GRAMMYs

Lindgren and Melanie 

Photo courtesy of Lindgren and Melanie Fontana

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Quarantine Diaries: Lindgren And Melanie Fontana Are Hosting An Open House, Cooking Blue Apron & Watching "Cake Wars"

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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
GRAMMYs
May 19, 2020 - 10:55 am

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, songwriter/producer Lindgren and his wife, singer/songwriter Melanie Fontana—who collectively have worked with names like BTS, Dua Lipa, Britney Spears, Halsey and more—share their joint Quarantine Diary.

Friday, May 15

[9:32 a.m.]

Lindgren: I get rudely awakened by a hungry cat trying to scratch her way through my bedroom door. Melanie gets up to feed the little monster, so obviously I go back to sleep. I am no use to the world at this ungodly hour. 

Melanie: Hello! I’m up! Throughout these quarantine times, my body has been truly terrible at sleeping. 9:30 a.m. is pretty much the latest my brain will let me go, even if I go to bed at 4 a.m. (which is what I did last night). My cat Vanderbilt is scratching like crazy at our bedroom door. Time to open the can and start the fish factory for her. I get myself a fresh, steamy cup of coffee from our Jura coffee maker. I peek out the back door window to see if it’s sunny; it is! I let Vandy out. She starts pouncing on invisible predators as I sit in the morning’s breezy silence of our backyard.

[11:22 a.m.]

Lindgren: This time the awakening is sweet. I being served fresh coffee with oat milk by my lovely wife who hands me my phone and kisses my forehead. The cat is now snuggly and ready for a nap in my lap while I slowly boot up my brain that apparently still runs on Microsoft Windows 98; slow to start but then very steady and reliable. I check my emails, delete the spam and respond to the ones from the home country (Germany) as they are already on their way home from their offices. Next up is iMessage. (God, I hate group chats.) A looming red double digit number lets me know that I’m fashionably late to a morning plotting party with our manager, Justin Garza. Once I’m all caught up on the ‘DREAMTEAM’ chat group I begrudgingly get out of bed at 11:50 (nobody should have to live like this).

Melanie: I leave my laziness on a poolside lounger to head back inside the house make a fresh cup of coffee for Lindgren. I use my pointer knuckle to gently tap on the bedroom door and I pad barefoot into our still shadowy room to deliver Lin his (late) morning brain fuel. I want bagels. Bad. We have some in the freezer, for sure. 

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[1:07 p.m.]

Lindgren: After a second coffee and a pastrami bagel, I finally feel human. Humans go to work, right? But there’s nothing to do just yet... other than... Oh yeah, we’re showing the apartment today! Over the last two weeks we’ve been renovating our newly aquired rental property in Hollywood and today a potential tenant wants to see it. Am I done with everything? Of course not. So I pack my tools, glove and mask up and get in the car. 

Time to "car test" the songs from this week. I’ve been missing this ritual throughout this time of adjusting to this new normal. We play the songs we wrote and produced, judge the writing, arrangement and mix on the car’s Bose system and sing along. "Pull uuuuup!" yells my wife. 

Melanie: Crap. I’m late! I’m supposed to be doing an "account takeover" of my manager’s company’s Instagram account, The Dream Adopters. Wish I was doing something a bit more musical today to show his followers, but eh, guess that’s life! Actually, today is a pretty cool day for some songs we already wrote and produced. We have a double release day! Bonnie x Clyde are releasing a REALLY unique song we worked on called "Atypical." At 9 a.m. Jessica Andrea will be putting out her long-awaiting single "Love Like This," a tune Lindgren, Jess and I poured our hearts into!

We are now at our investment property in Hollywood to give a quick "6-foot-masked-tour" to some potential tenants. I am currently and magically juggling ripping down old light fixtures, answering questions on my takeover, vacuuming and then eventually heading down to the lobby to let in our interested party. Please, lord, don’t try to talk us down in rent price. This place is f**king adorable and it's fully furnished with the comfiest and cutest furniture. Honestly, anyone would be lucky to wake up to these breathtaking Runyon Canyon/Downtown views. Someone stop me from renting out my own house so I can live here (like the city kid I am at heart!).

