As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rock the music industry, GRAMMY.com reached out to a few musicians to see how they were spending their days indoors. Today, Sean Garrett shares his Quarantine Diary.
[8:30 a.m.] I’m being awakened right about this time with a little tap on the shoulder from my 5-year-old (Cruzzy-Bear). I’m still extremely sleepy because I’m on 3.5 hours of sleep after last night's recording session. As I put the big guy (Cruzzy) in his tub for a bath, I’m being ordered by special request that he needs his iPad set up on the counter to watch while he plays in the tub. After I wash him up and get him dressed, we go downstairs for some breakfast and then off to school.
[10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.] After dropping off my son, it’s straight to the gym. Dreading this workout with my trainer—he has a full two-hour workout set up consisting of weight training, cardio and low impact strengthening.
[2 p.m. - 7 p.m.] After a shower and a quick change, I’m headed to a top-secret meeting/session with a few of the biggest hitmakers in the music business; It's a very tedious process because of the level of success from this artist's last project. We go back and forth comparing notes on the angle and approach we will take on production and song to ensure this project is not only successful but exactly what the “artist”'s fans love.
[8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.] I’m off to change and then head to a late live interview to discuss the current state of music, the art of hit-making and the story behind the No. 14 song on Billboard’s Hot 100 Greatest Hits Of All Time Chart: Usher’s “Yeah!”
[10 p.m. -11 p.m.] Head to a late dinner. With most of the city semi locked down due to COVID, it’s a blessing to have a few spots in Atlanta open to enjoy some good food.
[12 a.m. - 4:00 a.m.] Back to the studio with my client. I love writing and producing songs. I’ve been blessed to create, and I take my craft seriously. Labels and artists depend on me to tell a story and make a hit. These “closed sessions” always end up in your ear. I mean, I don’t say “smash on the radio” for nothing!
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