Feature photo provided by RŌZ
A shining beacon of warm, yellow light to drown out the ever-present lockdown blues has been the gift of live streaming. Between intimate, raw living room sets, never-before-released recorded festival sets and even homemade, hyper-produced screen parties with visuals galore: our favorite artists have been reaching out to us in the best ways they know how.
A new streaming format hits the web this weekend with FIREWALL, a nearly seven-hour event presented by RŌZ. As a company focused on curating digital design and interactive experiences centered around talented artists, RŌZ has broadened the mix of music and philanthropy for an especially unique event.
12 artists will grace your monitors this Saturday, May 16th, including tech-genre wizard Freddy Todd, electropop duo SIAS, and Somni, a multi-instrumentalist and producer who was recently nominated for Best New Artist of April 2020 by Pigeons & Planes.
Following a common theme of COVID-era streaming events, FIREWALL is donation-based. The event is partnered with COVID-19 relief organizations like the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: a philanthropic organization that has provided financial assistance to musicians and music-industry workers struggling to make ends meet due to consequences of a suddenly dormant industry, illness or other. Each artist’s set will be followed by a five-minute intermission where they’ll showcase their partnered charities as well as some presentations of mixed-media artists. RŌZ has promised a “truly immersive” experience, and it sounds like there are some surprises up their sleeve.
The best part: FIREWALL will take no commission or operating cost from the event. 100% of proceeds will go to Sweet Relief, artists on this weekend’s bill and other partners like Isaac Rochell’s apparel brand Local Human. The LA Chargers defensive end has recently used his brand to spread awareness on mental health and contribute profits to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
In a time of so much unrest and uncertainty, events like this are the steps needed toward the grander goal of keeping our musicians afloat. What has brought you peace during these months at home? What has brought you happiness, comfort, friendships and a wealth of memories over the course of your life? For so many of us, it’s music. Musicians and artists have continued to provide us with such dynamic experiences even as the world as we know it is working against them. It’s only fair that we show that love right back.
After all, RŌZ is using its resources this weekend to remind you that it’s not all bad, and we are still a community. Take their advice: “Keep safe from viruses by setting up your FIREWALL.”
Tune in this Saturday, May 16th at twitch.tv/theRoZprojects, and stay connected with RŌZ and the FIREWALL event on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.