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, R&B singer/songwriter Kem shares his Quarantine Diary. His single "Lie To Me" is out now.
[6 a.m.] Get On Up: I get up with my 3-year-old son Kristoffer and we watch Harry Potter or "Blippi" on YouTube. It depends on what kind of mood he’s in. Today, it was a Harry Potter kind of a day. Then we did what most dads do with 3-year olds except more than most, our playtime may involve a little more singing. We play with his toy mic and I try to teach him the proper way to hold a mic. That went exactly the way one would expect things to go. We’ll try again later. It’s not uncommon for us to tussle and roll around on the floor and play with whatever toys grab his attention every few minutes and then it’s time to clean up our mess, get dressed and go see what the rest of the family is up to by now. It’s just before 8 a.m. which means, it’s time to eat.
[8 a.m.] Make Breakfast: I love to cook and breakfast is one of my specialties so I make my way into the kitchen to see what’s for breakfast. Sometimes breakfast is light: oatmeal, a banana and a glass of juice. Sometimes it’s all the things you’d expect from a good southern breakfast: sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, grits and toast or a biscuit. Today is one of the lighter days. I have a lot to do so oatmeal or cereal and toast it is.
[9 a.m.] Family Walk Through The Neighborhood: After breakfast, it’s time to take our family walk through the neighborhood. I enjoy this time because it gives us a chance to be together and get some exercise at the same time.
I love taking in all of the sounds of nature and seeing all of the beautiful Georgia pines. We live in a lake community and there’s something really peaceful about living on the water. Anytime is usually the perfect time to look out on the water and see the reflection of the sun off the water. It reminds me, even in times like this, how beautiful life can be and how great God is.
[10 a.m.] Make Calls, Answer Emails, Run Errands: Lately, there are a lot of calls going out and coming in. I just released my first single in six years so we’re in the middle of promotion. I had a conference with my management team. We talk about how to promote a record when there is no travel. I call my business manager; We talk for a few minutes and as I’m talking, I look in my inbox and see hundreds of emails. I answer the ones that seem most urgent. The others … I’ll get to … eventually. I forgot we needed a couple of things from the store. I make a quick run to the store and I’m back just in time to get into the lab and work on some more music.
[10:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m.] In The Studio: Playtime with the kids, check. Breakfast, check. Family walk and exercise, check. Important calls and emails returned, half check. Paper towels and snacks replenished, check. Now it’s time for me to get down to business. I’m working on my upcoming album and this is when I spend time working on polishing the pieces. I already have some great tunes for this album but with everything that’s going on in my life and in the world right now, there’s more to be said. I’m in my groove. I’m getting it done. When I’m writing and making music time just seems to fly by. Being confined to the house has given me the time and space to create.
I’m grateful, but sometimes it’s more challenging than others because at home even though I’m down in the basement in my studio, I’m still daddy and husband first. From time to time duty calls, a diaper needs to be changed or a kid needs to be fed and creating has to be put on hold. Today was a good day creatively. I feel like I put some good work in and now it’s time for dinner.
[6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.] Dinner Time. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by my beautiful wife Erica and caught up with the family. A lot happened while I was down in the studio and I love hearing about what everyone has been up to. I also get my “Honey Do” list for tomorrow from Mrs. Owens. Cool.
[7:30 p.m -8 p.m.] Bedtime for The Kids. It’s time to get the kids in bed. They’ve already left the table; baths have been had and everybody is clean and sort of happy. Not everyone is happy it’s time to go to sleep, but my wife and I work together to put the kids to sleep. I wish I could go to sleep too but I’ve still got work to do.
[8 p.m. -10 p.m.] Back To The Studio (overdubs/editing.) All is quiet on the home front and it’s time for me to get back in the lab. I’ve got some overdubs and editing I want to get done tonight while I’m still in the groove. I put a couple more hours in and now it’s time to call it a night.
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