[2:59 p.m.]

Lindgren: Phew, just in time the new clock is hung, the bedroom barn door finally level (my poor German OCD had been tingling since the day I put it up crooked) and all the dust is swept up. Time for the Open House. 

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[4:37 p.m.]

Lindgren: Jessica Andrea texts "Come Outside." We step outside to find our masked friend on the front lawn and an ice cold six pack of Mango White Claw on the porch. Time to celebrate the upcoming release of "Love Like This," a song the three of us wrote for her project. It’s gorgeous. I hope it does well. Six feet apart and fully masked, we chat about potential promo moves and boys. Ain’t no hang with Jess without boy talk. ;-)

Melanie: Back home from Hollywood and JESSICA ANDREA IS A QUEEN. She just stopped over to drop off a $100 The Palm Coffee Bar gift card as well as a box of mango White Claws. Now that’s how we like to celebrate release days, baby! Jess, Lindgren and I sit six feet apart on my front lawn to talk a bit of "release strategy" in regards to "Love Like This" coming out in like... four hours. The song is really dreamy. It’s a pop experience. I hope it does as well as I think it will! Masks on, we continue to chat about how quarantine can be such a bummer for artists, who can no longer just head out there and do live performance promo for the foreseeable future. We speculate for a while over how it’s going to be even in the near future. Who friggin knows.

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[6:48 p.m.]

Lindgren: Time to be the music power couple for a bit. So we make some Daily Harvest smoothies and head into our respective studios to finish up some work. Melanie works on a track from our friends Daytrip and I go over notes from the band Public on a song we’ve been fine-tuning. With this magnifiscent weather outside it’s hard not to leave the studio patio door open and give the good people of Burbank a free concert. But I must resist the urge. 

Melanie: Lindgren heads into our A Room studio to wrap up editing vocals on a song he’s been feverishly poring over these last few days with the band Public (signed to Island) and I head into the B Room studio to melodyne vocals on an unfinished song I started working on with Daytrip last week. They always send me such unrivaled, inspiring tracks, I have to make sure what I send back to them is up to par. I love this song. It’s called "Blame Me."

[8:30 p.m.]

Lindgren: It’s been a couple minutes since Daytrip’s 808 bass made the wall between our studios shake. That can only mean one of two things: Melanie is either petting Vanderbilt or has started cooking. Damn, I’m hungry. Blue Apron’s orange glazed meat Chinese balls are on the menu. 

Melanie: Lindgren and I live for our Blue Apron meal cooking kits. Tonight, orange glazed meatballs is on the menu. Holy crap. Sandiest head of bok choy I have ever seen. Washing this thing for at least two minutes before I can even think of prepping it. Other than writing songs and home-renovation/interior design, cooking is my third passion. As I’m thin-slicing three large freshly washed carrots, I start to miss the cooking classes that Lindgren had got me for Christmas a couple years ago. Those were fun. We should do that again! On a serious note, I always dream of owning a small, very well decorated café that serves small plates, coffee, wine and beer. Goals, am I right?! 

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[9:52 p.m.]

Melanie: We crash Jess Andrea’s Instagram live. There were talks of Shia Lebouf and new songs on the way.

[10:50 p.m.] 

Lindgren: Time for a quiet walk through the neighborhood. Wow, I don’t even need a sweater tonight. Nice job, California. Oops, how did we make it all the way down to Whole Foods on Olive? Shall we turn around? "I miss Vanderbilt," says Melanie. Homeward then!

Melanie: Taking long, late-night walks is a newfound happy addition to our life. Somehow, floating atop a lively conversation about real estate and industry politics, we walk all the way to Whole Foods on Olive Ave. How the hell did we get all the way over here???

[11:57 p.m.]

