicality of the guitar to give the arrangements its own twist, rather than be married to the idea of sounding just like the original,” When asked about creating covers, Al Poon explains that, “You want to be faithful to the original, but you want to create something people will want to listen to based on its own merits as well”. “ Acoustic Guitar Cover of Silent Hill Medley ” Originally Composed by Akira Yamaoka “Toss A Coin to Your Witcher” by With Ether Originally by Sonya Belousova, Giona Ostinelli, Joey Batey, Marcin Przybylowicz and Percival. “Metal Gear Solid” by With Ether Originally Composed by Tappi Iwase and Harry Gregson-Williams. “Mortal Kombat Theme” Music Originally by Techno Syndrome “Pokémon Medley” Acoustic Guitar Cover by With Ether, originally by Pokémon

Introducing Cloud9; Esports Meets Video Games Companies such as Cloud9 have expanded upon playing video games competitively by adding a community aspect to it. Esports began as a subcategory of both the sports and gaming industry. They’ve made video games a spectator sport. That’s the element that brings esports the success it has. Founded and currently owned by Jack and Paullie Etienne, Cloud9 is just one example. Introducing Cloud9, a company that’s taken competitive sports and combined it with entertainment technology within the Cloud9 community. Becoming one of the best-known Esport companies, Cloud9 is worth an estimated $350 million. What Are Esports? Esports, or Electronic Sports, is a form of competitive sport focusing on video games. These competitions are structured as organized multiplayer video game competitions with professional players. These professional players compete both as individuals and teams. Competition in video games was already there. Esports took it to another level. What makes Cloud9 Different? Starting in 2013, Cloud9 has become a worldwide esports organization with championships. They boast of being the best in the business, “With championships industry-wide, unmatched viewership hours, and extensive benefits packages for players and staff, Cloud9 prides itself on being the best in all categories”. They have a range of games including Apex Legends , British Hurricane , Chess , Fortnite , Halo , League of Legends , London Spitfire , Super Smash Bros Melee , Valorant Blue , Wild Rift , World of Warcraft among many more. Of these games, League of Legends is one of the most popular and most watched Esport throughout the world. However, League of Legends isn’t leading when it comes to prize money. The top five esports games based solely on the maximum prize money awarded are  Dota 2  ($231,180,489.52),  Counterstrike: Global Offensive  ($110,688,306.47),  Fortnite  ($99,362,917.41),  League of Legends  ($82,056,088.16), and  StarCraft II  ($34,695,574.78). (Esports Earnings, 2021) Music From League of Legends League of legends, as stated previously is one of the most popular games provided through Cloud9. Below is a highlighted list of amazing League of Legends music for your next gaming session. Sunday Morning LoLz by 菇菇窩 “Get Jinxed” Wønder, Originally By League Of Legends “Legends Never Die” Cover By J.Fla , originally by League of Legends “Phoenix” By Tj Brown And Lunity , originally by League of Legends “Legends Never Die” Cover By By  Jonathan Young  And   Jordan Radvansky “Giants” Cover By Caleb Hyles , Originally By True Damage “Phoenix” By SOLENCE , originally by League of Legends “Warriors” Originally By Imagin Dragons, Cover By 2WEI And Edda Hayes “Awaken” By Wønder, Originally By League Of Legends Final Thoughts It’s more than a video game; more than a single stream. This is more than just watching because they’ve engaged the audience.

