Every single industry has suffered in different ways since COVID-19 began to worsen in March. The one that has faced the most economic hardship has been the music industry, specifically live entertainment. After a long plea by senators, venue owners, and other music industry professionals beginning in July, the next $900 Billion stimulus package hangs in the balance, as Congress finally came to an agreement on it before formal votes this week . By coming to an agreement on this stimulus package deal, congress took the next step toward passing the “Save Our Stages Act.” The bill would grant $15 Billion to a variety of independent venues, movie theaters, and cultural institutions. This would be the first major relief deal involving independent venues since the pandemic began nearly 10 months ago.

I love it when interviews come together organically, and this one with Derek Dames Ohl of Flash Mountain Flood did just that. Flash Mountain Flood is an American Roots Rock N’ Roll band out of Boulder - and a mainstay in the genre in the local scene. The band’s members have been doing a lot during quarantine, and Derek Dames Ohl has set out to pursue a solo career in addition to his bass-licks in Flash. Recently, Derek released a new Christmas song, Blue Skies and It’s Christmas Time, with the true essence of Christmas in our beautiful state. He’s donating all of the proceeds from this song on Bandcamp to The DiChiaros, a family experiencing a time of extreme hardship in what should be the most joyful time of the year. I encourage you to go give the song a purchase - you’ll help a family in need and have a beautiful new Christmas song to enjoy. Be sure to follow Derek on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and Flash Mountain Flood on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as well. Enjoy my interview with Derek Dames Ohl - I sure did!

It’s 2020 and things are weird. Coming into the year, I was so proud of the beautiful plans I had laid out - it was some of the best work I had ever done, and I couldn’t wait to see it in action. Then, after a rocket start to the year with back-to-back sold out shows - Float Like a Buffalo and Silver And Smoke both at The Bluebird - and a steller win for FLAB at the Summer Camp On The Road Tour Battle of the Bands, it all came crashing down. Cancelled tours, cancelled shows, cancelled, cancelled, cancelled. We made the best of it - even securing a Socially-Distanced Red Rocks show in October, but the outlook remained bleak. All of this is to say - I wasn’t even considering bringing on anyone to help with Sonder, much less an intern.

However, as much as 2020 was devastating, it was also inspiring. The opportunities I’ve had this year would never have come to fruition without the circumstances at hand. One of those opportunities was hiring an intern. Again, I didn’t actively seek this out by any means, but I just couldn’t say no when the perfect person popped into my inbox. Joseph sought me out, and on his own, sent me his resume and cover letter explaining why he wanted to work in music, and why he wanted to work with me specifically. A short phone conversation later, I knew I had found someone who just resonated with me. We have the same feelings and beliefs on the greatness and potential of Colorado music, the same passion for making music-driven experiences happen, and the same drive to work. AND we found out that we went to the same high school - good ‘ol Holy Family in Broomfield - a coincidence that just seems to keep happening (if you remember, Andy Sydow also attended). So, I’d like to introduce you all to the first-ever Sonder Music Management Intern: Joseph Prather.

“Though 2020 has been a horrific year in so many ways, it has had its silver linings. For me, one of those silver linings is that the absolute lack of live music and oppressive headlines of the day-to-day news cycle kicked my drive to make a difference into high gear. I am doing this. I am managing incredible artists. I am expanding Sonder Music Management. And I’m doing it with a little help from my friends. I’m so excited to announce a few additions to the Sonder team, and I’m starting with Alyssa Montaño, my Co-Founder on Rocky Mountain Virtual. Alyssa is coming on as a contributor to the Sonder Blog, and seeks to focus her attention on topics that involve education and representing those populations that are sorely under-represented in the public eye of the Colorado Music Scene. I’m so excited to have her on board, and I can’t wait to see what she writes in the future. Please meet Alyssa Montaño, the newest contributor on the Sonder Music Management Blog.” - Sarah Shuel, Owner of Sonder Music Management

When we talk about Colorado music, several names come up that truly define our state’s music scene. Hazel Miller is one of those names, making a true mark on our community with her incredibly pretigious career. I’m sure you’ve heard her on KUVO, eTown, or a variety of other places. Hazel is the picture of success as a musician and she has achieved things beyond many a band’s wildest dreams, but remains a humble, charismatic, and sweet individual through and through. From singing for Presidents to headlining Red Rocks with Big Head Todd and the Monsters to crooning to audiences at intimate (but always packed) shows around Colorado, Hazel is a true champion of the community and always lifts people up with her voice. Give her a follow on YouTube and Facebook - or visit her website to learn more - then, please do yourself a favor of seeing her live when you can.

I first had the pleasure of seeing Hazel Miller play live when I attended the Five Points Jazz Festival in 2018. I went alone, in the rain, especially to see her - and boy, I’m glad I did. She has changed my whole outlook on music and how it can be used to unite us all. Since then, I have been so lucky to work with her and get to know her a little better - and she is definitely one of my favorite people. I’m so thankful to have had the chance to interview her so that you can get to know her a little better too. So, without further ado, please enjoy this interview with the one and only Hazel Miller.

