What is our music fraternity doing during the lockdown? How has it changed their work and lifestyle? Monarose Sheila Pereira speaks to various music personalities from the field to get a lowdown on what they are up to.

Ranjit Barot, Drummer, film score composer, music director, music arranger and singer

“In this strangest of times, I suppose I’m fortunate enough to continue doing what I would be doing on any other day, which is writing music. The only difference being that it’s non commissioned work and hence has no current revenue stream. Once we’ve emerged from this scenario, hopefully things will come to some sort of semblance of the past. I’ve also discovered a passion for cooking, and actually, I’m pretty good at it. The last few weeks has seen me in the kitchen. I have my music on, get the ingredients together and then start cooking a dish for the day. Very relaxing and extremely satisfying. So, all in all, the lockdown hasn’t been too unkind to me.”

Patricia Rozario, International Opera Singer – Soprano

“The lockdown has been a peaceful time which coincided with Easter - a time for prayer; the End of Term at the Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban - a break from the usual routine of teaching and singing, though I did start teaching a few students on Zoom, Skype and Teams. The garden has become a big focal point for me and my husband Mark Troop (pianist).  We have started growing all sorts of things lettuce, beans, curettes, potatoes, sprouting broccoli, tomatoes, spinach and a selection of flowers. Lockdown has also been an anxious time with tragic news of deaths among friends and family from Covid19 and several others getting the virus and managing to recover from it. It feels like nature is trying to heal itself while we humans stay in doors for the most part.”

Sheldon D'Silva, Bass guitarist

“This lockdown has been a great opportunity to get creative. I've been producing and recording a lot of music, practicing, posting videos and taking online video bass lessons with some very talented and enthusiastic students. Besides this I have been doing the regular household stuff like cooking, cleaning, watching movies and working out. My music can never be locked down.”

Merlin D’souza, Pianist, composer and music director

“I am spending the lockdown time reflectively, musically and reaching out through my music and this is now a way of life. The lockdown has brought forth dormant and unconscious features in many of us. Experimenting with simple foods and making it special. I am also busy composing, producing, writing, learning new technical skills, making candid films to Tell Stories is also my pre-occupation. I have started a series called "The Piano Diaries - Every Piano Tells A Story". It features simple incidents, highlighting some of the current situations; and others candid inclusive stories with Nature, Flora, Fauna animals...and underscoring to celebrate our Heroes of Covid!”

Kala Ramnath, Violinist

“I have been following my routine schedule of cooking, cleaning, resting. Now I have more time so am connecting with family and friends more often. Also I have started conducting online training sessions every day at 5.00 pm on my social media. It’s a 14 day scheduled session and am having great time teaching and answering questions. Art, music and knowledge are two great source of comfort for all.”

Siddharth Meghani, singer and India's Elvis Presley

“I have been keeping myself busy running errands for essential grocery shopping and helping around the house with chores and dabbling in some cooking or helping in the kitchen. I tried my hand at cooking and successfully made some yummy dishes. I sent it over to my friend who cannot cook and is home alone. I also made a few videos of me singing and posted it on Facebook and my Instagram account and helped spread happiness and light. Apart from my evening walk in the compound. I feed a couple of strays outside my house in the evening and then sort of end my evening with live mass on Facebook  at 7 and then listen and watch some of the music my friends and fellow musicians live stream on various social media platforms.”

Amar Muchhala, International Opera Singer – Tenor “I spend my time doing lots of cooking as it relaxes me

– it is truly a form of meditation.  I practice, and warm up my voice everyday to keep it in sync. I learn operatic roles that I’ve always wanted to. Exercise at home is a bit cumbersome but I manage to spend an hour outdoors which is allowed in the UK.”

Dominica D’souza, Flutist

“The lockdown hasn't really altered my schedule drastically, except for commuting which in Mumbai takes up most of the day. My husband and I still begin our day with Holy Mass (streamed live daily by our Parish Mt. Carmel), and since we're home, we also recite the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. During the day, I'm logged onto work. We do have online training modules which we can attend at our own pace. During breaks and in the evenings, I go about sorting or recycling stuff collected over the years.  When the mood beckons, it's time to play the flute and sometimes, the harmonica, guitar and Yamaha keyboard. In between, I check up on my mum and communicate with folks and friends through WhatsApp or calls. Music is a great way to relax. While sharing recipes with the sisters, mum and aunts, I keep a tab on the situation on Twitter or TV networks. I've also managed exercising (though I must confess, I've been eating way much more than I normally do), making flower arrangements, crocheting (completed two shawls so far) and baking as well. Household chores and cooking, you may ask. My husband chips in almost all of the time! Blessed, right?”

Elson Miranda, Keyboard player

“The COVID19 pandemic lockdown has indeed given me a wonderful opportunity to sit back at home, relax, give online music lessons to my students and mainly improvise on my singing, guitar and keyboard playing skills. I really was looking forward to a break as I was always wanted to productively improvise on myself. I am a self-taught musician. I had never joined any music institute or taken any course. I learnt music completely on my own. So it feels great to look back at my musical journey so far. I try my best to make people happy through music as I firmly believe that music leaves a strong impact on people. Harmonious music is one element to please a pressured mind. The lockdown period is the best time to invest it in entertaining yourself. Make your own playlist of favorite songs and keep rolling them one by one. Also take-up playing a musical instrument that you always dreamt of playing. Hearing music will lead your mind to forget the stress of the real world for some time.”

Hrishikesh Kannan aka Hrishi Kay - Radio Producer and Host

“Thanks to technology I have a fully functional studio set up at home and am actually broadcasting my daily morning five hour radio programme on 94.3 Radio One from home.  So 7 am to 12 noon literally is no access time into my study for my girls, my wife and our two daughters, one a 7 year old and the other 8 month old. Post 12, I dive straight into setting up telephone guests as well as content that includes speakers like doctors, medical practitioners, social workers, testing lab people, mental health experts, CEOs working from home and journalists covering the on ground situation, to give my radio listeners a packed informed show for the next morning. I emerge at 2.30 for lunch and post lunch dive straight into instalive sessions with celebrities and guests to push social media presence and then there are team meetings and calls to align everyone for the next day’s radio programmes and plans for the week. By about 8 pm I move towards voice overs which is my allied profession and start sending my voice to brands, TV channels, ad agencies and production houses who need my voice on their ads, promos, audio visuals and episodes. 9.30 is dinner with family and post that time with the family till we all doze off. My elder daughter reads stories to me and I read stories to her and my younger one is just a big cuddler and my wife and me exchange thoughts on everything from how the day has been to organising essentials, groceries, supplies and stuff like that.”

Monarose Sheila Pereira is an author, journalist and lecturer. She has published several books and has written for all the major newspapers and magazines. Some of her works have been translated into foreign languages. She also conducts self-improvement workshops.