Skip to main content
GRAMMYs Breaking News
Breaking News
  • MusiCares Launches Help for the Holidays Campaign Apply HERE
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • GRAMMYs
  • Governance
  • Jobs
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Login
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • More
    • MusiCares
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • Latin GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Videos
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Recording Academy

Latin GRAMMYs

MusiCares

  • About
  • Get Help
  • Give
  • News
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Person of the Year
  • More
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Person of the Year

Advocacy

  • About
  • News
  • Issues & Policy
  • Act
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
    • Recording Academy

Membership

  • Join
  • Events
  • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
  • GRAMMY U
  • GOVERNANCE
  • More
    • Join
    • Events
    • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
    • GRAMMY U
    • GOVERNANCE
Log In Join
  • SUBSCRIBE

  • Search
Modal Open
Subscribe Now

Subscribe to Newsletters

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
GRAMMY Museum
Membership

Join us on Social

  • Recording Academy
    • The Recording Academy: Facebook
    • The Recording Academy: Twitter
    • The Recording Academy: Instagram
    • The Recording Academy: YouTube
  • GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
    • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
    • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
    • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
  • MusiCares
    • MusiCares: Facebook
    • MusiCares: Twitter
    • MusiCares: Instagram
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy: Facebook
    • Advocacy: Twitter
  • Membership
    • Membership: Facebook
    • Membership: Twitter
    • Membership: Instagram
    • Membership: Youtube
GRAMMYs

Boston residents dance and sing along to, "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" as the James Brown song plays during a Coalition of Black Youth march from Nubian Square to Boston City Hall on June 10, 2020
Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

News
How To Manage Mental Health In A Pandemic coping-best-how-manage-mental-health-during-social-unrest-global-pandemic

Coping For The Best: How To Manage Mental Health During Social Unrest & A Global Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
Try these helpful and creative ways to keep your mind and body strong, healthy and together even if it feels like the world is falling apart
Melanie Lockert
GRAMMYs
Jun 24, 2020 - 12:30 pm

For several weeks after the pandemic began, a friend of mine heard a neighbor play the song “We Are The World” each night at 7pm during the applause for essential workers. The song and sound of thunderous clapping filled the Harlem neighborhood and provided a certain sense of comfort and connection, even if for only for a few minutes. But what about the other 23-plus hours?

During these challenging times, it’s critical that we find spaces of joy, connection, rest and comfort. Not only are we living through a global pandemic that has affected nearly every aspect of life, but we are also engaged in the fight against grave inequality and racial injustice in America. Additionally, there are looming fears and buzzing anxieties about reopening the economy — and let’s not forget, we’re in an election year, too. To say, it’s a lot is an understatement. During these unpredictable and heavy times, taking care of your mental health isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. 

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” - Audre Lorde

Managing your mental health is vital to your overall health and well-being. During these times when our lives have been turned upside down and every news headline is bordering on traumatic, it’s important to rest and recover. 

If you’re like me, you might find yourself more fatigued than normal. You can’t produce at the capacity you once did. Doing the smallest tasks can seem like a chore. 

In our culture that worships the art of the hustle, it’s easy to internalize this and feel bad. But if there was ever a time to cut yourself some slack, it's now. Here is your permission slip. When you’re hungry, you eat. When you’re thirsty, you drink. So why not rest when you’re tired? 

"Give yourself permission to rest," says Licensed Master Social Worker Lindsay Bryan-Podvin. Resting can look different for people, so check in and evaluate what activities restore your energy. 

"To truly show up for this revolution, you need to do it rested. Yin yoga, stretching, napping, reading, watching mindless TV, and sleeping are some great ways to restore yourself," notes Bryan-Podvin.

As the adage goes, "You can’t pour from an empty cup." It sounds trite, but it’s true. 

“The fastest way to still the mind is to move the body.” — Gabrielle Roth

Your mind and body are interconnected. To manage your mental health, you also need to manage your physical health. Yes, that means that you should exercise. 

If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, fatigue may make it difficult. If you’re like me and you suffer from depression, simply leaving the bed can be a feat. 

However, moving your body, even just a little can help. Start with stretching. 

"Practice getting energy out of your body. With all of the uncertainty happening, we tend to store the anxiety and tension in our bodies,” says Bryan-Podvin. “Research shows that we store trauma, specifically, in our hips. Make sure you are engaging in some sort of physical activity to dial down cortisol, get some endorphins flowing, and don't forget to stretch out afterward to keep that trauma from sticking around.”

You can check out these 15 hip stretches to get started. If you can do a bit more, commit to just seven minutes. That’s what I’ve been doing when I feel like exercising is a chore and something I can’t manage. 

I commit to doing the signature seven-minute workout, which uses high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The exercises are 30 seconds, with a 10-second break. I know that I can invest, at a minimum, seven minutes a day to move my body. 

Walking around your neighborhood (with a mask, of course) is also a good way to keep your body moving. Research has shown that a brisk 10-minute walk or meditation has a positive impact on your mood. 

You can also take advantage of the many online exercise classes and do something like yoga or dance. Finding something you enjoy is paramount so that you can try and stay consistent. 

Use music as your guide to get moving. Put on a playlist that inspires you to workout or one that you can’t help but dance to. 

Like many people, I often lament about “needing to exercise”. It feels like an afterthought or something getting in the way. But I do know that I’ve never felt worse after a workout or regretted doing it. 

Something I like to do is rate my mood before the workout and after it. I rate on a 1 to 10 scale. One is the lowest mood and 10 is feeling pretty good and five is just average. After doing a workout, I typically see my mood improve by a few points. Doing this helps me realize that exercise is helping. It reminds me to move my body in some way because I will feel better. 

