What we can tell is that any artists coming to the United States should be concerned. On March 9th, a band by the name of Soviet Soviet was detained at the Seattle International Airport, was jailed, and then deported back to their home country of Italy. The band was traveling on what is called an ESTA (also referred to as the Visa Waiver Program), which allows artists to perform for non-paid shows. The problem now is that it seems artists traveling to the United States will be under much more scrutiny under the Trump regime. An immigration lawyer whose expertise is helping artists gain visas for performing in the United States, Brian Taylor Goldstein, posted a rather lengthy article discussing the pitfalls under Trumps immigration policies. In the article, Goldstien says the following:
“Given that the new Order specifically requires heightened vetting and screening of those ‘who seek to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis,’ there is going to be even more scrutiny and less forgiveness than ever before with regard to artists attempting to enter the US on visitor visas (B-1/B-2) or through the Visa Waiver Program (‘ESTA’). We are already receiving reports of artists being held and detained for hours upon entering the US to determine whether or not they are performing. Even artists entering as visitors for the purpose of attending a conference or ‘performing a showcase’ are being pulled aside and, in many cases, being refused entry. Artists entering with B-1/B-2 visas or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) are being pulled aside the moment they say that they are ‘entertainers’, ‘performers’, or ‘artists.’ … In short, an Immigration Officer has the unfettered authority and discretion to deny entry to any artist from any nationality for any reason. To what extent this authority will be exercised remains to be seen.”
While this particular situation is not a direct result of Trump’s travel bans, it is definitely creating an environment of intense scrutiny and suspicion for anyone coming to the country.
One of the main concerns we have is that there are so many artists in the music industry who come from those countries. The most famous across the electronic music scene is Deep Dish, consisting of two artists: Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia, and Sharam Tayebi. Both artists are currently based out of Washington DC, but they were both born in Tehran, Iran. There’s Masoud Fuladi, a progressive house producer coming from Iran, and Endeguena Mulu who is revolutionizing electronic production in Ethiopia.
There’s also the potential to miss out on emerging artists. Take, for example, the musical revolution going on in Libya. When Gaddafi was in power, he had aggressive ideological dictates that almost completely stifled the music scene. Well, now he’s gone and people are starting to experiment and change their own musical landscape. These are just a few rich examples that we, potentially, will never get to experience.
[pullquote align=”right”]”Demand bounced back slightly after the ban was temporarily lifted on Feb. 3 but was still down by more than 10 percent as of Feb. 10, compared with the first three weeks in January, said Hopper’s chief data scientist, Patrick Surry.” –The New York Times[/pullquote]
It seems the thing that will ultimately hurt the music scene will be the lack of fans coming out to festivals from countries outside the US. The New York Times has reported a serious drop in interest in trips to the US. Using data from multiple travel agencies, there shows a 17% drop in interest immediately following the Executive Order as compared to the first three weeks of January 2017. Tourism is going to be adversely affected by the travel ban for a long time to come. One overlooked aspect of the previous Executive Order (there is still a chance the original order can go in effect if it the courts approve), is the language used for all people entering the US. In section 3 of the Executive Order, it states:
“The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall immediately conduct a review to determine the information needed from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual seeking the benefit is who the individual claims to be and is not a security or public-safety threat.”
This poses a serious threat to anyone who is visiting our country because, in the language of the Executive Order, it states “ANY country”. This could be for whomever they choose to pull out of a line that could be perceived as a threat, even if they are not on the list of the Executive Order. Whether that was an intentional discrepancy or not, it will still affect anyone who wishes to come to the US. Maybe this will be updated in the next, more “carefully” planned, Executive Order, but we are not holding our breath.
As of today, the original travel ban is still being held up due to a restraining order issued by the 9th District Court and Court of Appeals. There will be a legal fight to deem whether the Executive Order will be constitutional and now there is a new one to fight again. For now, the only thing we can do as citizens, nay, as patriots, is to resist. Help those who will challenge the Trump regime on a legal level, like the ACLU. Call your representatives and senators and let them hear your voice.
You can even attend festivals and concerts that raise money for the battles ahead like the ACLU Concert in Los Angeles on April 3. Whatever means you choose to do, just make sure you’re not standing still. Inaction is just another form of compliance.
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Phillip was raised on so many different genres of music, it has given him a unique perspective into the ever evolving music scene. Trance music began defining his life at the young age of 14, but thoroughly enjoys any type of music equally. He sees the music as an escape from the daily doldrums of life and says music can change a persons life in an instant pulling from his own experiences. His only goal in life is to share wonderful music with people and take electronic music to a higher plain with more accountability and creating a safer environment for his friends.
