On the early morning of Jan. 25, I found the saddest post on my Instagram timeline — black text on a white background stating the end of the Los Angeles indie-rock band, Slow Hollows.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7uaHj2lRw3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
A wave of shock flew over me. The familiar heavy ache in my heart sunk deeper. Slow Hollows, the group that gave the world hits from “Art School Kids” off of their debut, Atelophobia, to “Heart” and “Get Along” off of their latest project, Actress, is no longer going to exist after this last tour.
Many fans across platforms felt the same dread. The Instagram comments on the post were full of red hearts and crying emojis.
Slow Hollows breaking up felt like the end of an era. The band played their final show on Mar. 11 in their stomping grounds of Los Angeles, California, at The Echo.
But bands breaking up is not a new phenomenon, and it won’t be stopping any time soon. Here are some tips to get you through this emotional time.
Grieve.
While this is not similar to losing a loved one or a pet, you are still feeling a loss of some sort. Let yourself go through the motions, but try not to linger too long in this stage because it will only exacerbate the situation. Most likely, unless you’re a fan of an extremely new niche band with no online presence, you won’t be the only one affected.
Don’t be afraid to cry. We were given emotions for a reason, and keeping them bottled up inside is counterproductive. Blast their music, shed some tears, impulse buy an old shirt from Depop (I did all three)—whatever helps and is healthy (if you do end up buying merch, do so when it’s viable, don’t act on emotion like me).
Reach out.
Try reaching out to other fans via social media or even at concerts if you plan on seeing the band live before they split. Knowing that there are others in the same boat lessens your chance of isolation and getting in your head. Stan twitter exists, so take advantage of it. At this time, it’s great for fans to talk to each other.
Put yourself in the artists’ shoes.
While it’s easy (and understandable) to be sad, don’t take out your emotions on or at the artists. In Slow Hollows’ case, times simply change. Some bands last forever, some don’t, and that’s just a fact of life. A band ending does not mean they hate each other or their fans, but that they realize moving on is the right thing to do.
As a fan, would you rather support a band who’s not passionate about their art, or have separate artists who love what they do? Most likely, the latter.
Stay alert.
In most cases, when brands break up each member doesn’t stop making music forever. Sometimes the members make solo music or are apart of other musical endeavors. Don’t be afraid to check out these projects! And who knows, maybe you’ll find new music you like.
Their time together may be over, but their music lasts forever.
What’s so amazing about the lovely Information Age we live in is that music is so much more accessible. With this comes streaming, music videos, live performances, and more! The internet is your friend, and there are endless sources to jam out to your favorite songs from the band.
Even though your favorite band is not together anymore, you can always still listen to their music, connect with other fans, and remember what they mean to you.
Featured image via Slow Hollows’ Bandcamp.