Melanie: Laying on our massively oversized, gray tweed couch. This thing could tame a wild boar, I’m convinced. Time for reruns of "Cake Wars"! Sometimes you just have to watch something silly to stop the gears in your brain from turning so rapidly. I have to put my phone down now, because if I look at this screen for too long, I’ll be up wired till 6 a.m.! Goodnight, you weird and beautiful world. 

[1:30 a.m.]

Lindgren: After "Penny Dreadful" and a couple "Cake Wars" reruns, Melanie and Vanderbilt—my cats, as I endearingly call them—have succumbed to the sleep-inducing gravity of our couch. Time to switch over to "The West Wing."

[3:45 a.m.]

Lindgren: The edible is hitting like a truck. What did Josh say? What did CJ do? I can’t follow anymore. I wake Melanie up with a kiss on the forehead and whisper "bedtime."

"Good night, Veebee," she says to the snoring ball of cuteness. 

All photos courtesy of Lindgren And Melanie Fontana

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.

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GRAMMYs

KT Tunstall

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Quarantine Diaries: KT Tunstall Is DJing Raves, Building A Studio & Cuddling Her New Dog

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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
GRAMMYs
May 12, 2020 - 5:06 pm

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, GRAMMY-nominated Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall shares her Quarantine Diary. Tunstall's sixth studio album WAX is available now.

I’ve just moved into my new house at the top of a little mountain in L.A. It feels like a dream... and although this years’ touring is wrecked, the silver lining for me is getting to spend all this time at home which is unheard of, and I’m savoring every minute of that.

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[8 a.m.] I’m a major coffee drinker. I‘ve been on the Bulletproof Diet for some years now, which involves a massive injection of rocket fuel instead of traditional breakfast first thing in the morning; coffee with unsalted grass-fed butter and MCT oil, all whizzed in the blender. It makes you feel amazing, and as it is my first meal of the day, it is something of a ritual. I’m pretty tooled up in the kitchen to make this stuff. Although I did pour pre-ground coffee into the grinder this morning. Hmm. Lockdown brain.

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Another dream I’ve been able to realise in lockdown is getting a dog. I always wanted to adopt a rescue, but have never had time to bond and give a dog a stable start with me. I found my perfect little soulmate in Minnie, a 2yr old Miniature Pinscher. She’s so funny. And sleeps like a log. She’s either mental or asleep. The same as me.

[9 a.m.] I take her out for a walk in the morning, which is so beautiful. So far, we’ve come face to face with a very large rattlesnake and a wolf-size coyote - it’s amazing up here, but...vigilance...

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[10 a.m.] I write my daily journal entry, call people in the UK before the time difference window closes, glance at my calendar to see what new recording session or live stream I am thoroughly unprepared for today...

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[12 noon] Every weekday, I DJ a Rave for an hour on my Instagram. It’s been a really fun way to stay connected to fans, as well as being able to do a deep dive into old club classics. Fans have started dressing up (themselves as well as their living rooms!) and there was an amazing moment when I went split-screen and an awesome fan, @karibrasuka was wearing an LED light suit in the dark, SO cool!
 
[2 p.m.] Make lunch. Trying to keep healthy and loving cooking at home. Listen to music. I’ve been revisiting a lot of Nick Drake lately, and also loved discovering Alexi Murdoch and Lucy Dacus for the first time.
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[3 p.m.] The basement of my house is currently being turned into a Wonderland...a full-on, pro-standard recording studio. The crew can get into it via a separate entrance, so they have been able to keep working through the crisis thankfully. Once they pack up for the day, I can sneak down for a peek!
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[4 p.m.] I find myself feeling pretty wiped out by the afternoon. I try and read something, listen to some music, take another stroll and have a good quality canine cuddle

[5 p.m.] I’ll often have song recordings to do or live streams to join in the afternoon. Today’s recorded session us slightly different than usual in that it is the ‘Bathroom Sessions’ for WaterAid, which means I need to play and record in my shower...
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[7 p.m.] After cooking myself dinner, I’ll usually need to get a bit more unfinished work done before hitting the TV ("Ozark" is my current eye-drug of choice), and I’m attempting to make my almost completely empty house look interesting. My list of online orders is pretty weird; step ladder, ‘hike n’ strike’ taser walking stick, soda-stream, disco lights...
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[10:30 p.m.] OZARK O’ CLOCK. 
 