I have had the extreme honor of managing Denver Funk Titans Float Like a Buffalo for three years now. In that time, the band has made 3 appearances on the main stage at Red Rocks, have sold out major Colorado venues like The Bluebird and The Gothic Theaters, have joined the bills for major festivals and played with iconic headliners. has received multiple awards, including Denver Westword’s Best Funk Band, and released their freshman full-length album, Back from Nowhere, three singles - Sunday Afternoon, So Damn Cold, and Gone By Morning - and their newest 4-song EP, Vertigo.

I have a lot to thank these guys for. If it weren’t for Float giving me a chance, I would never have discovered my love of the music industry, and I’d probably still be working in corporate America, wondering what I was doing with my life. I wouldn’t have met the countless amazing individuals who I’ve come across in the process. I wouldn’t have 7 people who 100% have my back and have become my family.

It’s no secret that Cory Pearman, Float Like a Buffalo’s vocalist and rhythm guitar player and I have been together that same amount of time. In fact, we just got engaged. On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Cory surprised me by getting down on one knee at Red Rocks - the most sacred place on earth to us - with all of my family and friends secretly in the audience. Cory is an incredible musician and human (though I know I’m biased), and I have wanted to interview him for a very long time. It was the perfect chance to do just that this weekend, and we got to talk about the thing he is most passionate about - music. Please enjoy my interview with Cory Pearman below.

It is never lost on me what a special thing it is that I get to do working in music management and artist representation in Colorado’s music scene. It it so exciting to me to get to connect with artists, watch them mystified at what they do, and get their content in front of the right people at the right times. When I’m ready to take on a new client, I like to listen to what the universe is telling me. I just need to feel that magical thing to know it’s right. Well, as soon as Jordan and Jessa reached out to me about their folk-hop project, Grim & Darling, I had that feeling full-force. I am so beyond excited to announce that they are coming on as the newest client of Sonder Music Management! I wanted to begin this new relationship by introducing the incredible people behind the music - Jordan Polovina and Jessa Love. They gave such thoughtful and insightful answers to my questions, and I absolutely loved learning about them! Please enjoy their interview:

‘Tis the season of Spotify Wrapped! Musicians and bands all over the world have been scrolling through their year-end numbers from the popular, albeit controversial, streaming platform. Though we can all agree that Spotify should pay artists more, the music player isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, 286 million monthly active users stream through the platform according to their Q1 2020 report. That’s a lot of users! With that many people listening, you’d think it would be easy to get your music in front of a bunch of people who haven’t heard it before right? Well… wrong. You’re competing with more than 3 million creators, from bands just starting out all the way to the mega-celebrities who’s new songs instantly top the charts. So how do you get more listens from new listeners on your music? It all has to do with the Spotify algorithm - BART - and how your music works with it. This is a very deep rabbit hole my friends, so today, we’re going to work on a basic understanding of the Spotify algorithm and which tactics you can use to increase your chances of your music being played to new fans.

If you’ve been around the local Colorado music scene over the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Andy Sydow. At least, I’m sure you saw the fun (and brilliant in my opinion) marketing for the Americana Rocker’s most recent venture, a mashup of Fleetwood Mac’s Gold Dust Woman and The Chain. The team behind Andy Sydow and The Andy Sydow Band, including Manager Ellie Tomasso, have been hard at work this year, and truly defined the spirit of “hustle” despite the never-ending hurdles thrown out by 2020. Since January of ths year, Andy Sydow has released tons of new songs, won awards, hosted live streams, hit a milestone with his podcast, Middle Class Rock Star, and has so much in store for 2021 that I can’t wait for next year to just be here already. Make sure you read all the way to the end for a special preview of a project that Andy will be releasing in 2021.

With all of the various shut downs this year, many bands and musicians have turned to live streaming to keep the music alive and play shows for fans. Right now, there’s really no other way to play live “shows” for your followers. However, the art of live streaming successfully is full of nuance and know how. When you show up to a venue to play a show, you automatically have a great backdrop, a sound engineer, and a light display for your show. Online, it’s 100% up to you to create the experience. So where do you even begin when planning to play an online live stream?

With the second shut down of live music venues in full swing, artists across the nation have taken to the online stage to stay relevant and keep the music alive during the pandemic. The innovative Colorado Electronic project Melody Lines is doing just that, bringing their dreamy, chill tunes to ARISE Online on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The set, complete with a high-production, live-show feel, was recorded at and will be broadcast from the legendary Colorado Sound Studios as the next installment of ARISE Music Festival’s online series, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Virtual, Denver Westword, and A-Lodge in Boulder. The Dec. 3 show will also feature esclusive interviews, live interactive chats, and virtual meet and greets with Melody Lines, as well as merchandise sales. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, to help support musicians and music industry workers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, and to A-Lodge in support of the local music and hospitality community in Colorado.

Ahead of the show later this week, I got the chance to pick the brain of Melody Lines’ Vinny Crippen (Production, Guitar).

Yes, the holidays are very different this year. We can’t get together to drink spiked egg nog in our ugly sweaters. There won’t be any White Elephant games with family and friends. Holidays cheers will be made over Zoom instead of in-person. December live musc is next to non-existant. However, no matter how dull the approaching season may seem, there are still ways to get in the holiday spirit. The thing that does it for me is Christmas music, and I’m super happy to present the Local Colorado Christmas Spotify Playlist by Sonder Music Management.