What a year was 2020. Suffice it to say, it sucked. Between environmental disasters, political and civil unrest, celebrity deaths….and oh yes, a global pandemic that has kept us fearful for our health in quarantined lockdown and caused a massive economic downturn….there was a lot to handle. Things did not go the way I envisioned them to at the start, and I join most everyone across the world in celebrating its end.

At the same time, 2020 was an A+ year for new music. Musicians are people too, and as they reacted to the same issues that we all faced, they responded as only artists can – by making art. Music seemed more vital this year than in the past several; I think that we needed it more. Isolated from our loved ones, stressed, and fearful, we turned to media for entertainment and consolation. It both took our mind off of the darkness and gave us an outlet to consider and vent our frustrations. Through lyrics and sounds, music performed its most ancient and sacred magic to bring us together and help us transcend this year of disappointments. For that, I’m ever grateful.