Quarantine Diaries: Gromo Is Doing Zoom CrossFit & Releasing A New Single, “Slowly”

As the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic continues to rock the music industry, the Recording Academy reached out to a few musicians to see how they were spending their days indoors. Today, Guatemala-born, NYC-based rising producer/artist Gromo shares his Quarantine Diary. Gromo's new single "Slowly" is out now.

In March 2020, life changed. There is a new norm, which is no norm.

I was fortunate to have a safe escape when leaving NYC to my family's home in the Hamptons. For three months, my independent daily routine gave way to a whole new way of life. All good, just different. Little things I took for granted soon became things I appreciated the most. Like so many, health, family and friends took on greater meaning.

When arriving back to the city "full time" in June, I tried to return to my daily routine. Some things were possible and others not so much. The new essentials, masks and hand sanitizers, are daily reminders that many things are not how they used to be. A certain level of the freedom has disappeared. With this said, I have developed a somewhat consistent schedule that keeps me focused, motivated and overall positive during quarantine times.

[10:00 a.m.] Usually the sounds of the city wake me up. I wipe the sleep out of my eyea and grab my phone. Scroll through the current state of news and of course, covid updates in addition to checking out Instagram for what’s trending in the world of music and fashion. After stumbling out of bed, I head over to my favorite bagel spot in the city, The Bean, a hotspot for young college students. While the foot traffic is slow, it’s good to see some regulars.

[11:00 a.m.] While eating a lightly toasted bagel with butter and drinking a large iced black tea back in my apartment, I review all my emails to communicate with my team on what needs to be accomplished. At the same time, I go on YouTube to watch some channels on music and fashion. Some of my favorites include Complex, Hypebeast, Volkgiest, Polyphonic, Sound Selection and The Most Unruly. I love these sites, they’re current, interesting and informative. The content keeps my brain active and expanding.

[1:00 p.m.] I do my weekly CrossFit workout with my trainer on Zoom. I’ve been doing many virtual training sessions online since quarantine started. I need to work out! It helps to relieve daily stress and keeps my mind in a positive place. I always have a great time with my trainer, talking about life, politics, and, most importantly, our favorite rock bands from the '80s-'90s.

[2:30 p.m.] Lunch time! My favorite spot in the city to grab a quick lunch is Pret. I love it because the food is always simple and consistently on fire! I’m predictable in that I get a ham and cheese or a caprese sandwich, a cup of chicken noodle soup and a large iced green tea to cover me until dinner. It’s a no-hassle lunch. These days, no hassle is good.

[3:00 p.m.] First meeting begins. Today’s meeting we are discussing a creative for my next release coming out Sept. 25, called "Wake Up." I won’t spill too many beans about what's going down, but I will say I am super excited for everyone to hear it.

Photo Credit: Estelle Massry

[4:30 p.m.] I begin my daily walk around NYC. I live in the East Village, so I generally walk down Broadway, cross over to Lafayette and head to SoHo. I've been going to SoHo since I was a kid where I was exposed to street style brands Supreme, Only, Stussy, Bape and Blvck Scale. These days my favorite shops to browse are Kith, Carhartt, Stadium Goods, Round Two and some various designer stores. I always enjoy walking around and taking in the street art SoHo has to offer. Since quarantine and the Black Lives Matter movement began, a burst of creative street art has exploded around the city. I find it so inspiring, these are a few of my favorites I’ve seen:

[7:30 p.m.] Dinner time! Since quarantine, I’ve been ordering meals on Seamless. No shame, I have not mastered the art of cooking at home, not sure I ever will! I’ve always been a picky eater but lately (much to my friend’s surprise) I’ve been a bit more adventurous. While pizza rules, it is no longer a daily staple. Mexican and Asian foods have become my favorites. Lucky to have NYC as a melting pot of cultures and menus!

[11:00 p.m.] Music time! I’ll spend a good hour listening to music before I create. I love listening just as much as I love creating music. I’ve been into a lot of Griselda and Freddie Gibbs lately. "Scottie Beam" is my favorite song of the year so far because of the relevance it has to the BLM movement, plus the production created by The Alchemist is stellar! For me, it's important to listen and take inspiration from everything. That’s what I do, I collage sounds together in order to make the sound I am looking for.

Photo Credit: Estelle Massry

[12:00 a.m. - 3 a.m.] Depending on the night, you can find me working on music artists have sent over or creating something completely new. Between catching up with friends and reviewing what projects and meetings I have coming up the next day, I make sure i’m ready for another day in the life of Gromo.

If you wish to support our efforts to assist music professionals in need, learn more about the Recording Academy's and MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

If you are a member of the music industry in need of assistance, visit the MusiCares website.

Quarantine Diaries: Gromo Is Doing Zoom CrossFit & Releasing A New Single, “Slowly”

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