When the Coronavirus shut us down, clubs and festivals ceased, and everyone was essentially forced inside with no definitive end in sight, DJ Times wondered: How is our tribe coping? How are DJs getting by? So, we sent out our “Coronavirus Questionnaire” to DJ/producers from all musical genres to find out.
During the crisis, DJ Times will be presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest installment, this time from Holland, bitbird’s melodic mastermind, San Holo.
What’s it like where you are? It’s been pretty good. I’m back in Holland right now. We’re not in full lockdown, so we still get to go outside for walks or a trip to the grocery store. But you’re not allowed to be with more than two people at once and have to stay six feet apart from each other when you’re outside. And almost everybody is working from home… which is not very different from what I’ve been used to in that regard.
How are you spending most of your time? I’ve been making a lot of music. I’m releasing a new song every Monday for the next couple of weeks, months even maybe. I call it the “Stay Vibrant Collection.” It’s just something I want to give to my fans in these weird times. It’s also a very good way for me to experiment and try new things.
Have you lost income-producing work? Yes, like most artists, a lot of my shows have been cancelled or postponed, which also affects most of my team, unfortunately.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? Releasing music every Monday definitely helps. I’ve also started streaming a bit for fun on Twitch, so I’ll see where that goes.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? I used to travel a lot, obviously, before the pandemic. But since that has stopped and I don’t have to catch any 3 a.m. flights or spend hours at the airport at weird hours in general, I’ve been able to take more time to rest, get a good night’s sleep, and unwind. It’s been better for me to get that time to reflect on what I want to do with my project and it’s just been physically healthier for me, too.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? I really miss hanging with my friends and my touring crew and being on tour. It’s crazy how much you can take those things for granted sometimes. Usually, I like spending some time at home for a bit after a tour, but I always get that itch to get back out there again and play shows, so not really knowing when I can scratch that itch again is something I’m adjusting to. Other than that, life hasn’t really changed for me since this all started, which I’m very grateful for.
What have you been doing online? Seen anything you like from other DJs? Haven’t been doing any live DJ mixes, but I’ve been making songs live on Twitch, which is more fun for me anyway. I caught Chet Porter’s set on the Proximity Digital Mirage Event and that was the best one I’ve seen so far. I just love that guy and his humor so much. He’s a very pure soul.
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? American Football’s “Stay Home.”
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? I think this is the time to find out what you want from life, especially if you’re stuck in a job or life situation you’re not happy with. Take the time to explore and see what else is out there and maybe when this is all over go out and try something new. Or maybe you can even start doing some of those things today. I’d also add that nothing lasts forever and that brighter days will definitely come.
To check out more Life in Lockdown features, click here.
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