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”― Viktor E. Frankl

One of the hardest parts to deal with right now is a lack of control. All of our plans went out of the window and circumstances changed overnight because of the pandemic — and for many people, for the worse. It’s disheartening. 

And not having control over the pandemic, reopening, whether people wear masks or not, racial injustice, etc. only adds to the worry. 

Finding peace, though, requires focusing on what you can actually control, not the things you can’t. “In times of high stress, it's helpful to take a step back and determine what things we can and can't control, both in the short-run and in the long-run. If you can't control it, worrying about things we can't control can lead to unnecessary stress,” explains financial therapist Derek Hagen. 

“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” – George Eliot

Music can also play a role in managing your mental health. You can find the perfect song to match your current mood or engineer your playlist to get out of a funk and feel better. 

"As a singer-songwriter, music is life to me. Listening to the music of other artists and creating my own helps me to process my emotions, and experiences, especially the painful ones.  Without a doubt music plays an integral role in my mental wellness," says singer, Kassandra Dasent. 

This works well for me. As I was dealing with my own emotions related to the pandemic, I identified three songs that helped my mental health and played them on repeat. It was like a sonic cocoon, keeping me safe. 

Music has the power to make you feel less alone. It can boost your mood and make you dance. It can also move you to tears. To maintain your mental health, identify one song that you can’t help but feel good every time you listen to it. Like this one. 

"Crying is how your heart speaks, when your lips can't explain the pain you feel." — Unknown Author

It’s natural that we experience a lot of feelings and emotions given everything going on. But if you keep those feelings inside and don’t have an outlet for release, it can deteriorate your mental health. 

You can journal out your feelings or call your best friend. Find online communities to connect with. But sometimes you just need to cry it out. Crying gets a bad rap, but everyone can benefit from crying. Crying actually releases feel-good endorphins and can improve your mood, while lessening the pain. 

When managing your mental health amongst all the chaos, think about the things that make you feel good. Ask yourself what you really need, right now. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help, either. You can reach a crisis counselor by texting HOME to 741741 or find a therapist using OpenPathCollective.org.

To help ground you when anxiety spikes, focus on gratitude. 

“Gratitude is important. When nothing seems to be going your way, try to find a way to pause and think about all the things in your life for which you are grateful... our brains have a negativity bias so it's important to counter our natural negative thoughts with the good that's all around us,” explains Hagen. 

And finally, remember to try and stop dwelling on the things we no longer have (though it’s not easy!). Instead, focus on all the things we still do have and what kind of life you want to create moving forward. Remind yourself you are safe and healthy in this moment.

Grammys Newsletter

Subscribe Now

GRAMMYs Newsletter

Be the first to find out about winners, nominees, and more from Music's Biggest Night.

Want To Support Protesters And Black Lives Matter Groups? Here’s How

GRAMMYs

Jason Isbell

Photo: Alysse Gafkjen

News
Jason Isbell Talks Isolation, Mental Heath & More jason-isbell-talks-surviving-isolation-mental-health-how-black-music-shaped-him

Jason Isbell Talks Surviving Isolation, Mental Health & How Black Music Shaped Him

Facebook Twitter Email
The Southern rocker shares his thoughts on American race relations, therapy, marriage, and releasing an album during a pandemic
Dan Reilly
MusiCares
Jun 12, 2020 - 9:54 am

Working for years on a new album only to have it released during a worldwide pandemic and one of the biggest periods of racial tensions and civil unrest in half a century could devastate any artist. Jason Isbell, just a few weeks removed from the unveiling of his seventh LP, Reunions, prefers to focus on the bigger picture. “We're all healthy and in the house,” he says. “There are worse places to be, so we're all right.”

Isbell and his wife, Amanda Shires — a singer/songwriter, virtuoso fiddler, and one-fourth of The Highwomen — have been holed up in their Tennessee house since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March. When she had to cancel the remainder of her tour, she decided to keep the show going on YouTube with a series called “I So Lounging,” a daily concert series in which she was accompanied by her touring guitarist Seth Plemmons and, when he could join, Isbell from the barn on their property. They performed originals and covers, answered fan questions, shot the breeze about what they were going through, and used the time to raise funds for both Shires’ crew and the MusiCares COVID-19 Releif Fund. The charity is one Shires and Isbell have close ties to: It helped pay the medical bills for a hand injury that could’ve derailed her career and funded his well-documented stint in rehab. They reiterated the message throughout the performances — there’s help out there and there’s no shame in asking for it.

With that in mind, MusiCares caught up with Isbell to talk about what he’s learned from life in quarantine, supporting the Black Lives Matter protests, getting back on the road, and how to stay sane, married, and sober when it feels like the world around you is going to Hell. 

So you just announced 2021 tour dates with Lucinda Williams. How is planning to return the road working out with everything that’s going on now?

Well, those new dates aren't happening until next year, so we got a lot of time to figure all that out. I would love to be able to tour some this year, but I don't think it's going to be feasible. I don't think it will be safe, so we just moved everything back a year, basically. We were supposed to be out right now, and Lucinda was going to be touring with us quite a bit. We were looking forward to it, but it could be worse. So, we're just waiting until things crank back up.

In the meantime, you and Amanda have been raising money for MusiCares with your live streams. What inspired that?

