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 London, French DJ/remix master The Reflex (aka Nicolas Laugier).
What’s it like where you are? I’m in London. I can still access my studio, so I’m making the most of it – trying to complete projects that can only be done there. Spending a lot of time with my 11-months-old son – he surely keeps us busy enough. It’s a great joy, though, being able to spend more time with him and my wife.
What income-producing work have you lost? All my gigs for the next three months have been cancelled or rescheduled more or less, with probably more to come. Fingers crossed that some won’t, but it’s hard to tell right now. I’m lucky that I’m always in-demand with remix commissions, as opposed to those relying strictly on DJ gigs to make a living.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? I’ve brought a lot of production work home, enough to keep me busy for several months. I’m always producing content for my very-supportive fan base and for myself obviously, and planning ahead for potential releases.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? Prepping content, sorting data and accounts – all the less glamorous things of a DJ/producer’s life that need to be done, but will be helpful along the line. Also, doing lots of catching up with software tutorials in order to improve and keep the inspiration up!
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? That everything can unfold drastically pretty quickly… and that many people are not ready for it… hence the selfish attitude of some, which is a disappointing (but unsurprising, unfortunately) trait of human behavior.
Have you done anything online? Have you seen anything you like? I did, but then again it’s not really my thing and when I see what people like Marc Rebillet are up to, I’d rather watch someone who knows what they’re doing. [laughs] However, as so many people are stuck at home depending on a good internet connection for work, I am making available 10 hours of free mixtape downloads that my fans can play in the background without using their precious bandwidth (once downloaded, obviously). Links will be available through my mailing list.
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? Romanthony’s “Hold On” comes to mind, or anything by Nina Simone, really.
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? Keep active, speak to your friends and loved ones regularly, and try to help others whenever you can – a little gesture can go a long way.
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
DJ Times Magazine is copyright © 2020 by DJ Publishing, Inc. www.djtimes.com
