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.
For the short-term (hopefully), DJ Times will be presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our first installment:
What’s it like where you are? I got back to London from New York two weeks ago after everything got canceled, and I have been home since. I’m completely locked down. I don’t cook – I find it quite daunting, actually, I’m not ordering food as much as I used to, so it hasn’t been an easy ride, I’m afraid. I’m unable to listen to music that much. I’m glued to the news, mainstream and underground media. I read a lot of different analyses – from economical to health to political – and I’m going nuts.
Have you lost income-producing work? Us DJs rely mainly on performance income. Our core business is with people and this, my friend, is completely wiped out. We can’t be around each other anymore, we can’t feel the steam, the heat of human bodies around us anymore, and I miss it immensely. Since we are all on lockdown orders, our industry is in a major crisis. No shows equals no income – it’s as simple as that.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? Not at the minute since I’m still in shock. I’m trying to adapt to the new “normal” we are living in. Yesterday I had a major breakdown – I couldn’t focus on anything, to be honest. I don’t want to sound like a Debbie Downer, but you asked. Suddenly reality hits… I’m sure next week I will snap out of it, eventually.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? Planning to do more streams, but not a DJ stream as such – the net is flooded with DJs in their lounge playing music at the moment. I’m doing one with Beatport, actually, and have a few other collaborations in the pipeline… but I may venture out into a different direction. Stay tuned.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? The collective solidarity. The human race is an incredible thing, and we are so blessed to have each other. The support pouring in from all over the world is a testament of how beautiful we are. We help the ones in need instantly – race doesn’t matter, social and economic status don’t matter. Also, the environment, the air we breathe, is so much cleaner. Mother Nature is in a major reset right now – she’s telling us to stop. Stop, breathe and take it all in. Meet yourself. Can you be with yourself? What do you see? Where are you now?
So, have you seen any DJ video streams that impressed you? I haven’t seen any videos. I will, of course, do a Facebook Live and more. I ain’t going anywhere right now!
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? This is a time to be aware of what you want, what you value, what you need and look at how deeply you changed during the past decade or even last year. Really honor who you are and how much you’ve been through to get to where you are right now. Yes, you are feeling anxiety; yes, we have a lot of world changes going on, a lot is shifting, a lot is uncertain — this is normal. Don’t be hard on yourself, if you’re going into some of those places, if you have doubts, if your pay check didn’t arrive, everything has come to a halt in your life, and you don’t know what to do next, just remember the universe has unlimited potential, unlimited ways, and opportunities will show up. Everything is possible. Please stay open to miracles. I love you so much, here for you always. Signing out from my lounge in London.
To check out more interviews, click here.
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