When it comes to considering hold music for any kind of business it’s important to consider hold music from the view of the customer. Hold Music adds to the stresses of being on hold. Everyone has had to endure it in one way or another. The modern world is built on technology, including a lot of phone calls and, thus, a lot of hold music. Music while on hold is everywhere. It could be a simple call to book a doctor’s appointment or a therapy appointment. It could also be a more extended call while waiting on the Alberta Government. Photo by Marcus Aurelius on When reaching out to customer or technical service representatives, it’s not uncommon to be put on hold. While waiting, you may have noticed soothing background music playing. This is known as Music-On-Hold, MOH, or Phone Hold Music. Its purpose is to alleviate the frustration and boredom of waiting on the phone. The inclusion of hold music is intended to make the wait more manageable and less stressful. By providing a calming soundtrack, customers can better remain patient and composed while their concerns are addressed. Ultimately, hold music is valuable in improving the overall customer service experience. Is Hold Music Better Than Silence? Really? Many wonder if hold music is better than silence while waiting for a phone call. The answer is, in fact, yes. Although some hold music may not be the most enjoyable to listen to, it enhances the waiting experience for callers. Without hold music, the silence could cause anxiety or frustration for the caller, leading to a negative overall experience. Therefore, hold music remains a common practice in the customer service industry. Face it; the average person doesn’t like silence. The reason that Music makes waiting better is that you have something pleasant to focus on. Also, Music makes it seem like less time has passed. Photo by Pixabay on Why is Hold Music Better Than Silence? “Music is a powerful emotional stimulus that changes our relationship with time. Time does indeed seem to fly when listening to pleasant  music,”  Psychology Today explains. “Hearing pleasant music  seems to divert  attention  away from time processing. Moreover, this attention-related shortening effect appears to be greater in the case of calm Music with a slow tempo.” Photo by Tofros.com on The USA Business Telephone Today Center  studied  the impact of keeping customers on hold with and without Music for one minute to see how their reactions differed. The first group of people, a sample size of 10,000, was placed on hold for one minute in complete silence. It went about as well as you’d expect. More than 50% of callers hung up before one minute was over. 45% of callers who stayed on the call thought they spent between three and five minutes on hold, which, based on their time perception, is a much higher amount of time. Another group of equal size was placed on hold and given the amenity of on-hold music to occupy their time. Interestingly, this group exhibited distinct behaviours compared to the initial group, who were not provided background music during their waiting period. Just 13% of people hung up the phone. Then 31% of callers thought their total hold time exceeded 60 seconds. Over half (56%) of people considered their hold time less than a minute. Thus with hold music, people are comfortable waiting longer. It simply helps the time pass faster. Why Does PhoneHold Music Suck? Although this Music can suck simply because it’s not good quality music, typically, It’s the phone system that’s used instead of the Music. If the hold music being played during a phone call sounds distorted or low-quality, it is essential to note that this is likely due to a technical limitation of the phone system. Specifically, phone systems are optimized for human voices with a different range and sound profile than music. Therefore, informing the representative on the other end of the line may be helpful if the hold music is unpleasant or difficult to listen to. By doing so, they may be able to adjust the settings or provide alternative music options that are more suitable for the phone system. Popular Songs Examples “ Dreaming Of You ” By The Coral (2002) “ Proud ” By Heather Small (2012) “ Stars ” By The Simple Red (2009) “ I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” By Whitney Houston (1987) “ Easy ” By The Commodores (1977) Final Thoughts; Hold Music From The View Of The Customer Please share your thoughts in the comments section below! We value your feedback and are interested in understanding your experience with hold music from a customer’s perspective. Photo by Yan Krukau on

The Electric Bass for beginners: Where it Fits, Proper Technique, and First Lessons is guest written by Adan Meza. Guest writing is a powerful way to bring fresh perspectives and diverse voices to a music blog, enriching its content and fostering a sense of community. By inviting different writers to contribute, blogs can tap into a wide range of expertise, experiences, and tastes, offering readers new insights into both popular and niche genres. Guest posts also allow for a dynamic exchange of ideas, where fans, musicians, and critics alike can engage with each other in meaningful conversations. This not only keeps the content exciting and relevant, but it also helps to build connections within the music industry, creating opportunities for collaboration and discovery. Introduction to The Electric Bass Hi there, my name is Adan and welcome to a beginner’s lesson to playing the bass. If you need a refresher on how notes work or on how to properly hold a bass, then please scroll down to resources and read Ariane Cap’s “How Notes Work” and the “How to Hold a Bass Guitar” article. Once you do that, you will be ready for this lesson! This lesson will cover what the role of the bass is in a band, playing notes on a Bass, and a few exercises for you