Interview with Paul Wilkes, January 17, 2021

Partial Transcript: Okay, this is Kopana Terry and it's January 17th, 2021 and I'm talking with Paul Wilkes.

Segment Synopsis: Paul Wilkes, a bassist, is introduced. In this segment, Wilkes details what his life and career were like prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Americana; Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Bluegrass; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Country; Festivals; Florida; Folk music; Gigs; Music; Musicians; Oklahoma; Tours; Tulsa (Okla.)

Subjects: Americana.; Bass players; Bass.; Bluegrass music.; Country music.; Festivals.; Florida.; Gigs (Employment); Music.; Musicians.; Oklahoma

Partial Transcript: How, how much--were you making all of your money from playing?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about how COVID-19 impacted him financially.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Finances; Job loss; Live performances; Livestreams; Money; Music; Musicians; Performance; Virtual performances

Subjects: Bass players; Bass.; COVID-19 (Disease); Money.; Music.; Musicians.; Performance.

Partial Transcript: So, what did you think--take, take me through the day you found out that, um, the world was going to s--come to a stop.

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes describes his initial reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as what his career was like prior to the lockdown.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Fears; Lockdowns; Music; Musicians; Pandemics; Reactions

Subjects: Bass players; Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Music.; Musician.

Partial Transcript: Have you felt nervous at all, going back into that situation?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes describes his fears about performing in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Live performance; Music; Musicians; Performance

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Music.; Musicians.

Partial Transcript: Yeah. So, were you able to apply for unemployment at all?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about his ability to receive unemployment benefits.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Job loss; Music; Musicians; Unemployment

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Music.; Musicians.; Unemployed.; Unemployment.

Partial Transcript: So, uh, what have you, uh, what have you been doing? How, how have you maintained yourself?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes shares what he does in his free time during lockdown. Additionally, he discusses the performances he has been able to do, such as one with John Fullbright and Jacob Tovar.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Jacob Tovar; John Fullbright; Music; Musicians; Performance; Recording

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Music.; Musicians.; Performance.

Partial Transcript: And can they also like, uh, Venmo or PayPal in money?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about whether he is paid by virtual audiences through Venmo or PayPal. Additionally, he details the differences in his income as a result of the pandemic.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Income; Live performances; Money; Music; Musicians; Pandemics; PayPal; Performances; Venmo; Virtual; Virtual performances

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Income.; Money.; Music.; Musicians.; Performance.

Partial Transcript: Have you heard anybody actually say that, uh, they have been so affected by this that, um, either they're going to go get a day job and cut back to 50 percent or....

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes discusses whether people in the music industry will return to work after the pandemic, or if they will find a more stable career elsewhere. Additionally, he details cases of COVID at work, and the stress felt at the end of 2020.

Keywords: 2020 Presidential election; Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Christmas; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Elections; Fear; Holidays; Job loss; Lockdowns; Music; Musicians; Pandemics; Stress; Thanksgiving; Travel; Work

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; COVID-19 (Disease); Christmas.; Holidays.; Music.; Musicians.; Presidential elections; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Well, I want to talk for a second...

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes describes "Red Dirt Music" typically found in the Oklahoma music scene. The importance of Oklahoma to country music is also detailed.

Keywords: Country; Country music; Country musicians; Music; Musicians; Oklahoma; Red dirt music; Texas; Tulsa (Okla.)

Subjects: Country; Country music.; Country musicians.; Music.; Musicians.; Oklahoma

Partial Transcript: Yeah so we're talking all about this great music to come out of Oklahoma. What, uh, what, what got you into playing?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes shares why he pursued a career in music.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Careers; Music; Musicians; Oklahoma

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; Music.; Musicians.; Oklahoma

Partial Transcript: What, what's your most memorable gig?

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about his most memorable performance. Wilkes also shares information about a non-profit record label.

Keywords: Bass guitar (Musical instrument); Bass players; Bassists; Memories; Music; Musicians; Netherlands; Non-profit organizations; Non-profit record labels; Performance; Record labels

Subjects: Bass.; Bassists; Music.; Musicians.; Netherlands.; Performance.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Um, well, speaking of, of the music business and whatnot...

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about the impact that streaming services, like Spotify, have had on the music industry.

Keywords: Music; Music industry; Musicians; Spotify; Streaming; Streaming services

Subjects: Music industry; Music.; Musicians.; Streaming media

Partial Transcript: When this is all over, and it will be eventually, um...

Segment Synopsis: Wilkes talks about what he believes the music industry will look like, specifically in Oklahoma, after the pandemic.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Lockdowns; Pandemics; Returning to work; Work

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Music industry.; Music.; Musicians.; Oklahoma; Performance.; Work.