The Year in Review: Voices in D.C.’s Music Scene Reflect on 2020

As we reflect on the passing year and all the challenges it’s brought – especially in the realm of music – District Fray turned to D.C.-based musicians, venue owners and industry professionals to share their year in music. Read on for their personal best-ofs celebrating their own accomplishments in an especially tough year, and the things keeping them looking forward to 2021.

AUDREY FIX SCHAEFER

Top 2020 Songs
“Boomer” by Bartees Strange | “Watch Your Step” by Disclosure w/ Kelis | “A Hero’s Death” by Fontaines D.C. | “And It’s Still Alright” by Nathaniel Rateliff | “Time Moves On” by Phantom Planet

Top 2020 TV Shows
“Ozark” | “Fargo” | “The Queen’s Gambit” | “Next in Fashion” | “30 Rock”

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases
I should be paying attention to upcoming albums, but I’m not there yet.  I’m more excited to see the outcome of the Georgia Senate runoff races and the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Life Without Live Music
I’ve been completely consumed with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)’s efforts to get the Save Our Stages Act passed so venues can hold on until it’s safe to reopen. When not doing that, I’m reminding myself how lucky I am that my family and I are healthy, and that tequila is very delicious. 

Up Next in 2021
I’ve ached to see family and friends, so traveling to them will be number one on my list. I can’t wait to hug my people as we greet, and of course be in a sweaty room filled with the electricity that only the live concert experience can bring. 

Follow I.M.P. and NIVA’s communications director on Twitter @audreyschaefer. Learn more about I.M.P. at www.impconcerts.com and NIVA at www.nivassoc.org.

BACCHAE

Top 2020 Records

“There is No Year” by Algiers | “Untenable” by Bad Moves | “Live Forever” by Bartees Strange | “Petals for Armor” by Hayley Williams | “Things I Never Said” by Oceanator

Top 2020 Discovery
Rena Hagins: Baltimore-based band Pinkshift
Eileen O’Grady: Gloomy, post-punk band Molchat Doma 
Andrew Breiner: Blondie
Katie McD: Italian house music group Black Box 

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases
Hagins: Potential albums from Quinton Brock and Pinkshift, and every release coming out on Get Better Records
McD: “Heretics and the People That Made Them” by Backxwash | the physical release of “Things I Never Said” by Oceanator | any local, unannounced surprise releases

Life Without Live Music
Hagins: We got to play a sold-out record release show at Songbyrd [Record Cafe and Music House] on March 6, which was our only show of the year before everything shut down. It was one of the most incredible shows we have ever played. After tours were canceled, lots of artists embraced livestreams and continued pushing out new music, so it has been great to still support the artists we love and discover new ones along the way. 

Up Next in 2021
O’Grady: I am hellbent on going to as many shows as possible when it’s possible, supporting small venues and DIY spaces, and having touring bands sleep on my couch and then becoming friends with them.

Breiner: We want to transplant our band plans from 2020 to 2021: touring farther away from home for longer stretches of time than before and finally [getting] to play in front of people.

For more on Bacchae and to listen to their latest album “Pleasure Vision,” visit www.bacchae.bandcamp.com and follow them on Instagram and Twitter @bacchaeband.

BARTEES STRANGE

Top 2020 Records
“BRAT” by NNAMDÏ | “Heaven to a Tortured Mind” by Yves Tumor | “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa | “After Hours” by The Weeknd | “songs / instrumentals” by Adrianne Lenker

Top 2020 Discovery
A buddy asked me recently if there were any big jazz records that have come out in the last five years that I felt cut through and actually became popular, and [Jeff Parker’s] record did that in my opinion. Jeff did an incredible thing making it deep enough for jazz heads, but also keeping it recognizable and fun for people who love R&B or hip-hop. I’m excited for more people to find jazz through people like him and [American jazz drummer] Makaya McCraven.

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases
[I’m] curious to see if The National has another record coming, [or] Lucy Dacus. [I’m] looking forward to more house and dance music, specifically Jai Paul, who teased some new music a year ago.

Life Without Live Music
I’m producing a lot more than normal, which is paying the bills. I’m really thankful for that. I’ve been promoting [my] record “Live Forever” and doing a lot of live videos. It’s been a trip.