to try out. With that out of the way, let’s get started! The Role of the Bass in the Band Think about the instruments you expect to see in a standard rock band. You will have drums, a bass, a lead and/or rhythm guitar, and a vocalist. The electric bass is part of the rhythm section of the band and usually works with the drums to create a steady beat for all other instruments to play on top. You as a bassist help keep the band in time (like a metronome) and fill in gaps to make the band have more body or oomph. A great example is the opening to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” which has drums, a bass, and a shaker. Could you imagine this song if the bass was just missing? A lot of the groove that makes you want to dance would just disappear. As I heard a friend of mine say, “people don’t really appreciate the presence of the bass until it’s gone.” So always remember you matter and that you are crucial to the band getting a great sound. How to Play Notes on a Bass Now with your dominant hand on the bass pickup (as shown below) you are ready to play some notes. A standard bass player will use their thumb, index, and middle finger (or T-i-m) to play the strings on a bass. Retrieved from Learntoplaymusic.com Your thumb usually mutes strings you are not currently playing or rests on the pickup as seen above. The index and middle finger do most of the playing through alternate picking (example in resources) where you alternate between your index and middle finger when you play notes. If you play any notes without holding down the strings on the neck you will play open notes on the string. When properly tuned, the strings will play an E, A, D, then a G as you go from the heaviest string to the lightest string. To get more variety, we need to place our fingers on a fret as shown below to change the open string note to a closed note. Each fret is a half-step so the notes ascend in as you go from the left end of the neck to the other. The tabs you will see later here will number the frets from left to right, so a “3” on the E string means holding down the third fret on the E-string. This would make a G note since three half-steps means E à F à F# à G.  A fret should be held down close to the fret marker but without touching it. Make sure to rest your thumb on your fretting hand behind the neck. This will improve your fretting technique and give you more leverage when you hold down strings. Here are some examples below. Images retrieved from Learntoplaymusic.com Images retrieved from Learntoplaymusic.com Reading Bass Tabs and Playing Songs Now for the fun part of the lesson: playing a song. There are many YouTube videos and tabs out there that will help you learn songs. Example Tab From “Seven-Nation Army” Here is a tab from “Seven-Nation Army” by the White Stripes at 122 BPM. Image retrieved from Talkingbass.com Even if you don’t know how to read music, tabs make it easy to pick up songs. All you need for now is the bottom half of this tab. Tabs are written down with the G string on the top line, D on the second, A on the third, and the E string on the bottom. You can use Youtube to hear a song and memorize how long a note needs to be held. This tab has two bars which is separated by the thin bar line between the 5 and the 3. The spacing between the numbers gives you a hint for how long to hold a note before you play the next one. To find out what fingers you need to use for each fret, place your index finger on the lowest number fret in the current bar you’re playing. For the first bar in the picture above, that means you put your index on the 5 th fret of the A string. There is a one-finger per fret rule that people tend to follow. So for this bar that means your index plays all notes on 5 th frets, your middle does all notes on the 6 th fret, and so on.  If you follow my logic, the first note you play in the tab (the 7 th on the D string) should be played with your ring finger. Most first-time players tend to use their index for fretting all notes but do your best to stick to the one finger per fret rule. Play at a slow pace and make sure you alternate between your index and middle fingers between notes. Once you feel you are good to go, try the second riff of the song below. Example Tab From “Seven-Nation Army” Image retrieved from debajoelectrico.com This part is easier and has a consistent note length. Given our one finger per fret rule, you should guess that your index finger frets the first eight notes of the tab and your ring finger frets the other half. Try your best to avoid the temptation of using only your index. Your other fingers need the practice! For your plucking hand, make sure you alternate hitting the strings with your index and middle finger. Practices to Improve your Tempo and Finger Strength The best thing you can do to get better is practice with a metronome. All songs have a tempo that can be expressed in beats per minute (BPM). The metronome gives you a tick-tock sound at the BPM you want so it’s a good idea to practice with it as you learn new songs and practice scales. There are many free metronome apps online and just googling metronome will give you a browser-based one. For your reference, “Seven-Nation Army” has a BPM of 122. A common scale to practice for beginners is the major scale as shown below. Here is a D major scale that starts on a D note on the A string. Your index should hover over the 4 th frets, your middle over the fifth, your ring over the sixth, and the pinky over the 7 th . As you play up the major scale (we say up since the notes get higher as you play them) keep to this one finger per fret rule. You won’t have to shift your hand to hit the higher-pitched strings so keep your wrist steady and let the fingers move for you. Image retrieved from Guitarcommand.com Set your metronome to 60 BPM and play a note as you hear the tick. You should play the entire tab in rhythm with the 60-BPM tempo. Once you mastered it, go up 5 to 10 BPM and see if you can still effectively play the tab. You can practice with so many different scales so look online for other ones. Scales follow a pattern so if someone gives you the first note and the name of the scale, you can easily know all the notes in that scale. That’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed this brief lesson into the amazing world of electric bass. Check out the resources below for more instructional and entertaining bass content. Resources “How Notes Work” by Ariane Cap . From Music Theory for the Bass Player . Please consider buying the full book on https://arianecap.com/ “How to Hold a Bass Guitar” by Learn to Play Music: https://www.learntoplaymusic.