Like the majority of you, all of us in the Philadelphia area are staying at home, learning to adapt to our “new normal.” MAGNET is checking in with local musicians to see how and what they’re doing during this unprecedented time. Photos by Chris Sikich.
Puglese: First, I’d like to say that, so far, I’ve been lucky in that COVID-19 hasn’t directly affected me or any of my friends or family members. For all of the shittiness and suffering that it’s brought into the world, for me, the actual quarantine part of things has had its benefits.
I’m a graphic designer by day, as well as an extreme introvert, so not having to go into a loud, open-air office every day has been a blessing for me. Working from home has opened up little unexpected slots of time throughout my day to be creative or to just spend time with my wife or dog that would otherwise be spent staring aimlessly into a computer screen or making small talk.
If a song idea or melody pops into my head, I can grab an instrument and record it instead of slinking into the office hallway or bathroom to awkwardly sing into my voice memos app. Or hope I remember it by the time I get home.
It’s also allowed me to avoid certain social events that I would otherwise feel pressured to attend, which again, opens up more time to be creative.
All in all I would say it’s been a serious productivity boost, although I do miss live music, bars, restaurants—all the reasons I chose to live in a city.