[12 midnight] I try and be in bed by now. It’s so early for me compared to tour where I’m usually hitting the hay at 3am. But I’m liking it. I can hear owls and crickets through the open window, and a little snoring dog.

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.

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GRAMMYs

Janet Devlin

Photo by Emma Jane Lewis

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Quarantine Diaries: Janet Devlin Is FaceTiming With Friends & Listening To True-Crime Podcasts

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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
GRAMMYs
Apr 28, 2020 - 11:43 am

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, Irish pop artist and former "X Factor" contestant Janet Devlin, whose second album, Confessional, drops on June 5, shares her Quarantine Diary.

Thursday, April 23

Before this all started, I was meant to be conducting a leisurely move from Ireland back to London to kick off my album launch proceedings. I had secured a lovely, friendly house-share in London, had passed my theory test and was on the brink of taking my driving test before looking to arrange to get myself, my belongings and my car, "Beep," over to England. However, in the space of about 48 hours, I found myself on a plane with one suitcase to get back to London as quickly as I could to avoid being stranded in Ireland where there was no hope of me being able to continue to work, make content or record music. I moved in and tried to make the place a home with very little in the way of possessions and not much clue about how the next few weeks would pan out!

It’s taken a little while, but I’ve got a nice little routine and I’m managing my physical and mental fitness much better. Sadly, I had to delay my album release until early June as the whole of the music world is a bit up in the air, and I want to make sure I give this music baby its best shot! So for now, I’m trying to do my best in isolation and keep my fans and followers up to date with what’s happening!

[7.30 a.m.–9 a.m.] I normally wake early, but studiously ignore the fact that I should be getting up. Tell myself I can just get up at 8 a.m. and it’ll be grand! Once I do get up, I have my regular caffeine injection and watch a YouTube video or two. Or three…hundred. I then shift over to my social-media platforms and immerse myself in people's messages and respond to comments. Recently this has taken up more time because so many people have sent me their stories of challenges and recovery—it means a lot to me that they have shared such a personal moment, so I try my best to respond to everyone. Then I’m onto emails and making a rough to-do list for the day.

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[9 a.m.–12 p.m.] Looooong shower—especially when I actually wash and brush my hair! It takes forever so I only really do it once a week. Dry shampoo and root boost are my best friends! I grab some breakfast and have a catch-up with the housemates. At the moment, my eating habits have changed a bit, so of course I’ve opted for banana and peanut butter on toast. Because the world is pretty crazy right now, I deserve carbs and happiness. It brightens my mood. I then have a little cry over a sweet old man raising money for the NHS.

Today I have to set up for an isolation photo shoot; I am taking my own new press shots at the moment, because corona. I blast out Harry Styles' "Fine Line" for the millionth time whilst I make myself look decent. Setting up the shoot means turning my room upside down and having to move my bed from one side to the other while I try and test the lighting and get rid of weird shadows. I have a newfound respect for gaffers and lighting people now! Luckily, I've got a shutter remote so I just have to hide that as I pose and start shooting with the Top Forty on, dance around and try and capture some cool pictures! Feel lucky there’s no flies on the wall for this part!

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[12 p.m.–3 p.m.] When I've got everything I think I'm going to get, I download the photos to my computer while I stuff my face with a protein bar. Peanut butter features again… I think I have a problem. I then have a catch-up call with management to find out what’s top of the priority list of things needed by end of day. The weather is so gorgeous at the moment, I take my pale self outside and have lunch in the garden. Don’t forget the sunscreen, guys! I feel so lucky to have a little patch of green to get some vitamin D. It really does lift my spirits feeling the sun on my face. I then drag myself indoors again to get filming some content for my YouTube channel. I’m ridiculously excited by my limited-edition coloured LPs that I’ve got made, so this requires it’s very own unboxing video! Then, I usually call my Mum for a chat and to say hello to my doggo—I'm really missing Bean, so he usually gives me a few seconds attention on the video chat!