Almost everybody I know and work with has reached out to MusiCares for some type of assistance at some point. And for the last few years, we've been very fortunate and I've had some success, but things weren't always that way. They helped me get sober — it's been about eight and a half years now. People have come to me since asked me, "What do I do? How do I pay for going to rehab or getting the treatment that I need?" and I always send them to MusiCares. The way I see it is, artists who have had some success and might not need as much assistance have a responsibility to give back to the artists who are still struggling and working extra hard without a whole lot of reward, and MusiCares is a great way to do that.

What Amanda and I did, it was her idea to do the "I So Lounging" thing, of course. She had been on the road and her tour got canceled. I actually called her the night that California canceled all the large gatherings. She was headed into California the next day from Canada and I said, "You're not going to be able to do that. You're going to have to come home because California is not having any kind of large gatherings or shows or anything." So, she came home and immediately got to work doing those live streams from our barn here. I think a big part of that was her just needing to continue the work she was doing and sort of have an airlock between being on tour and being at home. It just made sense to donate some of the proceeds because we had all used MusiCares’ assistance in the past and felt like it was a good idea to try to put some back in the pot.

I enjoyed that one joke you made about asking them for some new shoes: "How much does music really care?"

Yeah [laughs]. It's a cool thing, though. And I think a lot of musicians, people who work in the music business, touring professionals, don't understand. They, of course, are reticent to look for a handout and they've got a lot of pride. But at the same time, I don't think they understand sometimes that this thing is set up specifically for people in the music business who need some type of assistance, and that's why it's there. It's not like this fund is going to go somewhere else if people in the music business don't use it. I mean, it's there for us, so we tried to encourage people who needed it to reach out.

Do you have any idea how much money you raised?

I think Amanda did like a month of shows and it was in the six figures, I believe. And she was getting emails from people who were watching and couldn't afford to donate — they were emailing her apologizing for not being able to give or not being able to give more. It was really moving for me and her because we weren't charging people to watch the stream. We were just asking for donations if people could. It just meant a lot to me to see how many people were struggling and still taking the time to write and apologize for not being able to do more. It really restored some of my faith in humanity, in a way.

The past few months have really shown a lot of generosity that people might not have even known they had in themselves.

Yeah, I think so. People have been motivated to give their time and their money and their resources in a way that we haven't always seen.

Also, you and Amanda both have been recently promoting a lot of Black artists on Twitter, just to do what little part you can to amplify others' voices.

Yeah. But it just baffles me that we haven't gotten farther in race relations in America. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine last night and we were talking about just how much easier it would be if we had solved these problems 50 years ago in the Civil Rights movement, or a hundred years ago, any of the chances that we had to solve the issue of race in America. If we had actually solved it then, put the work in, and gotten to a point where everybody was really treated fairly, how much easier and fulfilling our day-to-day lives would be now. How cool would it be to live in a country where everybody's voice was heard equally, even for us? I think our lives would be better, just as white people. It would be a better world all the way around. We've missed so many opportunities to fix that.

And my introduction to any kind of black culture was music. Because where I grew up, it was just a bunch of poor white people in a small town in Alabama. Not even a town, we didn't have any red lights or anything like that. It was just a rural area in Alabama that borrowed the neighboring town's ZIP code and post office. We were just out in the middle of a cow field, a whole bunch of white kids, so my introduction to any kind of Black culture was musical. I became so obsessed with Black music, with the blues and R&B, that it occurred to me that a lot of the things that I hear when I'm in school can't be true. Because I was listening to records that were made in Muscle Shoals, the area where I grew up in Alabama: Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett. I'm thinking I understand what they're singing about and it moves me so much that we can't be very different, really. If I'm responding to this music in this way, on a really emotional level, on a basic level, there's no way that this guy who's singing this song could be all that different from me, despite what I hear when I go to school every day. 

I don't know, I think a lot of people had a similar experience to a culture different than theirs. When they really start to consume the music of that culture, they start thinking, "Man, we have a lot in common." Music is a good bridge between different cultures in that way, so I'm just telling people the stuff I'm listening to. I mean, I don't even really have to filter through my playlist to promote Black artists because I just put up what I'm listening to at the time. And more often than not, it is a Black artist.

You tweeted about how people say you’re going to lose some of your audience by speaking out against racism, but at least you’ll still have your soul. Do people still really not get where you're coming from?

It's hard to believe it. But you make new fans along the way, and the more popular you get, the more people who come in who don't really know what you're about. I have a larger audience now than I had a year ago, or two years ago, or 10 years ago, so I think some of the people that are coming in at this point are kind of confused. I mean, people don't know whether to call me a country singer, or a rock singer, or a singer-songwriter, Americana, or roots music. So some people come over thinking they're coming to hear this country singer, and some people come thinking they're going to hear something that reminds them of Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, or something.

It depends on where they're coming from. If they're coming in thinking they're going to hear straight-up country music and that's all they know, then they might be a little bit surprised. But the folk audience is never surprised. They're ready for anything. Also, I think it's just people who disagree with me trying to find ways to disagree with me that are painful or damaging. I think they know for the most part what I'm about — they're just looking for a way to say something. Very often they'll regurgitate the “shut up and sing” concept because that's easy for them. If they did things the hard way, they would have learned something by now. We know that people on that side of the argument are trying to find the easiest way to hurt people's feelings. It doesn't bother me, though. I don't mind.

And it can be fun to mix it up with the naysayers on Twitter, now and then. 

It is, yeah. You’ve got to sometimes use them as a prompt. You can't respond to everybody — that'd just be too negative — but every once in a while, somebody will say something and I'll think, "Okay, I can use this to make a point." That's when I wanted to respond, usually.

While we’re on the topic of turning negatives into positives, what are some things you’ve learned during the past few months that might help some other people?