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-bass-guitar/ Alternate Picking Video Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAYIfITgpw Scott’s Bass Lessons YT Channel (Instructional): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTj3vCqkQIsrTGSm4kM34g The Talking Bass YT Channel (Instructional): https://www.youtube.com/user/TalkingBassVideo Davie504 YT Channel (Bass Memes): https://www.youtube.com/user/Davie504 Ultimate Guitar Tabs (Tab website for songs): https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ References Fig 1.1-1.2: https://www.learntoplaymusic.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-bass-guitar/ Fig 1.3: https://www.talkingbass.net/how-to-play-seven-nation-army-on-bass/seven-nation-army-tab/# Fig 1.3: https://www.debajoelectrico.com/en/tabs/seven-nation-army-tab-bass/ Fig 1.5: https://www.guitarcommand.com/d-major-scale-guitar/ About the Author Adan Meza is a musician and history teacher located in Chicago, Illinois. He has been playing Bass since 2018 and has collaborated with different bands and projects in the city. Please contact him at mza.adan@gmail.c om with any questions.

“Shining brightly from Canada’s Far North,  Adrian Sutherland  is pleased to release a second single today. It is in advance of his debut solo album,” explains a press release from RAS Creative that promoted his musical work. “When I first heard  Once That Was You , it struck me as the sound of heartbreak and humility – grace under pain…. And like another conduit of emotion – the great Roy Orbison – Adrian’s voice cried out for strings and atmosphere to deliver the message,” adds Colin Linden, the album’s music producer. Adrian Sutherland has released more music for your listening pleasure. Once That Was You  is one of seven songs within Sutherland’s album debut. Listen to the single on SoundCloud today! The album, “ When the Magic Hits ” is set to be released in mid-September. Keep your eyes out for the release on September 17, 2021.  “After building his own recording studio in a sea-can out of necessity during the pandemic, Adrian completed tracking for his debut solo album. He also finished scoring his first television series and began writing his first book for Penguin Random House Canada about growing up in Attawapiskat – a remote and sometimes harsh place he still chooses to call home,” reads the press release. Reviewing the Single by Sutherland Once That Was You  is the second single within the debut album. Sutherland’s smooth voice has continued to provide a beautiful listening experience with such powerful emotions. This song has accurately been described as a “beautiful ballad about yearning for lost connections” by RAS Creative . Co-written with Jay Semko, this song provides such emotion with provoking lyrics. “ Once That Was You  is about longing for something or someone who touched your heart deeply. We were writing this song while everything was shutting down by the minute. It felt like the end of the world, that’s how we were both feeling – that line actually opens the song,” says Sutherland. “It’s definitely a ballad, probably the first real ballad I’ve ever written. Jay writes from a place of deep emotion, and that approach was at the heart of our writing session.” “Sometimes songs are there waiting to be brought into our world. Adrian is such a natural writer and, despite the strange circumstances we were creating under, the words and music just organically flowed. It was an amazing cosmic connection. I remember feeling a real sense of serenity as we finished writing the song,” Adds Jay Semko. Other artists on the album are incredible, including Chris Gormley and Matt Gormley. It also features Scott Dibble, Tim Vesely, Colin Cripps, and Serena Ryder. Together they combine to create a fantastic album. Once That Was You  was produced, engineered, and mixed by Linden. Fun Fact: Linden also performs the guitar throughout the track.  “Colin did an amazing job drawing you into the melody of this song. When he suggested adding strings to it, I loved that idea! It turned out even more beautiful than I ever imagined it could be,” said Sutherland.  Who is Adrian Sutherland?  Singer, songwriter, musician, writer, speaker, and advocate; Sutherland has quite the collection of roles. as a musician, he is a roots-rock recording artist. There’s more to his work than just talent. His heart is from Attawapiskat First Nation on the James Bay. He’s a traditional knowledge keeper and a respected cultural leader. He is fluent in Mushkegowuk Cree. He has a growing family as a father of four and grandfather to four grandchildren. “Adrian cares deeply about many causes and is using his music and voice to share the first-hand perspective on issues facing First Nations like contaminated water, housing shortages, food insecurity, addiction, and mental health. At a time of growing awareness about Reconciliation, Adrian is hopeful for Canadians to better understand one another, and take further steps together,” reads the press release. Learn more about Adrian Sutherland at www.adriansutherlandmusic.com .

