
Nikki Yanofsky
Quarantine Diaries: Jazz-Pop Upstart Nikki Yanofsky Is Listening To Marvin Gaye & Watching "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
As the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic continues to rock the music industry, the Recording Academy reached out to a few musicians to see how they were spending their days indoors. Today, jazz-pop performer Nikki Yanofsky, who will release her third studio album, Black Sheep, on July 10, shares her Quarantine Diary.
Wednesday, April 1
[8 a.m.-10 a.m.] Asleep. Sleep is really good for the immune system, right?? That’s what I tell myself anyway. You have to justify it somehow. I haven’t slept in like this since I was a teenager.
[10 a.m.-12 p.m.] I get up, wash up, put on my best suit (sweatsuit) and let my dog Bruce outside. I feed him, put on some music (this morning it was Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man), make a coffee and catch up on my emails! I have some things to work on for Reddit, American Songwriter and SiruisXM Volume today. There seem to be so many amazing initiatives to help support the fight against COVID-19 from home.
[12 p.m.-2 p.m.] I hop on my Peloton bike at 12. Everyone laughed at me when I got it because most people my age enjoy going out to the gym, but who's laughing now!? (No one. No one is laughing.) I do a 30-minute class and then tune in to an Instagram live with a local trainer that has been streaming barre classes. I do that for 45 minutes, shower and eat some brunch.
Today I ate whatever fruit I could find (apples, oranges and grapes) along with some scrambled eggs. (I'm on my best behavior today because I know I have to write about it. Yesterday I had pancakes with half a bottle of maple syrup. I’ll share that picture instead.)
[2 p.m.-4 p.m.] I do my vocal warm-ups, sing along to some of my new album (shameless plug, but Black Sheep comes out July 10) to keep me ready for any postponed shows I have when this is all over. I FaceTime my parents to make sure they're doing all right.
[4 p.m.-6 p.m.] I proceed to lock myself in my little "home studio" (legit just a midi piano hooked up to logic) to write. By the time I lift my head up, it’s 6 p.m. and I realize I have to feed Bruce his dinner.
[6 p.m.-8 p.m.] I feed Bruce, feed myself (dinner is a chickpea pasta with mushrooms, black olives and tomatoes. I guess I’m a chef in quarantine?) and go back to work.
[8 p.m.-10 p.m.] I don’t keep my phone with me when I’m "in the studio" (hahaha it’s just a room) but at around 9:30 p.m. it occurs to me I should probably check it. My manager texted me to ask if I have done even one of the things he has asked me to do in quarantine. I tell him I'm on it, but really I am still writing.
[10 p.m.-12 a.m.] By now I’ve forgotten what he asked me to do (it was to make sure my mic is set up for a live stream) and I get into bed, put on old episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" until I fall asleep. Very exciting day!! Guess what I’m doing tomorrow!?! The exact same thing!
If you wish to support our efforts to assist music professionals in need, learn more about the Recording Academy's and MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
If you are a member of the music industry in need of assistance, visit the MusiCares website.