Something that's helped me a whole lot, I was thinking about, is when I got sober in rehab, was to just keep your head and your ass in the same place. It's really about living in the moment, trying to be present, and focusing on the process. My friend, Will, we had a long conversation about a lot of different things. We do that every few days, but he's a Ram Dass guy and he's into the “be here now” philosophy. I find that that's really something that carries over into a lot of other disciplines. He and I have had this conversation about similarities between the best athletic coaches like Nick Saban and Ram Dass’ philosophical teachings. If you can somehow find a way to be in the moment that you are in, it makes things like this turn from a very negative situation to what could potentially be a very positive situation.

"Just keep your head and your ass in the same place. It's really about living in the moment, trying to be present, and focusing on the process."

Amanda and I have a four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and a huge part of us staying sane and staying happy in this quarantine, lockdown, whatever you want to call it, is trying to understand that she's not going to be a small child for very much longer. The time that we have now all at home together, we would not have gotten otherwise. If we were out touring, we'd be busy, we'd be working all the time. She would either be with me or be with Amanda, but she wouldn't be with both of us, and that's something that you can't get back later. She'll be older and she'll be interested in her own thing, and I think we'll wind up looking back on this, grateful for the fact that we had the time as a family.

That's not everybody's situation, and we're very lucky to be in the position that we're in, where we can spend quality time with our child and not be terribly concerned about how we're going to get our next meal, or what's going to happen if one of us get sick. But I think that the idea of trying to stay in the present moment and take one day at a time, like they say in AA, is something that really applies to this whole concept of repeating the same day over and over, which a lot of people are doing right now. They get up and they have the same day over and over, and if you think of it like that, it can get pretty depressing. But if you focus on each individual moment and each individual day, for me, that's made it a lot easier.

You’ve also talked openly about seeing a therapist, something a lot of men don’t want to admit. What have you learned from that?

Oh yeah, I've been going to the therapist for close to three years now. It's something that has helped me understand why I do the things that I do and why I feel the way that I feel. It's forced me to sort of go back and unpack some of the baggage from my childhood. I think if you can be aware of your own intentions and be aware of your own reasons for doing things, it really helps you understand the rest of the world. Just being able to talk every week, or sometimes twice a week, to somebody who is impartial, somebody who is not going to have to bear the burden of my pain... I go in and I pay her money and I sit down and I talk to her, and I don't leave there thinking, "Man, I just put a burden on somebody else."

It's not easy to do that to your wife or your mom or your kid, because sometimes you feel like you're making their life harder. But to have somebody who is qualified and trained, where I take all these things, say them out loud, get them in the room, sometimes she doesn't have to say anything at all. It just helps me to verbalize all these feelings that I'm having.

I think everybody needs therapy. I think everybody in the whole world needs f**king therapy. And I don't think there should be any sort of a stigma associated with it because, really, the people who are not doing their best are the people who aren't trying to get any kind of help. It was like when I went to rehab and there were so many people in there who were ashamed of going to rehab. It's like, “Man, you should have been ashamed of sitting on a bar stool.” Going to rehab is the right thing to do, trying to actually make some kind of difference in your own life so you could be a better person for the people you care about, or the people you might potentially care about somewhere down the line if you don't have anybody right now. Eventually, somebody's going to give a shit about you and you're going to want to be prepared for that. And to do that, you got to actually do some work on yourself. And that, I think is the thing to be proud of.

With Reunions coming out in the midst of all this, what did you learn about the bigger picture of your career? 

Well, it's made me aware of how fortunate I was. It's reinforced the idea that me going out and playing these shows for people was not a right, it was a privilege. It makes me more grateful for the fact that that is still my job, and there will come a time when I get to do that again. It's also shifted my priorities. I mean, at first I was upset about the idea of not being able to go out and play these shows. But as time has gone on, more important things have come to light. Issues with the virus, trying to figure out a way to stay safe and survive, and then the issues with race in our country right now, and trying to move that conversation forward and get to a point where people are actually treated equally from a systemic point all the way up, those things are way more important than me going out and playing shows.

And I'm grateful for the perspective. I feel like I'm very fortunate to be able to look at this situation and think, "Okay, my problems aren't the biggest problems in the world, and I should be thankful for the things that I have and the platform that I have and the fans that I have and the guitars that I have, and all of these things that I will eventually get to return to." That's a great privilege for me. Anything that rearranges your priorities in a way that's backed with good intention is a good thing, eventually, if you survive it.

And with good intentions, you promoted indie record stores by releasing your album early through them. How did that work out?

Oh, it was great. I saw a bunch of people asking me online, "Why don't you just put the record out now? Stream the record and put it up on the internet so people can download it and get it? We need entertainment." And I thought, "That's true." I mean, I'm sure the record would be appreciated if it came out early, but it would be another nail in the coffin for a lot of these independent record stores. I depend on those folks and have throughout my career, because I've never really relied on a major label to promote the work I was doing. I've never been able to rely on commercial radio. So, I've had to go out and do the legwork and play in stores and rely on the guy behind the counter recommending my album to somebody. That's made a difference in my career.

I wanted to come up with something I can do that would help them because I know they're struggling. It was my idea to put the record out in the indie record stores a week early, and they sold a bunch of them. And they were really happy to have the business, and I was really happy that they were out there spreading the word. We need those places or else the only music that we're going to have is music that is heavily promoted by huge corporations. And I'm not going to say that that music is better or worse than what I do, but the way I've done things is through relationships with independent venues, promoters, and record stores, and they're having a really, really hard time staying in business right now.