Let’s start this tribute to Robin Williams in the best possible way by saying ‘ Happy Birthday ‘ and maybe more importantly, ‘Thank you!’. Robin Williams has been an inspiration to millions. He’s been a personal inspiration to me for his humour, his smile, and for the joy that he gave the world, even when that joy sometimes escaped him. Williams was a comedian and entertainer until his death in 2014, when he died by suicide as a result of his struggle with  Lewy body disease. American actor and comedian Robin Williams (1951–2014) appeared in films, television, and video games over a career that lasted nearly four decades. Renowned for his rapid-fire, improvisational style and his portrayal of a diverse range of characters, he was characterized by Screen Actors Guild president Ken Howard as "a performer of limitless versatility, equally adept at comedy and drama, whether scripted or improv". He is frequently considered one of the greatest comedians of all time. It always hurts a bit to remember those who meant so much to us. But this isn’t meant to make you sad, but instead to bring joy in tribute to and in memory of Mr. Williams. Here are a few covers of ‘A Friend Like Me’ to remember the friend we all had in Robin Williams. Electro Swing Remix of “A Friend Like Me” by Dave Wave “A Friend Like Me” Female Cover by Annapantsu “A Friend like me” Capella Cover by DCappella “A Friend Like Me” Vintage 1920s Jazz Cover By Swing’it Dixieband “A Friend Like Me” Metal Cover by PelleK Comment your favorite memory of Robin Williams!

Guest Written  by Barbara Joens Ask any music hobbyist whether they prefer CDs or vinyl records, and you will likely be given a number of reasons for their format of choice related to sound quality, aesthetics, and collectability.  Some people may purchase music on only one type of format, while others buy both.  However, when it comes to the environment, a new set of questions arise. The first music records produced were less damaging to the environment than the ones we are familiar with today.  Shellac, a sticky natural resin secreted by the female Kerria lacca insect, was the material used to produce gramophone records (George, S., & McKay, D., 2019).  However, the beginning of World War II changed this.  The US War Production Board, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, called for a 70% reduction in the production of new records (Gray’s Auctioneers, 2021).  This was because shellac was also used to produce war materials, such as signal flares, explosives, and shell coating for artillery.  Americans were also encouraged to donate broken and outdated records so they could be recycled into weapons or given to soldiers as a means of boosting troop morale (Gray’s Auctioneers, 2021). As records created from shellac were phased out, ones made out of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) resin gained popularity, in part because of their superior durability.  PVC can be found in other everyday items, such as pipes and credit cards.  When records are produced, PVC comes in the form of pellets, which are then heated, stamped, and pressed into the circular “record shape” music-lovers are familiar with (Parmenter, 2021). Shellac records were vulnerable to damage from liquids.  They were also more breakable.  In contrast, vinyl records were more physically resistant to damage.  This made the switch to vinyl more attractive.  Vinyl records can also contain more songs than shellac records, another point in PVC’s favor.  Soon, PVC resin became the foundation for the vinyl records that we know today. An alternative to vinyl records, the music CD, first became available for buyers in 1982.  CDs are a digital storage medium and are more transportable than records, since they can be played with a portable CD player.  CDs are also less likely to skip or encounter other playback errors than records.  They are easy to store, care for, and transport.  Because of these advantages, CDs rapidly became the most popular medium for recorded music. However, vinyl records have made a comeback over the last 15 years.  Since 2007, there has been a 1,427% sales increase of vinyl, which comes out to approximately four million LPs in 2018 in the UK (George, S., & McKay, D., 2019).  This increased demand is reflected in other countries as well.  Music-lovers are purchasing vinyl for many reasons.  There is a developing demand for owning physical media rather than digital media.  People enjoy collecting records for the nostalgia factor and the cool, retro look that rows of vinyl records can add to your shelves.  There are people who enjoy the unique sound of vinyl records, saying that vinyl produces a “warmer” sound while more modern formats sound digital and artificial. Unfortunately, vinyl poses a significant threat to the health of the environment and human lives.  Unlike records produced from shellac, vinyl records are derived from fossil fuels, meaning that this material has a higher carbon footprint than shellac.  A higher carbon footprint means that there is a larger total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly to create vinyl records than with shellac records.  