Editor's Note

By Lauren Elizabeth Campbell, Editor-in-Chief

There is light at the end of the tunnel… The total number of worldwide active COVID cases continues to drop as the vaccination rate soars. Over 476 million vaccine doses have been given worldwide, including over 128 million in the United States. The live concerts and events scheduled for this summer seem more promising each day.

This issue of Rock & Roamer is dedicated to you, COVID warriors. You have spent over a year navigating your way through a global pandemic, supporting your community by wearing masks, staying home, and getting vaccinated when it becomes your time. But you have really never been alone, as we have all been going through this together.

Together we explored music from global artists on TikTok we may have never heard of otherwise, bonded over shared quarantine experiences, and watched our favorite artists virtually perform on Instagram Live.

This issue features Zach Person, The Backfires, Maika Rose, and OK Cool, all artists who have been working and releasing music during COVID.

Person, an incredible guitarist, competed on American Idol in 2016. He will release his debut self-titled album this April.

The Backfires hail from both the UK and US. Its three members are divided by the cities of Charleston, South Carolina, New York City, and London. They were accustomed to working remotely before the pandemic.

Rose, a new artist from Hamberg, Germany, just released her debut single "Your Smile" in March.

OK Cool, a musical duo from Chicago, worked together as bandmates of The Weekend Run Club before branching off to create their own incredible sound.

I hope this issue of Rock & Roamer surprises you, moves you, and gives you something to look forward to.

Lauren Campbell, Editor-in-Chief