When the coronavirus shut us down, clubs and festivals ceased, and everyone was essentially forced inside with no definitive end in sight, DJ Times wondered: How is our tribe coping? How are DJs getting by? So, we sent out our “Coronavirus Questionnaire” to DJ/producers from all musical genres to find out.
During the crisis, DJ Times will be presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest installment, this time from North of the Border, Toronto-based DJ/producer/multi-label owner Glenn Morrisson.
What’s it like where you are? We are in quarantine over here in Toronto, much like many other cities in the world right now. I am spending my days in what I call the “bunker sessions” – freestyle creative-writing studio sessions, each day, every day. It has been a creatively fruitful time and we are trying to incorporate new ways of involving fans and supporters through live streaming, studio sessions, 24/7 live streaming our label catalog [fill in labels] and maybe even the odd DJ mixes from the garden/pool area. It is a unique opportunity to learn more about your fans and supporters. They are the lifeblood of any artist and to give back in many ways, including our time with them, is extremely important.
Sounds like you’re keeping plenty busy. This is a perfect time to pull late-night studio sessions composing new music, exploring and learning different creative writing styles, etc. I am also offering our clients a constant discount for all production, mixing and mastering work here at our Alpine Mastering Studio. Feel free to reach out on the Contact page for whatever you need mixing-, mastering-, production-service-wise, and we will happily honor a 10-percent discount if you mention this interview with DJ Times and myself.
Have you lost income-producing work? Nothing is more important than my health and that of my family. Everyone has lost touring revenue for the foreseeable future, and how we react to this defines our character. Health is always more important than money.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? I have been a composer and musician long before it made serious revenue – I will continue to just “bunker down” and work on various live recordings, piano recordings, modal electronic music, ambient music, some club here and there… try to give back as much as I can too with our Alpine Mastering company services.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? I am working on a forthcoming IMAX and Netflix soundscore film composition coming out later this year… as well as the wonderful music we are signing and creating on our Ambient Wave Records label, and the classical music recordings on our Wolfe Records label. We lastly have several big Billboard pop records forthcoming this year with our Dying Light label featuring Wh0, Niles Rodgers, Josh Barry, Domino, Snoop Dogg, myself, and many other artists. Some of these record releases have been pushed back due to this situation globally, but nevertheless we are trying our best to adapt to the current world, and not have any of our artists stress out in the meantime.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? That many people don’t appreciate what they have in life. Many chase things which have no meaning or value. There are a million things to be grateful for, waking up each day and seeing the sun, having and sharing the love with your family and friends. This should be an important moment in everyone’s lives for self-reflection and trying to improve yourself.
What are you doing online? We are going to be doing live studio sessions from my Alpine Mastering Studio. It will be broadcast on YouTube and Twitch, and we have a wonderful Discord community group already building by the day. It has taken a few months to get all of the necessary equipment to do this professionally – I wanted to do this right or not at all. And we can have our live-streaming be somewhat mobile, so it can expand to backyard garden parties at night, DJ mixes near the pool, or it could expand to live-streaming me playing classical piano by the fireside. It’s a way for people to connect with me and tune in. Whether they are watching or just listening, I am happy and grateful they tuned in.
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? How about my new release forthcoming, called aptly, The Bunker Sessions? It’s 16 pieces of mine written on my modular rig fully live with no editing or post-production – raw, visceral feelings. I have this released on Ambient Wave Records. We also have a club release on our Fall From Grace Records label forthcoming, Modular Beat Bunker Sessions – wonderful techno and experimental stuff.
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? Appreciate everything that you have in your life. Learn to love yourself, as well as everyone around you in your day to day. Be a good person. There is plenty of darkness in the world – be a shining light. We need more of the light.
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
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