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[3 p.m.–6 p.m.] Time to move! I take my inhaler and start a workout. After I had a really horrid bout of whooping cough last year I still have it on hand, but thankfully my lungs are getting stronger so it’s really to give me that safety net of knowing I won’t overdo things. I ran 2K and did a mini "no equipment" CrossFit workout in the park and then ran the 2K back. I am really missing my training and CrossFit sessions; it’s not that easy to recreate an Olympic weightlifting training session with a few tins of beans in each hand! But it’s not stopping me from trying to keep active as I find it really helps me emotionally and physically, and I suppose it keeps the carb consumption in check. 

I cool down back in the garden again and drop in to my social channels again to see what’s been happening, and maybe post out about my upcoming Stageit show or my album. I’ve never been good at self-promotion, so I generally keep it light!

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[6 p.m.–9 p.m.] I grab another shower then practice some ukulele for a few upcoming videos that I want to post from home. Also I start writing a song—I suddenly feel inspired!! I then switch to editing mode and start making tweaks to the unboxing video. Editing is sooo laborious, I wish there was a magic button you could press—but I’ve gotten quicker at it and sometimes find time to try out new graphics or filters.

I grab dinner then head outside to clap madly for the NHS workers and have another cry, this time at how sweet it is. I try and livestream a couple of times a week, so I after I come inside I jump on Instagram Live and catch up with friends online.

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[9 p.m.–12 a.m.] Editing calls once more, so I head to my room to work on the unboxing video, and put something exclusive together for my Patreon page. In the middle of it I get a phone call from one of my best friends and we have a good old catch-up, followed by a FaceTime from another good friend and accidentally stay up to midnight talking to them! I'm normally in bed mega-early, so when we're done I crawl under the duvet with a true-crime podcast and sleeeeeep!

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.

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Leon Of Athens

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Quarantine Diaries: Leon Of Athens Is Playing An Audiotree Session & Watching "The Kominsky Method"

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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
GRAMMYs
Apr 21, 2020 - 9:12 am

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, London-based, Greece-born indie-pop artist Leon Of Athens, who recently released his new single "Communication," shares his Quarantine Diary.

[10 a.m.] I'm a late sleeper and this quarantine definitely hasn't helped my sleeping habits. Luckily, I got eight full hours of sleep and feel much more relaxed today. Coffee calls. I simply cannot operate without it—you can easily call me an addict. Waking up in Athens in April is a true blessing. I'm a resident of London and was about to fly to the the U.S. for SXSW right when it got cancelled. I felt I needed to be in Athens close to my mom and fortunately, I was able to get here in time. It's 26 degrees Celsius and the sun here is sublime. I walk up the stairs to the rooftop for my daily dose of vitamin D and feast on the beautiful view. Athens is surrounded by three mountains with the sea right behind them. I'm taking it all in.

[10:45 a.m.] Still on the rooftop and now moving on to some cardio and stretching. Gotta keep my body moving, even if it's for a few minutes. It helps me stay mindful.

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[11:30 a.m.] I make myself a healthy brunch and get to work. I practically spend my entire days in my home studio, either playing or writing music. I've also been doing a lot of online sessions and tonight I'm doing one for Audiotree. I had done one in their studio, in person, a few years ago. They're great, so I'm extra excited for this one. I start setting up and going through my setlist for tonight's gig that will take place at midnight Greek time (we are eight hours forward) so it's definitely a good thing that I'm a late sleeper and that I have understanding neighbours.

[2:30 p.m.] Siesta time is quite important in Greece and lasts from 2:30 until 5:30. I never sleep during the day but it is imposed quiet time that I like to take advantage of by chilling on the balcony and getting some reading done. It's also the time my manager Eva in Philadelphia is up so I'm usually on the phone with her or on a conference call. We haven't changed much in the way that we work and are constantly keeping busy.