I've made it to a point now where I will always have a career, but I'm very lucky. There are a lot of people who are coming out right now who make really interesting music that may be a little bit left of center, a little bit different than what they would play on popular radio stations, that aren't going to have the same chance to build things from the ground up that I had unless these record stores and these venues are able to survive.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAAnxuTAqHj

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by jasonisbell (@jasonisbell)

Has being quarantined and performing for almost every day with Amanda inspire you both to start working on anything new?

Yeah, we've both been writing some. She's taught herself how to use Pro Tools, so she's been recording. I don't know how to use Pro Tools, so I'm still behind on that stuff. I sit on the floor and play the guitar for hours every day, and it's not necessarily to write anything — it's just because it's good for me. It makes me happy, so I've been doing a whole lot of that.

Will "I So Lounging" come back at any point?

I think there will be at least another "I So Lounging," if not more. I don't know how many of those that she'll want to do. But yeah, if nothing else, we'll do one to celebrate being able to get back out of the house and get together again, whenever that happens.

With everything being so uncertain right now, a lot of people might be stuck in isolation again soon. Based on your experience, do you have any advice for those who are in relationships and could be spending a lot more time with their significant other than they’d planned?

You’ve got to figure out how to give people their space. If there's anything in your relationship that's the slightest bit codependent, that's going to bite you on the ass, because we're used to having our own routines, being able to go to work separately. It's important to have time away from somebody, no matter how much you care about them. Other than that, I don't know. Just do your best. Be nice, even when it's not easy to do.

Learn more about how you can donate to or apply for assistance via the Recording Academy's and MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Learn more about the financial, medical and personal emergencies services and resources offered by the Recording Academy and MusiCares. 

GRAMMYs

Photo: Ramon Costa/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

News
Virtual Game Night: 6 Music Games To Play 6-music-games-play-virtual-game-night-friends-family

6 Music Games To Play For A Virtual Game Night With Friends & Family

Facebook Twitter Email
Try these creative ways to stay connected, have fun and maintain good mental health during quarantine
Kit Stone
MusiCares
May 25, 2020 - 12:35 pm

For some, the first week of the stay at home order felt like a vacation — a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We watched too much television, ate too many snacks, danced in our pajamas in the middle of the afternoon, and rekindled our relationship with our favorite bedspreads. 

But for family-oriented individuals, the stay-at-home orders hit differently. Sunday dinners and game-nights have been put on hold to ensure everyone's safety during the pandemic. That doesn't mean that you can't spend quality time with your loved ones, it just means you need to get a little creative. 

The saying is true, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and not being able to connect with friends and family in the way that we’re used to can take a toll on your emotional and mental health. So, we’ve got to get creative on ways to incorporate family time even if you can’t physically connect. Establishing a routine game night, even virtually, can provide the emotional lift you need to help you maintain during the quarantine. 

Spending time with family and friends, even virtually, can relieve stress, decrease anxiety and depression, improve sleep, improve relationships, and make you happier all around. As long as you have wifi, you can organize a game night that can still add hours of family fun to your day. 

If you come from a musical family where get-togethers turn into impromptu concerts or viral TikTok videos, this list is for you. These virtual music-themed games can increase your musical knowledge, give your friends and family a peek into your musical taste, get your creative juices flowing and lift your mood. 

1. Verzuz 

Instagram got an instant upgrade when mega producers Timbaland and Swiss Beatz went hit for hit in the first Verzuz challenge. Since then, millions have gathered around their phones, tablets, and computers and watched artists like Teddy Riley and Babyface, Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, and most recently, Ludacris and Nelly go hit for hit. You don’t have to wait for the next chart-topping artists to experience your next battle. Pick your favorite artist and challenge a friend. You can even invite others to listen in and choose the winner.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CARL1DQJ8LW

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Timbo the King - CEO (@timbaland)

2. Don’t Forget the Lyrics 

Are you a master at song lyrics? Well, even if you’re not, this will be a fun game. Each person takes turns playing a piece of a song. Without warning, stop the song and have the challenger finish the lyrical phrase. In order to get the point, they have to finish the lyrics word for word. If you want to be nice, you can let the other player sacrifice a point in order to give them a clue. The first person to get 12 song lyrics right, wins! Options: You can change the number from 12 to 20 or just 5, depending on how long you want to make your game.

3. Name That Tune

Start by playing an intro of a song. Before the verse starts, stop the song and wait for the other person to guess the title and the artist. Only the correct title gets the point. Partial or “almost” titles don’t count. Play one-on-one, or in teams. Make it more challenging by sticking to one genre or a specific decade. The parameters are up to you, so have fun with it!

4. Music Trivia

Normally, for this game, you would need a trivia master. That person would have to create a Google Doc of musical categories and questions similar to Jeopardy. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with the “Ask GRAMMYs” music trivia game, compatible with Alexa and Google Home. You can test your music knowledge in categories that cover country music stars to rock legends and previous GRAMMY winners. The game refreshes every Monday with a new category so choose your team wisely. Check out this calendar to see what’s coming next. 

https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad/status/1253372567328612353

Looking for the perfect way to stay entertained while social distancing? Test your music knowledge with our weekly #GRAMMYTrivia.

Simply say "Ask GRAMMYs" to your #GoogleHome or #Alexa to get started! https://t.co/XPr5BmzzW3

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) April 23, 2020

5/25 – The GRAMMYs Goes To The Opera
6/1 – Pride + Music
6/8 – The '60s
6/15 – The '70s
6/22 – The '80s
6/29 – '90s R&B

5. Song Association

This game can be played one-on-one or with teams. One person gives a member of the opposite team a word. That person has 10 seconds to sing a song with that word in it. If the time runs out, the person doesn’t get the point and it’s the other team’s turn. The first team or player to get 10 right, or however many you decide, wins. Easy words to start with are colors, places and objects.

