In conversation with the astounding singer, songwriter, producer, musician and filmmaker, THE iDENTiTY CRiSiS (Paul Castro) on what the future of the music industry can be in the new modern world.

1. Which one aspect of the music industry will see the longest-lasting repercussions of the global health pandemic?  
I think aside from live music being negatively affected, there's one thing that's absolutely been proven: CONTENT IS NEEDED to cope with being stuck at home.  So maybe the general public will realize the value of music, film, comedy, podcasts, sports etc, and be willing to pay for content again.  Or perhaps because so many content creators were already saturating the market beforehand, and even more-so during quarantine, the value of content has diminished.  It's really tough to gauge the whole supply and demand metrics. 

2. Is there a future for live music on a small-venue scale, even after we're past this?
With bars and clubs being shut down left right and centre, when the "new normal" arrives, live music at small venues will be scarce.  I mean, locally it kind of already was, but will be even more so.  But I do believe it will make a comeback in the future.  There will always be a need for live music and live music venues.

3. Is there a future for live music on a large-venue scale, even after we're past this?
Yes.  Without a doubt.    

4. You've always been creative and recently, you've increased your amount of content. Was that something you'd already planned, or did the quarantine prompt additional creativity?
It totally was the plan.  Quarantine simply gave me time to go ahead and hunker down on this stuff.  I'm currently working on a series of cover songs for YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok.  So quarantine has been a bit of a blessing in disguise, I guess!

5. How have you specifically been impacted by this?
Staying at home has been pretty hard.  I definitely miss a few faces that I haven't seen in what feels like forever.  It's funny though, I'm not huge on FaceTime/Whatsapp/Skype calls.  I find them so awkward.  So really it's just the physical interaction that I miss.

6. Did you have plans to perform live in 2020? 
I was actually asked to play an event in the summer, but nothing had really been finalized yet.  I believe it was gonna be a return to the Rec Room in Mississauga, but that's about all that I know.  Maybe it will happen in the fall, if things clear up by then!

7. Online sales of instruments and music creation software are thriving - will COVID-19 create a new generation of musicians/artists?
I actually posted an article about this.  I definitely see a boom happening!  Maybe a new form of rock music will re-emerge.  We are about due for the pendulum to swing, and maybe COVID-19 was a catalyst for it.  EDM/Trap-laced pop have dominated the same way that Glam Metal and New Wave did back in the day.  I believe there's a 3 or 4 piece band in shining armour that is in the shed, prepping to slay the beast.  

8. With the huge influx of virtual "everything’s" (music/teaching/meetings/etc.) how will you keep and grow your digital audience?
This has taught me to be a little more consistent.  So my plan is to keep the content moving even when we return to normalcy.

9. What's helped keep you grounded from a personal standpoint?
I've tried to maintain a schedule, which has definitely helped.  A schedule gives me purpose, and purpose helps prevent me from spiraling down a Netflix rabbit-hole until 7 am fueled only by Whopper combos and mickeys of Jameson.

10. What positives can come out of this for the music industry?
Definitely more content, and I'm thinking more musicians/musicianship!

11. Will concert festivals on a local and large scale become extinct?
Absolutely not! There is too much money to be made, and people have an insatiable appetite for band re-unions and $17 bottles of water.

12. Will aspiring bands/artists in yesterday's world see tomorrow's world?
I definitely hope so!  I'm in that category, so my fingers are crossed!

13. With many of us having been at home for the past several weeks, many of us have learned/enhanced our digital skills.
Will there be an influx of tech-savvy musicians/photographers/videographers in the new world?
Yes, without question!  I've seen some really cool stuff being made, with obvious limitations in place.  When the new normal comes, I believe the quality of work will show a marked improvement from the pre-quarantined era.

With over 27 Million Youtube views, and over half a million downloads to his credit, THE iDENTiTY CRiSiS (real name Paul Castro) is a singer/songwriter/rapper/producer/multi-instrumentalist/podcast-host and film maker.  His music can be heard regularly on NBC’s “A Little Late with Lilly Singh”, and you can find his music on all platforms.  For more info visit:

theidentitycrisis.com itunes.com/theidentitycrisis youtube.com/theidc IG: @theidentitycrisis