Caged Musicality: How Lockdown Changed The Way I View Music
Written By Lin Guan
EDITED BY PAT BUI
Lockdown has undoubtedly been a difficult experience for everybody, especially for those who have lost motivation to perform their everyday activities. Some days it's hard to get out of bed, other days our chores start to become a nuisance. However, having to stay at home for so long could also be a life-changing process for many. Such conditions have the potential to lead you to find purpose within your daily activities or even learn how to be inspired by others to stay motivated. Throughout these hard times, it's important to provide ourselves with some comfort within the confined spaces of our homes by continually pursuing entertainment and stimulation.
I myself struggled a lot because of lockdown. Every aspect of my life took a dramatic turn - I had no social interaction, I couldn’t go out, I couldn’t even learn the way I used to. It drained me. The more lockdown was extended, the more that the small amounts of energy I had disappeared from my body. That’s when I stumbled upon something... Unexpected.
Not long ago in 2020, a neighbourhood in Barcelona created a small band whilst still following lockdown restrictions. A pianist named Rex Chapman performed Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On on his balcony. Unexpectedly, a Saxophone player joined in not long after, which made the whole neighbourhood peep out of their windows to view the commotion. Soon, locals were cheering and clapping for these two astounding musicians that made everyone's day just a bit brighter than usual.
Similar events have also been spotted in a neighbouring European country. In early 2020, Italy was one of the countries most heavily impacted by Covid-19, which drastically damaged everyone's lives. In the small city of Siena, Tuscany, Italian singer Andrea Sannino was brought to the spotlight on social media after he recorded a collection of videos where his neighbours were singing passionately on their balconies. Soon after, the entire neighbourhood was glazed with the angelic voices of people singing their hearts out. When I came across this article, the emotional impact struck me like an avalanche of inspiration that was cascading down my body. At that moment I realised that music can be larger than someone’s personal motivation - it can also bring whole communities together.
Photography credit: Lin Guan
Upon reading these stories, I felt deeply inspired to apply these thoughtful values to my own life. Music has always been a big part of my life, but even though I’ve pursued it for over 8 years, I've always considered it as a simple... side hobby I enjoy in my spare time. Yet suddenly playing the piano slowly transformed from something to pass the time into my main source of motivation; something that not only kept me occupied when I was bored, but it was also something that kept me going, something I could rely on. I spent most of my evenings with classmates and friends on voice calls where we would chat, play games and contemplate life - the usual things. However, once in a while, I started to appear on the calls with a guitar or next to my piano, and before I realised it, I would be performing in front of all my friends. Everyone would request songs they wanted me to attempt and that brought us many joyful moments. Catching a glimpse of the excitement from my supportive 'audience' really puts a smile on my face and allows me to find another aspiring use for my talent in these tedious and stressful times.
Of course, there are still days where I feel trapped, unable to let my mind run free. Oh, how I wish I could allow myself to become lost in my thoughts, with only a pair of headphones on while I sat on the quietest of mountains or beside the most beautiful seashore. Instead, I find myself faced with only a dusty laptop, a messy desk and an empty music score. However, I've started to realise gradually that I have been taking the small things in life for granted. For so long I believed that only musical arts about extraordinary performances or experiences could be remarkable, but what is the purpose of art if it’s not for capturing the simple beauty of life? Over time I've learnt to look for inspiration in the ordinary and beauty in the banal; the simple joys that reward us and tragedies that remind us of our limits. Now, I find it wonderful to reflect on the things I used to neglect and turn them into art; the sentimentality of nostalgia, hope, and love, as well as the sorrows of conflict, loss, and parting - the things that make us human.
Although the pandemic has undeniably caused many difficulties I was not prepared to face, it also forced me to confront issues that I've never previously considered. In turn, this has not only helped me grow as a musician but also made me develop into a more empathetic individual who enjoys the simple things in life. Rather than constantly trying to 'do the most', now I aim to transform my emotions and experiences into art that moves the hearts of people and transcribe their thoughts into melodies.
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