6. Dance Freeze

Dancing carries its own benefits to health and wellness. Something as simple as moving your body can boost your cognitive performance, mood, and improve your cardiovascular health. It’s also an activity that all ages can enjoy from your barely walking tots to your more seasoned relatives. Designate a DJ. The DJ will play music and the other players will dance. Once the DJ stops the music, the players have to freeze in whatever dance position they’re in. The DJ watches to make sure they’re frozen in place. Anyone that moves is automatically out. The last player dancing wins. This a great game to get the whole family up and moving.

Kit Stone is a multimedia storyteller and digital content creator. A native of California, she credits her love of all things creative to the influence of the Bay Area culture she grew up in, and the part her family, Sly & the Family Stone, played in shaping it. Since receiving her degree in visual storytelling and media production from Cal State East Bay, Kit has used her passion for storytelling to inspire, educate, and entertain. When she’s off the clock, you can find her curled up with a good book or watching episodes of "The Golden Girls."

Read More: 11 Meditation Apps To Help You Get Calm & Centered During Quarantine & Beyond

Read more: How To Use Music Techniques To Prepare Healthy Food

Learn more about how you can donate to or apply for assistance via the Recording Academy's and MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Learn more about the financial, medical and personal emergencies services and resources offered by the Recording Academy and MusiCares. 

GRAMMYs

The Beach Boys circa 1964

Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Image

News
3 Songs That Help Me Manage My Mental Health 3-songs-are-helping-me-manage-my-mental-health-during-quarantine

3 Songs That Are Helping Me Manage My Mental Health During Quarantine

Facebook Twitter Email
From the Beach Boys to Nina Simone to Weezer, here is why this triptych of uplifting songs gives me hope during uncertain times
Melanie Lockert
MusiCares
May 14, 2020 - 4:58 pm

Music has always had the power to transcend reality to an ineffable place. That’s why we listen to music, go to live shows, find ourselves playing the same song over and over again. For a period of time, we are enraptured and forget about daily life. Though I’ve always loved music, quarantine and a global pandemic have given this old reliable source of transcendence new power and meaning. And as the isolation of being alone at home with ourselves makes the importance of mental health more pronounced than ever, certain songs have become our much-needed friends and sources of strength. Here are three songs that bring me relief and comfort during these challenging times.

1. “In My Room” by The Beach Boys

I grew up listening to the Beach Boys. My parents took me to see them when I was a kid, and they were the first band I ever saw live in concert. I’ve always had a fondness for them, and their music fills me with a certain nostalgia that reminds me of easier times.

As a kid, I didn’t quite grasp the impact of the famous Beach Boys’ 1963 song “In My Room,” but now the song feels revelatory. During these times of quarantine that require so much isolation, the song proves to be a balm to the soul.

From the very beginning, "In My Room" transports you to some ethereal, unknown place. The song starts with a chime — with a timbre so pointed and precise that it feels like it’s casting a spell on you.

Shortly after, the glorious sounds of a harp cascade, opening the pathway to the sonic delight that is the signature Beach Boys harmonies. The voices coo a message that is so dearly needed right now.

“There’s a world where I can go and tell my secrets to/ In my room/ in this world I lock out all my worries and my fears”

The song feels like a trusted message — a prayer even, for dark times. In my room, I can create a world that I want and dream and cry and feel safe. Measure by measure, it takes the very ideas of space and place and isolation and transforms them into something magical. In that magic, there is room for hope to flourish.

The song feels like a trusted message — a prayer even, for dark times.

Dealing with the anxiety and depression surrounding the current circumstances, it’s easy to feel stuck. I’ve found myself regressing in what I thought was progress. I get scared about all of the uncertainty and fear. But "In My Room" not only gives me hope — it also gives me courage.

“Now it’s dark and I’m alone but I won’t be afraid/ In my room.”

During quarantine, when I have no choice but to be in my room, this song is a reminder that my room is not the enemy. My room is a playground for my imagination and my inner world — a solace and a source of comfort in an uncertain world.

2. “Trouble in Mind” by Nina Simone

We are living through a collective trauma in real-time while trying to manage our individual day-to-day challenges. There is a daunting sense that everything has changed, and the mental health toll is real for nearly everyone.

But for people like me who suffer from depression and anxiety, the toll is magnified. Spiraling into that dark space can feel bleak, but through music's ability to connect on a deeper level, you can ground yourself.

When I’m feeling that way I dive into jazz and blues — nothing else captures the desire to lament current circumstances so vividly. In quarantine, I listen to the “Trouble in Mind” by Nina Simone.

The song opens with a sassy piano intro and a bluesy feel with Simone singing:

“Trouble in mind I’m blue, but I won’t be blue always...cause the sun is gonna shine in my back door someday”

Lyrics sway effortlessly from note to note in that vibrato tone only Simone can do so well. For some words, she extends the note to accentuate the emotion. Notes appear as a frustrated yell or a disappointed surrender, but ultimately Simone delivers a hopeful reassurance that things will get better.

The way she sings “but I won’t be blue always” reminds me that feelings aren’t facts and feelings aren’t forever. Listening to “Trouble in Mind” I get that “I’m not alone in this” feeling and also a much-needed perspective shift.

Notes appear as a frustrated yell or a disappointed surrender, but ultimately Simone delivers a hopeful reassurance that things will get better.

Yes, I have trouble in mind now and it feels so dark and blue but eventually, things will turn around. Like the sun rises and sets every day, Simone's unforgettable performance reminds me I can count on the fact that one day the sun will shine again.

