Manx Musicians in Lockdown, Part 1: Creativity in Isolation

Thanks go to BAAD ACID, Ellie Quayle, Mae Challis, Voodoo Bandits, Amy Jane Bennett, Post War Stories and DJ Tom Doyle for their contributions to this article

We all have different methods for dealing with the challenges life throws at us, and this past year has been no exception. Some of us have been yearning for the hubbub of a noisy crowd, others cherishing the seclusion and enjoying some time for tranquil reflection. Either way, most of us rely on the arts in some way to help us get through it: binging a new series, cosying up with a book, singing along to our favourite albums and dancing alone in the kitchen. But what about the artist behind the lens, the guitarist behind the riff, the singer behind the mic? How are they coping?

Musicians are a breed all of their own. Hidden behind differing personality types and nestled within every fringe of society, many use their time behind a mic to completely transform: a shrinking wallflower in a corner can step on stage and suddenly blossom into the loudest presence in the room; similarly, an extrovert in everyday life can startle a crowd with an intimate and subdued acoustic set.

Indie band Voodoo Bandits on stage, pre-pandemic

So, what does all this tell us about the complexities inside the mind of an artist? We are left to wonder how musicians are really doing at a time when we are all literally behind closed doors.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve spoken to some of our favourite local musicians to find out how they’ve been feeling. Introverts and extroverts, songwriters and band members, they’ve all had to find their own ways of dealing with the solitude. During the last month, stuck within their four walls, it seems that our Manx music stars have been writing, live streaming, recording, and above all taking the time to reflect.

Martyn Cain’s home studio set up

Martyn Cain’s instrument set up

For an artist, creative block is challenging at any time; in a lockdown, where else can you turn for songwriting but inwards? For some musicians we spoke to, nothing new is coming. Band members often live apart and can’t rehearse together ー like psych-drone-pop trio BAAD ACID, for whom a zoom call doesn’t quite cut it for a songwriting session. We heard similar sentiments from Post War Stories’ bassist Martyn, who told us that, though he has the software to write music for any instrument at home, to get their signature sound, the band needs to hash it out together.

Solo writers can find themselves stuck too ー like guitar-player Amy Jane Bennett, who created a music room in her house in isolation last year but then told us she still hasn’t been able to write anything. Instead, Amy has spent the last few weeks rehearsing existing songs and honing her technique.

Amy’s new music room

Those who do manage to get writing done are forced to look at other avenues for inspiration: a scene in a TV show, a character in a book, invented scenarios from the depths of the imagination. For DJ Tom Doyle, it was looking deeper into best-loved tracks from some of his favourite music producers, breaking them down and trying to replicate specific sounds and elements. 

Lead singer of Voodoo Bandits Ben told me that, while he’s frustrated that the band can’t be out gigging ー with dates booked and then postponed or cancelled on-island and in the UK ー he’s grateful for the time to pause. The band is able to reflect on material and look at it with fresh eyes (well, ears). For some, the extra time from isolation has given space to revisit neglected projects; it can be difficult to find the energy to be creative between full-time work, commuting (even on the Isle of Man), socialising and keeping up with hobbies.

DJ Tom Doyle working on music production at home

DJ Tom Doyle’s mix of Truria by Italobros features on The Isolation Remixes record

Having landed on furlough, Tom Doyle found time to explore a recently reignited passion for music production, even winning a competition for Swerve Digital and appearing on their Isolation Remix EP. Lots of online networking, several new collaborations and nearly one year later he’s showing no sign of stopping. Singer-songwriter Mae Challis wrote her first songs with her mum when she was younger, and now, stuck at home without her beloved band, is revisiting this dynamic ー on the day we spoke to her, she had just started writing a new song based on an idea her mum had sent her.

However, Mae also admitted that there has been pressure as a creative person to produce content during lockdowns; you have all this extra time, so what’s your excuse? Of course, it should go without saying being in a global pandemic is far from ideal for your mental health; making it through the month, the week or even the day is enough. Finding people to chat to for this article was a self-selecting process: not all musicians we reached out to responded (and that is okay), and those that did were more likely to have been making music over lockdown, because then they had something to talk about. Though we have tried to reflect authentic reactions to the pandemic, most of this article focuses on what we did do, rather than what we didn’t. It’s worth noting here that managing to get up in the morning when the world is on fire around you is just as big an achievement as writing a song.

Mae performing live with her band in December

For some, though, writing has provided solace: musician Ellie Quayle had set herself the challenge of writing a new song every day, enjoying the variety that comes from her audience’s suggestions and not feeling restricted by genre. After a short break due to illness, she returned with a fresh approach and a new confidence. The short length of the videos, low stakes, and ability to experiment all meant that the project has given her a positive focus for the past few weeks. In fact, it has recently led to her first commission ー one of the reasons she started this challenge in the first place. During January, Mae Challis was doing a similar thing and releasing a cover a day on social media. This time around, she’s decided she’s “doing music only if it brings joy” ー to me, she seemed more at peace and decidedly better for it. Ultimately, each artist ends up finding their own creative rhythm.

Ellie writing a song

Ellie in the videos for her #songadaychallenge

Of course, pressure to produce content lingers, but all artists can put that on themselves anyway, lockdown or not; as Voodoo Bandits’ Ben pointed out, for an artist self-doubt is just a sign that they’re taking their art and their passion seriously.

Looking beyond the island, other musicians around the world have shown in this past year that they can persist through tribulation to carve out channels for their creativity. For those with greater access to resources, we’ve seen quarantine albums recorded in both professional and makeshift home studio set-ups.

Charli XCX announced her upcoming album on a Zoom call with fans

In the UK, Charli XCX used the start of lockdown as an opportunity to share her creative process. She made Mercury Prize-nominated album How I’m Feeling Now at home alone in her bedroom over six weeks, getting opinions from fans in Zoom calls on everything from song ideas to album artwork. Looking to the US, frontman Robin Pecknold wrote, recorded and produced a lot of Fleet Foxes’ latest album Shore in isolation, making new collaborations virtually. Over in New Zealand, Fat Freddy’s Drop released a studio session from an audience-less music venue on their live album Lock-In. Mourning the forced closure of music venues across the UK and beyond, Nick Cave sat alone at a piano in an empty Alexandra Palace and recorded the film and album Idiot Prayer. Clearly, the desire to make and consume (live) music persists.

Nick Cave recording his new film and album Idiot Prayer

Though most Isle of Man bands and singers don’t have the access to iconic venues and expensive video equipment, they are still finding opportunities to share their music and to recreate that on-stage buzz from home. Read Part 2 of the series next, Reaching Through the Screen, where we be look at how musicians are innovating to make creative connections that move beyond the physical.

Written by Owen Atkinson

See more from the artists featured:

• Voodoo Bandits are looking forward to Indie Sandwich on 1st May, their headline gig at the Villa Marina, with support from The Tinkermen, The Scrubs and Sanssouci

• BAAD ACID are excited to be back on stage on 23rd April as the next stars of the Villa Marina’s Made in Mann series

• Ellie Quayle is writing songs daily until the end of lockdown, and her commissions are open

• Mae Challis is releasing solo music on her social media and looking forward to reuniting with her band soon