The black color used in many records is also not good for the environment, since it comes from carbon. Modern-day records are estimated to contain approximately 135 grams of PVC with a carbon footprint totaling to 0.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide (George, S., & McKay, D., 2019).  When additional factors are considered, such as packaging and transport, the amount of carbon dioxide per record is even larger. PVC’s durability means that it is harder to break down when it ends up in landfills.  According to one source, “Scientifically speaking, this would take around 1,000 years to decompose” (Parmenter, 2021).  Landfill sites have varying environmental conditions, such as oil acidity and temperature.  Depending on the conditions of a particular landfill site, this can cause PVC to leak plasticizers, the substances added to synthetic resins in order to strengthen them and increase their flexibility.  The chemicals leached by the records can spread into groundwater, soil, and air, potentially posing a threat to the people and wildlife exposed to them.  The presence of vinyl records in a landfill can therefore be a source of pollution in the environment. PVC also releases the chemical compound vinyl chloride.  Exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, such as hepatic angiosarcoma (a rare form of liver cancer), lung cancer, brain cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma (National Cancer Institute, 2018). Although CDs are more convenient for most music-lovers, this technology has its own environmental drawbacks. CDs are produced from layered polycarbonate and aluminum (Owsinski, 2019).  Polycarbonate is a synthetic plastic and aluminum is a metal.  Because CDs are a mixture of metal and plastic, recycling them is more difficult.  This means that they are often improperly discarded and become a source of pollution. CDs are also viewed as being more disposable than vinyl records.  Even after records are no longer usable, many people repurpose them into displayable artwork, such as framing them or turning them into wall clocks.  When people no longer find use for a CD, it usually ends up in a landfill. When it comes to comparing the packaging of vinyl records and CDs, records come in more carbon-neutral packaging since the packaging consists of cardboard and paper.  In contrast, CDs often come in plastic trays and jewel cases.  The polycarbonate cases are fragile and are not widely recycled.  They can be damaged and end up in landfills when the owner no longer wants them.  Although the packaging for CDs is less environmentally-friendly, records are heavier than CDs, which means that the transport of records leaves a bigger carbon footprint behind than that of CDs. Ultimately, it is up to each individual consumer to decide which format best suits their needs.  Which format do you have the equipment to play, and which do you see yourself listening to more often?  These are important questions to consider in order to prevent your purchase from being a waste. To avoid further damaging the environment, there are some steps you can take. Instead of buying new records and CDs, look into purchasing ones that are pre-owned but still in working condition.  These can be found in places such as secondhand shops and online marketplaces.  This is especially true for records, where an older, vintage version of the record may contain less environmentally-damaging materials than a newer version. It is important to keep in mind that vinyl records produce hazardous byproducts if burned or disposed of improperly.  See if you can pass your old records on to someone who may want them, such as friends, family members, or a charity shop. As for CDs, there are some companies, such as The CD Recycling Center of America, that can help you with recycling your old CDs. There is also the option of selling your old records and CDs online to people who may be interested in purchasing them and adding them to their own collections. In summary, both vinyl records and CDs can have environmental drawbacks.  However, by being a responsible consumer of music and recycling or correctly disposing of records and CDs you no longer need, you can help minimize your carbon footprint. References The Evolution of Records: From Shellac to Vinyl . (2021, March 9). Gray’s Auctioneers. https://www.graysauctioneers.com/blog-posts/2019/1/31/evolution-records-shellac-vinyl George, S., & McKay, D. (2019, February 18). How Streaming Music Could Be Harming the Planet . BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190207-why-streaming-music-may-be-bad-for-climate-change Owsinski, B. (2019, February 19). The Environmental Impact of Various Music Formats Will Surprise You . Bobby Owsinski’s Music Production Blog. https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/music-environmental-impact/ Parmenter, J. (2021, January 29). How Long Do Vinyl Records Last? Vinyl Chapters. https://www.vinylchapters.com/how-long-do-vinyl-records-last/ Vinyl Chloride – Cancer-Causing Substances . (2018, December 28). National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/vinyl-chloride Join our newsletter for more articles by Barbara Joens , and other Guest Writers!

