When did you first realise that COVID-19 was going to have an effect on your band?
I knew the storm was coming in early 2020 when the media started to report heavily on the effects in China. As the pandemic began to unfold, I instantly knew it was going to spell trouble for the band. Our album that was supposed to be released in March quickly got pushed and all the shows to support the album quickly vanished.
Initially, what was that whole situation like, and how did your band overcome/react to it?
We were all a little bit shocked by how hard hit the world quickly became with this pandemic. We had a good 2-month period of really feeling like we were stuck in limbo. Our city was the hardest hit in the country and lockdowns were quite aggressive. But we didn’t let that slow us down. We made sure to have weekly meetings over the web and we began working on new material in pairs to help us gain momentum in writing process. It also gave us a moment to reflect on how we were going to promote our debut album and what possible solutions we might find.
How has your creative process changed as a band over the last couple of months?
With the ups and downs of the pandemic we are in and out of lockdowns. Currently we are at a level red (highest possible) and it has greatly affected how and when we meet in person. So, we have defaulted back to communicating with some members remotely online while other members go into the rehearsal space to track demos. Constant communication is key and theirs is always something to work on whether we are having interviews, creating social media posts, doing lyric videos or having meetings the list is always quite endless.
What’s been the hardest part about writing/doing music this way?
The hardest part is not feeling everyone’s energy together in the same room. It’s a lot easier to make progress and have the songs be influenced in the moment. It stifles a bit of the organic writing process that can very often lead to some of our best material.
What bands/artists have you been listening to over the last couple of months?
Tool, Busta Ryhmes, Eminem, Mega Drive, Crazy Town X and System of a Down to name a few.
So, what do you think you’ve learnt the most from being a band through COVID-19?
FS: That no matter what you can always find a way through difficult situations. That giving up is never an option. And that the more work you put in the more you get out. I think because we were less distracted with shows and touring, we were really able to focus on our band chemistry and song writing. I believe we gained a lot of experience and our second record should reflect the extra time we have spent perfecting our new material.
What kind of effect do you think that it’s had on the music industry all together, and how excited are you to see it return to normal?
It really took its toll on the live revenue aspect and I think it will be a lot harder for a band to tour because their will be less venues, tour managers, promoters, bookers,etc.. because that part of the economy was really gutted. I still think their will be albums coming out and perhaps when movies theatres start to open again more music will be needed for sync. So, I see some struggles and some opportunities depending on how other industries who rely on music react. I guess I am overall excited and nervous at the same time because there is going to be a lot of unknowns for a good while.
What tips/advice would you like to give to other bands who are also going through this?
Hang in there and don’t give up. As long as you all stay together and fight through this you will come out stringer on the other side. Find ways to be productive and make sure that you put in the hours.
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