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, pop performer JP Saxe, whose hit single with GRAMMY-nominated singer Julia Michaels "If The World Was Ending" has nearly 75 million views on YouTube, shares his Quarantine Diary.

The days are definitely starting to blur together. I spend a lot of time thinking about balance. I want to be watching and reading enough about what’s going on to feel informed and empathetically connected to the world around me, but not enough to have anxiety keeping me up at night.

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I'm trying to work enough to really lean into the momentum and excitement around our song "If The World Was Ending," but not so much so that I’m forgetting to embrace all this quiet—to be with myself, and with someone I love.

To be honest, quarantine feels far from the biggest change in my life over the last year, but what’s unique about this is it’s something we’re all in together. I guess there’s a whole lot we’re always all in together.. but it’s rarely this noticeable.  

I’m also thinking a lot about how much I’m allowed to enjoy the silver linings of a terrifying global pandemic. I also know that rejecting my own joy doesn’t provide anyone else any extra. I’m also trying not to be so analytical about everything. It’s not working.  

I haven’t written all that much, but I feel like there must be ideas simmering in my subconscious from this period that will end up in songs eventually. Julia [Michaels] and I have written a few things I love. I really am awestruck every time we get creative together. She’s truly a mystically talented writer. It's a special feeling to really admire someone I love so much.

Despite all the overthinking.. it’s the simpler, sillier moments that I appreciate the most. The delivery Boba and "Westworld," the very competitive Bananagrams, the picnics on the roof. I think that’s what I’ll think back on the most from the last month.

I’m going to keep looking for ways to connect and contribute to my community as this all continues—and also ways to be silly, and present, and more deeply myself. 

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.