“Don’t Be Trashy at Music Festivals ” Guest Written by Barbara Joens Are you one of the many people planning on returning to music festivals?  As COVID-19 recedes, music festivals will make their exciting comeback.  Fans from all across the globe have been anticipating the joy and excitement brought by these special events as a way to unwind and connect with others as we once did pre-pandemic.  There is no doubt that as the pandemic comes to an end, these events will attract large crowds of enthusiastic music-lovers. Music festivals are a great chance to enjoy your favourite artists, discover new music, and party with old friends and like-minded strangers.  After the hardships people around the world have suffered since the beginning of the pandemic, music festivals will be a welcome return to normal.  Many popular music festivals have been rescheduled for later this year and early next year.  Tickets have already been purchased by music fans excited to see their favourite world-famous performers, such as Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion at Rolling Loud (scheduled for July 2021), and Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers at Summerfest (scheduled for September 2021). In spite of the positive aspects of enjoying live artists and gathering with fellow music-lovers, there is a dark side that will undoubtedly cause major issues for the environment once festivals resume.  While wrapped up in the fun of an event, people may forget to be mindful of their negative effects on the environment.  This is a problem that must be addressed by environmentally-conscious individuals. What role do music festivals play in pollution and climate change ? An unwanted consequence of music festivals is the massive amount of waste that they generate.  The total waste comes from various sources: plastic pollution, energy and water consumption, overuse of resources, and more.  According to a report by Powerful Thinking , based on 279 summer music festivals in the UK, the industry is responsible for producing 23,500 tons of waste (Powerful Thinking, 2015). It is easy for concert-goers to fail to see the consequences of their behaviour.  Someone might not see the long-term effects of throwing a plastic bottle or food wrapper on the ground, but over time, that waste begins to accumulate.  This litter either has to be properly disposed of, or it accumulates and degrades the environment. Attendees are not always at fault for not properly dealing with the waste that they generate, given that many trash bins are either inaccessible or already crammed with refuse due to their inadequate size and distribution.  Toilet facilities are also often inadequate for the number of festival-goers and the waste they produce.  Therefore, the waste generated in toilets often accumulates and becomes an issue. Some of the trash at music festivals comes from the attendees while other trash comes from vendors.  Some people bring equipment, such as tents and mats, that they fail to properly dispose of after the festival is over.  Other times, trash comes from food in plastic containers, drinks in plastic cups, and plastic cutlery.  People do not want to take their trash home with them or go through the extra effort of properly disposing of it, so instead, they leave it on the ground, contributing to plastic pollution.  These plastics are hard to break down, often get eaten by animals who then become ill or die because they cannot properly digest them and damage the soil and surrounding plant life. Another form of waste that must be taken into account is that, due to the majority of music festivals being located in remote areas, there is a reliance on the importation of power rather than being able to connect to an already-established energy grid to power these events ( Baker , 2019).  In order to provide power, diesel-fueled generators are brought in.  These generators can supply the music festival with sufficient energy to support several days’ worth of sound systems, lighting, RV power, and more.  The non-stop burning of diesel fuel as the power source for these off-the-grid music festivals generates harmful particles and carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming. It is significant to note that travel and transportation are also major sources of festival-generated pollution.  Transportation involves fossil fuels.  These fuels produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, leading to increases in temperature across the planet. Performers, management, and vendors also travel to music festivals, along with their equipment.  