3. “In the Garage” by Weezer

Though I don’t have a garage of my own as an apartment dweller, another song that resonates with me and is helping me is “In the Garage” by Weezer. When I listen carefully, it’s almost like I can see the lineage and inspiration from “In My Room” by the Beach Boys to “In the Garage” by Weezer.

The song opens with a melodic harmonica, a simple drum beat and a driving riff, creating an infectious noise that makes it nearly impossible to not bang your head and tap your foot in sync. "In The Garage" invites you into its little world and paints a pop-culture-party picture of a safe space and the comfort items that make it so special.

“I've got a Dungeon Master's Guide, I've got a 12-sided die
I've got Kitty Pryde, and Nightcrawler too
Waiting there for me, yes I do, I do
I've got posters on the wall, my favorite rock group KISS
I've got Ace Frehley, I've got Peter Criss
Waiting there for me, yes I do, I do”

You get a sense that in the garage, you’re not alone. As each item is listed, each album or poster feels like another character in the story. Similarly to “In My Room”, the garage is a special place carved out as a place of creativity and exploration. Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer of Weezer, sings:

“In the garage, I feel safe/ No one cares about my ways/ In the garage where I belong, no one hears me sing this song/ In the garage.”

This song offers a place of belonging and safety. When your mental health feels threatened and everything feels uncertain, these things are the backbone of feeling okay.

Listening to this song, I am reminded that I’m not really alone. I have my books, my art, my music — all of which are vehicles to leave my home and explore anywhere where I want to without moving an inch.

When your mental health feels threatened and everything feels uncertain, [belonging and safety] are the backbone of feeling okay.

Often I feel like before the pandemic music and art seemed auxiliary but not necessary. It is clear to me now that these things are not purely entertainment but for many people, a mirror to our emotions, a lifeboat when feeling stranded and a place to travel to when it’s impossible to go anywhere.

During quarantine, I find myself going back to these songs again and again. I relate to them in a completely new way and they offer hope and solace when the supply of these things feels scant. It’s important to find things that ground you and make you feel comfortable — something that helps you make any sense out of all of this.

As we are asked to stay at home longer than any of us have imagined, you can use music to go to places and remind yourself that you are never alone, even in isolation. You can use this time to deeply listen, headphones on, volume all the way up. This can be a therapeutic experience. You can find songs that illustrate your current emotions or songs that transport you elsewhere or simply help you get through these uncertain times.

Melanie Lockert is the author of the book Dear Debt, podcast host of The Mental Health and Wealth Show, and is a full-time freelance writer. Her work covers personal finance, small business, mental health, and relationships and has appeared on Business Insider, VICE, Allure, and more. Melanie has an M.A. from New York University, is passionate about music, boxing, and mental health and lives in Los Angeles with her two cats, Miles and Thelonious.

Read More: How To Use Music Techniques To Prepare Healthy Food

Millennial Girls have sessions on the web

Millennial Girls have sessions on the web

 

Photo: t.maz/Getty Images

News
2020 In Review: How The Music Community Rose Up 2020-review-how-music-community-rose-amid-pandemic

2020 In Review: How The Music Community Rose Up Amid A Pandemic

Facebook Twitter Email
A look back at the music community's challenges and resilience amid one of the most difficult periods in recent memory
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Dec 29, 2020 - 12:39 pm

2020 has been like no other. Musicians, organizations and all parts of the music industry are facing a whole new, unprecedented reality that is changing the way the industry works. It’s been a tough year, to say the least. But despite the ongoing trials, the music community has found ways to remain resilient through it all.

GRAMMY.com looks back at how the industry's unity, perseverance and creativity helped the music community rise up and face the challenges head-on. 

GRAMMYs

Recording Academy And MusiCares Establish COVID-19 Relief Fund

Unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response, Harvey Mason jr., Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, said in mid-March when the Recording Academy responded to the crisis by launching the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The Recording Academy and its affiliated charitable foundation MusiCares have established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and subsequent cancellation of multiple music events. From hotel and bar gigs to major music festivals, COVID-19 is deeply impacting live music events, and the creative community behind it all.

Administered through MusiCares, the COVID-19 Fund will be used to directly support those in the music community with the greatest need. To establish the fund, both the Recording Academy and MusiCares have contributed an initial donation of $1 million each, totaling $2 million.

GRAMMYs

Marching Six Feet Apart: How High School Marching Bands Are Coping With The Pandemic

Schools were left with a lot of unknowns this year. At one school in Colorado, teachers wondered what the new normal would mean for their band season, but most importantly, for their students. Emilee Lindner took GRAMMY.com readers into a high school to show how one community of teachers and students worked through it all.

Since you can't really conduct band from a laptop, teachers are getting creative. We're talking practice journals, music theory worksheets, listening assignments and music history readings. [James Shuman, band director at Rocky Hill High School in Connecticut,] even created a bracket for students to battle out which song from Star Wars is the best. Anything to keep the kids stimulated. But it's a struggle. Band has lost the essence of collaboration; instead, it’s mutated into individual study.

GRAMMYs

Recording Academy Board Members Cover John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" To Benefit MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund

Many lives succumbed to COVID-19 this year, including GRAMMY-winning legend John Prine. To honor him and his legacy, the Recording Academy Board Members came together to cover his song, “Angel From Montgomery.” Revenues from the song went to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund. 