[4 p.m.] I put on my mask and gloves and leave the house for the nearest grocery and drug store. I stock up on some food and sanitisers while taking my daily stroll. I arrive back home, wash my hands and make myself some chicken and rice to eat. 

[6 p.m.] I put on the news and get my daily update on the number of COVID-19 cases. We're at 11 new cases today, so we're doing great. Starting to see the light at the end of tunnel. 

[6:30 p.m.] I've been working on a documentary I'm taking part in as a musician. My actress and dancer friend Melia who lives in L.A. asked me to take part in it—it's a kind of audio/visual digital mixtape, a meditation on being human, both from our internal and external experiences of being connected to a larger community. It's a virtual discussion where I am replying to her dancing through music. My space in my apartment is relatively small so I spend quite a few hours on trying to create an alluring setting, getting the right props, angles and lighting for the shoot. I've always been a D.I.Y. kinda guy but this situation has definitely brought out my resourcefulness on a whole new level. I will be performing a song of mine called "Fire Inside You" from my last album, [2018's Xenos]. After getting the right sound ready, I wait for the sun to go down. I light up some candles and shoot the last few takes.

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[9:30 p.m.] I now have to start setting up the sound for Audiotree's session. My neighbour and drummer friend Theo joins the soundcheck. We perform together on many of these sessions and it's great that we're able to do so. The technical aspect of the sound is lot trickier than it looks and it's something I need to do from the beginning every time I have a new setup. It takes up some more time but we make sure to have some dinner at least a couple hours before the session and digest in time.

[12 a.m.] Audiotree session. 

[12:30 a.m.] The session went great and Theo goes home. I'm starting to feel pretty wiped out and take a warm shower. 

[1 a.m.] I put on "The Kominsky Method" to decompress and actually feel like I might even fall sleep a bit earlier tonight. 

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.

Grammys Newsletter

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander

Photo: Benjy Bradshaw

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Quarantine Diaries: Indie Pop Artist Stefan Alexander Is Calling His Parents And Reading Patti Smith

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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
GRAMMYs
Apr 18, 2020 - 9:41 am

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, NYC queer electro, indie pop artist Stefan Alexander, who recently released his sophomore EP, Cry Again, shares his Quarantine Diary.

As has been said over and over, this is a crazy time to be alive. It's perhaps an even crazier time to be alive in New York City, where I'm currently in my version of quarantine. NYC has essentially become the center of the pandemic in the U.S., with over 100,000 cases in the five boroughs alone. 

I only go out once a week for groceries and any other errands. However, I live in a spacious two-family house. I've mostly been holed up in my room, working from home for my post-production day job, doing some remote vocal work and stealing moments to write new songs. I'm so thankful for my job security during this time. I know so many musicians who primarily make their living from touring and performing. They're really struggling, and that puts my challenges in perspective, along with the stories I hear from my friends who work in healthcare who are seeing the devastation on the frontline.

For the first few weeks of lockdown, my anxiety hit a new high. I was relying on Benadryl and other sleep aids at night and extra coffee in the morning. I couldn't stop refreshing the news every hour, scared of what new nightmare might pop up on the screen. It took me a while to understand how much this constant news diet was affecting me. When I started limiting myself, my creative brain was able to wake up again. 

Like many of us, I've created a new routine inside the restrictions of quarantine. As much as I miss all of my friends and family, I'm starting to get used to this new normal.

[8-10 a.m.] Wake up my mind and body

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander's at-home gym equipment | Courtesy Photo: Stefan Alexander

I've been trying to wake up early every day, even on the weekend. I'm a morning person anyway, so I always hop out of bed. First, I make my first cup of coffee. Then I start my workout and turn on WNYC, my local NPR station. In quarantine, I've started weightlifting again in my room, working on my beach bod with hopes that we'll all be able to do some sunbathing soon—after a much-needed haircut. 

I miss Brighton Beach and Coney Island, where I'd normally be going in the next month or two. Regardless, it feels so good to get the blood and endorphins flowing. Maybe I'll finally be a thirst trap once I can finally get out into the world again!