Since these festivals draw crowds from around the world, some festival-goers must travel long distances to see their favourite artists perform live, which contributes to their carbon footprint and impact on the environment. What can be done to limit this impact at music festivals? While some festivals are already taking steps to be more eco-friendly, the attendees at these festivals also have a responsibility to minimize pollution.  Festival-goers are aware that some of their habits have had to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  These changes relate to being mindful of others, such as wearing a face mask in public and practicing social distancing guidelines.  If we can change our habits in response to the pandemic, then we should be able to make similar changes to minimize the harmful effects of pollution from music festivals.  With the threat of global climate change, the accumulation of plastics in the environment, and the overuse of resources, it is important to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize other forms of pollution when music festivals open up again. There are several reasons why altering behaviour may be difficult.  First, people are not always willing to change their old ways.  Second, it may seem overwhelming to want to undertake such a big task.  Finally, it may seem like the effects of one person on the environment are small.  People find it difficult to realize that small acts by a large number of people can lead to major effects, either positive or negative. How can festival attendees minimize damage to the environment? Transportation A great way to reduce your carbon footprint is to plan your transportation carefully.  If there is a bus that can take you to the festival, consider taking it.  Carpooling may also be an option.  If no one in your personal circle is attending the festival, see if there are people online that are looking for other festival attendees to carpool with by searching hashtags on social media.  Be sure to be careful when choosing who to go with.  Additionally, when carpooling, plan the route you are going to take and aim for one that minimizes the amount of driving required.  In addition to reducing harm to the environment, you will also benefit by saving money on gas. Body Glitter Body glitter is often viewed as a fashionable must-have for music festivals.  However, it can be harmful to the environment.  When rinsed off, the microplastics contained in glitter can end up in waterways and take many years to degrade.  However, some make-up brands are moving towards biodegradable glitter, which has a less harmful impact on the environment.  By opting for an eco-friendly brand, you can reduce harm to the environment while still looking as festive as ever. Free Merchandise Festivals are a great opportunity for brands to host giveaways.  However, some people take items just because they are getting something for free.  For that reason, many give-away items, such as bracelets, lighters, and fans, end up as trash once the festival is over.  Although it may seem like just a few small items, the contributions from all the attendees adds up and contributes to pollution. Make sure to dispose of any items you don’t want to bring home with you.  Additionally, if you don’t need the item, don’t be tempted into taking it just because it’s a freebie. Reusable Items Opt for recyclable and/or reusable items, including packaging.  These are a more sustainable choice than petroleum-based products.  There are many eco-friendly alternatives to plastic products, such as all-natural bamboo toothbrushes. Sleeping Arrangements Tents are a festival staple.  However, it is not uncommon for tents to end up as waste after the festival is over.  Knowing that people want to enjoy festivals while also keeping the planet clean, some brands have started to offer recyclable cardboard tents that can even withstand bad weather conditions.  If you use a non-recyclable tent, ensure that you do not leave it behind. Final Thoughts The future of music festivals can be both cleaner and more sustainable.  However, in order to achieve this, everyone must be prepared to make environmentally responsible decisions.  Although it may take some time to adjust, small individual actions and urging others to do the same will lead to a cleaner environment with fewer hazards to humans, animals, and the planet.  With persistence and mindfulness, this future can become a reality.  By keeping the environment clean, we can ensure a future where the following generations will enjoy music festivals as well. References Baker, B. (2019, November 2). How Music Festivals are Destroying the Earth . EDM.com. https://edm.com/opinion/environmental-impact-festivals The Show Must Go on Report . (2015, November). Powerful Thinking. https://www.powerful-thinking.org.uk/resources/the-show-must-go-on-report/