"We started this project as a way to raise money for MusiCares. With John’s passing, we also wanted to raise awareness that this can strike anybody. It doesn't matter if you’re famous or not, a seasoned veteran, or perhaps just building your career. If we can help in some way, if we can help make sure that those in need have food, or rent, or something else to help keep [getting] them through," Recording Academy trustee Michael Romanowski said.

GRAMMYs

"Nothing Like This Has Ever Happened": How Orchestra Musicians Are Faring In The Pandemic

COVID-19 has caused lockdowns all over the country. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), New York Philharmonic (NY Phil), and Los Angeles Phil spoke to GRAMMY.com about what it meant for them.

When the lockdown began, Stephen Williamson, principal clarinet player for CSO, was on his way to a concert when he learned the news. "I was [driving] to CSO for a performance of 'Rhapsody in Blue' when I got a call that the concert was canceled," he shares. CSO's Associate Concertmaster Stephanie Jeong, the youngest member of the orchestra ever to hold this prestigious title, was in Kansas City visiting her boyfriend when she learned of the Shelter in Place order going into effect in Chicago. "I ended up staying in Kansas City, and I’m still here."

What was hoped to be a temporary shutdown soon turned into a stay-at-home order with no end in sight, and the shattered economy that accompanied it was something many musicians didn’t anticipate in the United States. "In my almost-30-year tenure with the orchestra, nothing like this has ever happened," CSO bass player Robert Kassinger explains. "Maybe once every 10 years a concert had to be canceled because of weather conditions, sure, but nothing like this."

GRAMMYs

Independent Publicists Persist Through The Coronavirus Impact On The Music Industry

As the beginning of the pandemic caused the cancellation of several live shows and festivals and paused album releases, the publicists for artists like Jessie Reyez, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Lido Pimienta, Palehound and more talked about how they worked through the hard times for their clients.

Independent publicists and smaller PR agencies now face their own unique challenges. Many run on project-based work focused on touring and album campaigns. With artists now canceling tours and rethinking album releases, the music publicity sector now faces a potential, and significant, loss in income—if not now, then in the future. On top of that, there is no option of severance for many publicists if they lose their jobs or clients.

GRAMMYs

Bartees Strange, Anjimile & More On What It's Like To Release A Debut Album In A Pandemic

Some artists continued to release their projects, although it meant they couldn’t go through a traditional release cycle.

A variety of rising artists sit down to discuss the unusual and inopportune circumstances of releasing a debut record during COVID, and what it takes to make the best of an impossible situation.

GRAMMYs

The Pivot To Livestreams: VERZUZ  Was Born

To keep the show going, artists went full-on digital with intimate and all-out production performances, giving way to new forms of musical entertainment. Cue in VERZUZ, a full-on lyrical and production battle that pitted some of the greatest rappers and R&B artists head-to-head.

What originally started as a live song-for-song set at Hot 97's Summer Jam concert in 2018 between musical powerhouses Timbaland and Swizz Beatz has now found its way into countless quarantined homes. The recommence of Verzuz began and continues to serve as a celebration of Black musical pioneers: the DJs, songwriters, singers, rappers, producers, performers—and everybody in between.

The battles are selected by how sonically and entertaining both artists can be together. Kicking off in March, the growing phenom has showcased battles between Teddy Riley vs. Babyface, Boi-1da vs. Hit-Boy, The-Dream vs. Sean Garrett, Erykah Badu vs. Jill Scott, Johntá Austin vs. Ne-Yo, Nelly vs. Ludacris, T-Pain vs. Lil Jon, Scott Storch vs. Mannie Fresh, DJ Premier vs. RZA, Ryan Tedder vs. Benny Blanco, 112 vs. Jagged Edge and Beenie Man vs. Bounty Killer.

GRAMMYs

Helping The Musical Community Through Music 

Whether it was raising money for venues across the country at the Save Our Stages virtual event or labels like Mexican Summer releasing projects benefitting artists or charities of their choice, artists and musical entities found ways to support their community. Streaming service Bandcamp, also among those leaders, waived fees for artists on their platform, showing support for independent creators.

Capturing Los Angeles' COVID-Closed Venues

With clubs closed until at least next year, photographer Farah Sosa documented L.A.'s shuttered venues—many of which may not reopen without federal support

How Bandcamp's Fee Waiver Days Are Supporting Musicians In The Pandemic

"It sounds simple, but we’ve always believed that the best way to support artists is to buy their music and merch directly," Bandcamp COO Josh Kim told GRAMMY.com. 

Bipartisan Package Brings New COVID Relief And More

In the waning days of the 116th Congress, a bipartisan package includes new COVID relief and more. 

After months of shifting negotiations and perpetuating stalemates, Congress reached a deal to provide the American public with additional COVID-19 relief. Congressional leadership, composed of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), announced an agreement on Sunday, December 20, to attach the relief to an end-of-year government spending bill to be voted on Monday, December 21, and signed into law by the president. 

Bootsy Collins, Carla Morrison, Rico Nasty & More: GRAMMY.com's Favorite Conversations Of 2020

Grammys Newsletter

Subscribe Now

GRAMMYs Newsletter

Be the first to find out about winners, nominees, and more from Music's Biggest Night.
Top
Logo
  • Recording Academy
    • About
    • Governance
    • Press Room
    • Jobs
    • Events
  • GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Store
    • FAQ
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Cultural Foundation
    • Members
    • Press
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • COLLECTION:live
    • Explore
    • Exhibits
    • Education
    • Support
    • Programs
    • Donate
  • MusiCares
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
  • Advocacy
    • About
    • News
    • Learn
    • Act
  • Membership
    • Chapters
    • Producers & Engineers Wing
    • GRAMMY U
    • Join
Logo

© 2021 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Contact Us

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.