[10 a.m.-noon] Make a smoothie and call my mom and dad

Every morning, I make myself a smoothie, chock-full of ginger to help my immunity. This is also when I pour a second cup of coffee. Then I call my parents. Like many people, it's really hard for me not to visit my family. I had to cancel a trip back home to Massachusetts earlier in March. I don't know when I'll see my parents again in person, but for now, the daily phone calls help make the distance feel less insurmountable.

[noon-2 p.m.] Record and write music

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander records music at home | Courtesy Photo: Stefan Alexander

I've been making music every day, recording acoustic videos and collaborating remotely with a few producers here in the city and around the world. During normal times, I do most of my songwriting while in transit, commuting to and from work or heading out to meet a friend. Now, out of necessity, my room has become the place where I feel the most creatively engaged. I'm lucky to have my own recording gear, so I can keep working, even if I can't get into the studio. I've heard from a lot of artist friends that they're either artistically stuck or feeling prolific. I'm, thankfully, more the latter.

[2-4 p.m.] Eat lunch and edit

I've been doing a lot more cooking. Today, lunch is leftovers from a big pot of split peas and rice I made a few days ago. While eating, I listen to a bit of a podcast: Queery, hosted by Cameron Esposito, [which features] interviews with LGBTQ+ artists and comedians. Listening to familiar voices on podcasts and the radio keeps me grounded, able to imagine a post-coronavirus world. 

After lunch, I get to editing the vocals I recorded earlier in the day, prepping them to send to the producer. I'm really excited about all the new music I'm working on. It might not be out in the world for many months, but for now, it's another part of the future I'm envisioning for myself, a more colorful light at the end of the tunnel.

[4-6 p.m.] Read "Just Kids," check the news and meditate

Stefan Alexander

Stefan Alexander reads at home | Courtesy Photo: Stefan Alexander

I've been meaning to read Patti Smith's "Just Kids" for years, so when I found it on our communal bookshelf, I was excited to finally have the time to do it. While I can't get out and see the city, reading the book is a wonderful way to envision NYC at a different time, bursting with life. I listen to some Brian Eno while I'm reading. 

A notification pops up on my phone, and when I click it on, I'm compelled to check the news. They've just released the new case numbers, the updated death count. My anxiety flares up and I spend 15 minutes doing some deep breathing meditation to find equilibrium again.

[6-8 p.m.] Call a friend and sip a cocktail

Stefan Alexander

A cocktail mixed by Stefan Alexander | Courtesy Photo: Stefan Alexander

A couple of weeks ago, I made a list of all the friends I should call or FaceTime when I'm feeling lonely. I mix up a cocktail, one of my favorite ways to decompress, and call one or two of the people on that list. I'm reconnecting with friends I don't get to see very often. 

I've realized that quarantine has essentially made all of us equidistant, whether we live across the country or somewhere nearby in Brooklyn, which is both terrifying and comforting. I'm trying to concentrate on the comfort. I've always been more of an extrovert, so this time cooped up is challenging for me, but the phone calls provide me with the interaction I need, despite the lack of physical human contact.

[8-10 p.m.] Make another cocktail and watch "Unorthodox"

After catching up with a friend, I whip up another cocktail and open my computer, avoiding checking the news again. Tonight I'm watching "Unorthodox" on Netflix. It's about a woman's escape from her Chassidic upbringing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. My previous apartment was in the predominantly Chassidic neighborhood of Borough Park. We almost never had the opportunity to interact with our neighbors. I gleaned whatever information I could from the few conversations I had the pleasure to have. "Unorthodox," which is based on a memoir, paints such a vivid picture of one woman's life within the community. This show is so immersive that it makes for a great distraction from everything going on outside.

[10 p.m.-midnight] Say goodnight to mom and dad, read and sleep

Along with waking up early in quarantine, I've also been going to sleep early. Before bed, I call my parents once more for a short conversation: goodnight and I love you. I get ready for bed and read a few more pages of "Just Kids" before dozing off.

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