Up Next in 2021
I told myself going into the pandemic that when it’s over, I’ll be in a different direction artistically and professionally. Up until a couple months ago, I was working a very full-time day job and trying to piece music together on the side. But this year, music really took over, so I’m hoping to keep building this thing. In 2021, I want to have tours booked and production gigs lined up so I can continue to focus on music as my main thing. That feels very realistic right now.

For more on Bartees Strange and to listen to his latest album “Live Forever,” visit www.barteesstrange.bandcamp.com and follow on Instagram and Twitter @bartees_strange.

AZAM “DJ OZ” MIRZA

Top 2020 Records
“Burden of Proof” by Benny the Butcher | “King’s Disease” by Nas | “After Hours” by The Weeknd | “It Is What It Is” by Thundercat | “We’re New Again – A Reimagining” by Makaya McCraven

Top 2020 Discovery
Guordan Banks is making the kind of R&B [and] soul that is making me fall in love with it again. It’s a new kind of soul that just feels right.

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases
Untitled album by H.E.R. | “Dangerous Thoughts” by Black Thought and Danger Mouse | “Medicine at Midnight” by Foo Fighters

Life Without Live Music
I’ve been trying to discover new music and different sounds. By not performing, I have more time to discover new artists and work on other creative projects like a documentary short [and] a new restaurant endeavor.

Up Next in 2021
After 21 years of DJing, I am going to be spending more time with and focusing on my family. 

For more on DJ Oz, visit www.DJOZlive.com and follow on Instagram and Twitter @djoz713.

FARID NOURI

Top 2020 Records
“Low Season” by Poolside | “Sickla” by OPOLOPO | “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In)” by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings | “Motown State of Mind” by Lord Finesse | “Automatic Remixes” by Mildlife

Top 2020 Discovery
 “Harmonies” by Lord Echo

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases
“Sea Sons” by Thomas Blondet & Steven Rubin | “Losing Myself” by Bill Speakman | “Revisions” by Farid

Life Without Live Music
2020 has been a tough year for live music. As a replacement, I’ve delved back into some of my favorite artists’ back catalogues. Watching music-related documentaries has also been a way to make up for the lack of live shows, albeit not as fulfilling as being in a venue. 

Up Next in 2021
I’d been thinking about taking some time off prior to the pandemic, so in a way, that kind of worked out in 2020. For 2021, I’m looking forward to continuing [to] expand on my real estate development portfolio, all the while keeping an eye on the hospitality industry as the mitigation measures will gradually improve for an eventual full reopening. The viability of nightclubs as a business model remains to be seen.

Nouri’s Eighteenth Street Lounge is currently shuttered, but stay tuned for his future plans at www.18thstlounge.com and on Instagram and Twitter @18thstlounge.

ROSIE CIMA & WHAT SHE DREAMED

Top 2020 Records

Rosie Cima: “Temple” by Thao & the Get Down Stay Down | “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” by Fiona Apple | “Wokey Dokey” by Pancho Morris | “New Truth” by Jenny O. | “Punisher” by Phoebe Bridgers

Bandmates Mashaal Ahmed, Barrett Browne + Steve Burch: “Saint Cloud” by Waxahatchee | “Wasted Youth” by Diana Gordon | “Ultra Mono” by IDLES | “Swimmer” by Tennis | “Have You Lost Your Mind Yet” by Fantastic Negrito

Top 2020 Discovery 

Cima: Rosie Tucker
Bandmates: Khruangbin, and their world music playlist generator

Most Anticipated 2021 Releases

Cima: “Two Saviors” by Buck Meek | “Realm of the Warring Gods” by Rosie Cima & What She Dreamed | forthcoming album by Lightmare
Bandmates: “For The First Time” by New Road, Black Country | potential album by Frank Ocean | forthcoming album by Lightmare

Life Without Live Music
Cima: We’ve kept having band practice by moving it to my backyard, and I feel so grateful to my neighbors and roommates for letting us invade their ears on a weekly basis. Sometimes, I look up and the little girls next door are watching between the slats of their back porch, which is honestly the best audience I could ask for.

Up Next in 2021
Cima: I want to get better at recording my own stuff at home. It might be our only option to keep collaborating through the winter.

Bandmates: Getting vaccinated and then hitting up the clubs for a late 2021 East Coast tour to belatedly promote our album.

Preorder the band’s new album “Realm of the Warring Gods” at www.rosiecima.bandcamp.com. Proceeds will go toward a fund offering guarantees to artists playing livestream shows to help them get paid during an especially hard year for performing artists. Follow them on Instagram @whatshedreamed.

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