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 entry, this time from Portugal, the Lisbon-based DJ/multi-instrumentalist Moullinex (aka Luis Clara Gomes).
What’s it like where you are? Portugal recently began easing the lockdown – we’re now in the second phase. I’ve been at home. We’d been doing nationwide social isolation and it’s paying off, since we’ve been flattening the curve. I’ve spent most of my days making music. I started doing little bits for a video series called “The Lockdown,” where me and my band play music – each in their own homes. I’m also doing DJ streams every Saturday. These activities give me something to look forward to, something to keep me sane.
What income-producing work have you lost? All my DJ and live shows were cancelled until summer and possibly after. With no tangible “victory moment” when this health crisis is over, the biggest question for me remains what will happen to public events when the quarantine is lifted. It will probably feel like a very slow transition into normal life.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your life and/or career? I’m still making music. It’s my favorite thing to do and, luckily, over the years I got enough attention to make a living from it. As long as I’m able to do this, I’ll remain happy. I’m trying not to think too much about the long term, as anxiety can develop and things could get grey. At present, my goal is to keep myself busy with little music pieces, DJ streams in the weekend and finishing my next album.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? We’ve never been so connected digitally, with all the streaming, Zoom, WhatsApp, Twitch – all these tools spiking in usage. But the silver lining after all of this is over might be us valuing human contact even more than before.
Have you seen any DJ’s video streams that impressed you? I think many artists are putting lots of love into their home streams. Sometimes it’s not just about the audio and video quality, it’s about them actually caring about the moment. It can be a very vulnerable medium. I see a lot of ranting about the excess of streaming artists, DJs and other entertainers at the moment, but I can’t help but imagine what would these weeks of social separation be like without music, film, books, video games, entertainment. And these people are doing all of this for free, even when their livelihood and careers are at risk. We should be thankful, not complaining.
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? Know that it’s out of your control. If you’re staying home, you’re doing what’s required of you. Don’t feel pressured to be productive, creative, positive. Being anxious is a normal reaction. Take care of yourself and others. Exercise and eat well. Meditate (and that might be only listening to music or taking a very long bath). Read a book. Experience silence. Focus on your present needs and well-being only. Only think about tomorrow when you feel strong about yourself today.
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
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