When did you first realise that COVID-19 was going to have an effect on your band?
I had a US and UK tour planned with The Birthday Massacre in April – August of 2020. I received a phone call saying that everything would be postponed because of Covid. At that moment I knew this was going to be something that would have a real impact on touring.
Initially, what was that whole situation like, and how did your band overcome/react to it?
I was incredibly sad to hear that everything was getting postponed, but definitely favor being safe and healthy over risking people’s lives. Once the world heals, we will all be able to get back to playing shows like we used to.
How has your creative process changed as a band over the last couple of months?
The lockdown has halted a lot of production work in the studio when it comes to recording a new album or shooting music videos. I decided to use the downtime to go back to college to finish my degree in music. I am learning a lot about music theory, which is definitely changing the way I write out song ideas. I am now starting to think of the “why” behind what I write, instead of writing by ear, like I usually tend to do.
What’s been the hardest part about writing/doing music this way? It’s a whole new experience really. I would compare it to speaking another language. It’s kind of familiar, but still so different.
What bands/artists have you been listening to over the last couple of months?
A couple of my favorite artists released new albums during the past year. I’ve been listening to a lot of Health, KoRn, Nine Inch Nails, and Vanilla Sugar! (I always say you should write music that you’d like to listen to!)
So, what do you think you’ve learnt the most from being a band through COVID-19?
I’ve learned how to connect more with fans through social media. I stream weekly! On Saturdays at 1:30pm PST I host a live cooking show on Youtube and Twitter. Fans suggest what I should make, and I create a gluten free, vegan version with them. On Tuesday nights at 7pm PST I stream myself playing video games on Twitch. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to play with fans online. On Thursday nights, I host an Ask Me Anything session on Facebook and Instagram at 7pm PST.
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?
I think that the pandemic has really forced artists to find new ways to be creative while stuck at home. It has pushed us to dive deeper in ourselves as people and reflect on who we are. I have seen a surge in live stream performances; very cool. I am so excited for tours to start back up again. I feel at home on stage.
What tips/advice would you like to give to other bands who are also going through this?
Don’t give up!! These are some of the toughest times, but if you can make it through this, you can make it through anything after this. People are still craving live music, and there will be a huge demand for it once the pandemic subsides. Keep practicing your instrument, and continue being creative and thinking of musical concepts and/or lyrics. It will make the time pass by that much quicker.
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