Staying Creative during COVID-19
It’s a weird time to be alive, let alone make music. No one could've imagined it: a world without live shows. Yet this is our reality now. If there is anything to be realised from this pandemic, it is that we musicians urgently need to utilise our creativity and come up with ways to survive without live shows, so that the music can carry on.
Take Your Time to Grieve
Perhaps you’re locked up at home and going insane from the cabin fever. Maybe you wake up everyday now feeling utterly miserable, and beat yourself up further for not being productive enough. Or like me, you’re noticing that your mood swings are happening more often.
I want you to know that you’re not alone. I, for one, know that it’s hard to be creative, when you’re worried about how you're going to survive without your usual sources of income. I’ve been in that place myself more times than I’d care to admit. If you need to cry or scream, go ahead. After all, we are experiencing grief over the loss of normalcy and we need to process that.
At that same time, I want you to also know that it’s going to be okay. The pandemic will eventually run its course and you can outlive it. All you need to focus on now, is to take things one day at a time. That is good enough.
Make That Decision to Get Up
After having given vent to grief, try seeing this as an opportunity, instead as a disaster. It’s a much better use of time and energy. I believe that the first step to doing that is to create a morning regime centred on practicing mindfulness, and sticking to it, no matter what. Its structure will help to centre yourself and start your day on the right footing.
I know it’s difficult to break habits, but I highly encourage you to not check your phone (especially social media) immediately after waking up. That feed is probably full of videos and what not, that could be causing even more anxiety. If it doesn’t bring any value, why do it then?
Seek Help
Now that we’re centred and ready, below are a few suggestions on what to do:
Look through your government’s websites and see if there are any temporary relief funds. They might not seem substantial, but any amount to help cover losses is still critical at this moment. For folks in Singapore, some friends of mine have put together a list of relief schemes available. It goes without saying, but please apply responsibly!
Instead of coming up with ideas alone, check out the various podcasts, videos and interviews online, where artists you admire, as well as industry professionals, get together and share their strategies to get through this period. You could also try reaching out to other artists and pick their brains. After all, it doesn’t hurt to ask for advice! I myself appreciated Lincoln Lim’s views in a Peatix interview and decided to get his thoughts on what musicians could do to get through this period. Also, I was chuffed to find out he’s been a longtime fan!
Here’s an excerpt from our conversation, showing his attitude and ideas to keep going during the pandemic:
I think this is the time for us to really dig deep and create, more than ever before. Be it in stockpiling songs, producing beats or creating a completely different portfolio of work, there is so much more long-term value in allowing ourselves to see this as an opportunity rather than our first instinct to take it as a loss.
I think that while so many things are unfortunately out of our control, the only thing that we can control is purely ourselves. Understand your value as an artist, a creative and a generally wonderful person and dig into that to find more potential streams of income. Have sound equipment? Do some top lining / production / voiceover work? Brand yourself well? Offer branding services, your portfolio is right there! Being an artist and trying to stand out in this day and age requires hustling and a jack-of-all-trades mentality, and now is the time where all that can pay off.
Personally, I'm giving online classes, producing for clients, working on a couple of event pitches, writing a treatment for a movie, designing a board game and writing my next 5 releases (phew). The thing is, I don't think I'm unique with these ideas and efforts. I know that all of us can make it through this time, with all the tools and talents we artists have, and hopefully come out the other side of this bullshit pandemic better than we could’ve imagined coming in.
As for me, besides using the time to finish more of my songs, I’ve also reflected on what is important about music to me, so that I can clearly communicate what I’m looking for in terms of work to others. I’ve come to accept that I need to begin spending time to diversify my income streams, especially looking for more sync licensing opportunities for my music. If you’d like to use my music in your film or any other projects, please write to me!
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade
It’s an imposed time off for the most of us, but we have to try making the best out of this situation. For example, I’ve seen many musicians back home try their hand at running their own live-streamed shows. It might not be that sustainable but at the very least, it can prove to be a step leading towards long term solutions. It’s better than doing nothing.
I hope this “playbook” has helped those of you (myself included) who have been feeling down, stay creative despite the lockdown measures (or lack of) in your respective countries. I wish you and your families the very best of health in these extraordinary circumstances, and I hope that you continue to create amazing music.
Many thanks to Lincoln Lim, who very graciously contributed his time to share his thoughts with me and contributing to this post. Check out his EP “Gravity” here.
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