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, GRAMMY-nominated Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall shares her Quarantine Diary. Tunstall's sixth studio album WAX is available now.

I’ve just moved into my new house at the top of a little mountain in L.A. It feels like a dream... and although this years’ touring is wrecked, the silver lining for me is getting to spend all this time at home which is unheard of, and I’m savoring every minute of that.

[8 a.m.] I’m a major coffee drinker. I‘ve been on the Bulletproof Diet for some years now, which involves a massive injection of rocket fuel instead of traditional breakfast first thing in the morning; coffee with unsalted grass-fed butter and MCT oil, all whizzed in the blender. It makes you feel amazing, and as it is my first meal of the day, it is something of a ritual. I’m pretty tooled up in the kitchen to make this stuff. Although I did pour pre-ground coffee into the grinder this morning. Hmm. Lockdown brain.

Another dream I’ve been able to realise in lockdown is getting a dog. I always wanted to adopt a rescue, but have never had time to bond and give a dog a stable start with me. I found my perfect little soulmate in Minnie, a 2yr old Miniature Pinscher. She’s so funny. And sleeps like a log. She’s either mental or asleep. The same as me.

[9 a.m.] I take her out for a walk in the morning, which is so beautiful. So far, we’ve come face to face with a very large rattlesnake and a wolf-size coyote - it’s amazing up here, but...vigilance...

[10 a.m.] I write my daily journal entry, call people in the UK before the time difference window closes, glance at my calendar to see what new recording session or live stream I am thoroughly unprepared for today...

[12 noon] Every weekday, I DJ a Rave for an hour on my Instagram. It’s been a really fun way to stay connected to fans, as well as being able to do a deep dive into old club classics. Fans have started dressing up (themselves as well as their living rooms!) and there was an amazing moment when I went split-screen and an awesome fan, @karibrasuka was wearing an LED light suit in the dark, SO cool!
 
[2 p.m.] Make lunch. Trying to keep healthy and loving cooking at home. Listen to music. I’ve been revisiting a lot of Nick Drake lately, and also loved discovering Alexi Murdoch and Lucy Dacus for the first time.
 
[3 p.m.] The basement of my house is currently being turned into a Wonderland...a full-on, pro-standard recording studio. The crew can get into it via a separate entrance, so they have been able to keep working through the crisis thankfully. Once they pack up for the day, I can sneak down for a peek!

[4 p.m.] I find myself feeling pretty wiped out by the afternoon. I try and read something, listen to some music, take another stroll and have a good quality canine cuddle

[5 p.m.] I’ll often have song recordings to do or live streams to join in the afternoon. Today’s recorded session us slightly different than usual in that it is the ‘Bathroom Sessions’ for WaterAid, which means I need to play and record in my shower...
 
[7 p.m.] After cooking myself dinner, I’ll usually need to get a bit more unfinished work done before hitting the TV ("Ozark" is my current eye-drug of choice), and I’m attempting to make my almost completely empty house look interesting. My list of online orders is pretty weird; step ladder, ‘hike n’ strike’ taser walking stick, soda-stream, disco lights...
 
[10:30 p.m.] OZARK O’ CLOCK. 
 
[12 midnight] I try and be in bed by now. It’s so early for me compared to tour where I’m usually hitting the hay at 3am. But I’m liking it. I can hear owls and crickets through the open window, and a little snoring dog.

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.