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, L.A. indie-pop performer/actress Katelyn Tarver, who many might recognize as Jo Taylor on Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush," Natalie ABC's "No Ordinary Family" and Mercedes on ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," shares her Quarantine Diary.
Friday, March 20
8 a.m.–10 a.m.: Normally I wake up around 8:30 a.m. every day, but this quarantine has me SLEEPING IN. So this block of time I was…. asleep.
10 a.m.–12 p.m.: Finally drag myself out of bed and make some coffee and food. My sister and brother live in town and are both hanging at my place. We decided to all quarantine together, because without each other, we will lose our minds. Some call it unhealthy co-dependence, we just call it normal sibling relationship!
12 p.m.–1 p.m.: My sister and I decided to do a workout. Our friend Sam is a fitness instructor and thankfully, has decided to lead workout classes over Instagram live for the time being. Honestly, I might end up working out more during this quarantine than I do in my normal life, but still to be seen… (probably not).
1 p.m.–4 p.m.: Feeling pretty accomplished after that workout. That’s the thing with quarantine. Literally doing anything besides sitting on the couch feels like a massive feat. I decide that I’m going to do an instagram live at 4 p.m. to announce my new single. Before then I need to make some food, and I all the sudden have a craving for a chicken quesadilla? You don’t question things during this time, you just move forward. I cooked a quesadilla and as usual, it took me longer than expected, so now it’s like 3:30 and I gotta figure out where I’m doing this live!
4 p.m.–6 p.m.: Instagram live, baby! This was actually really fun. Got to bring a few fans in to chat and announced that I have a new single coming out, which is always scary and exciting! I also had to laugh at the timing. I've had a plan to put this song out for a few months, and coincidentally the song is called "Feel Bad." Who knew how applicable it would end up being!!!
Around 5 p.m. I decide that it’s time for a glass of wine. Yes, that is ice cubes in white wine. It’s called CLASS and SOPHISTICATION.
6 p.m.–8 p.m.: We decide to learn how to play "Pluto Projector" by Rex Orange County. I take the lyrics and chords on the wall in front of me. My brother is on guitar. I remember how much I love this song, and as cheesy as it sounds, how much music makes me feel better. I would’ve been getting ready to play at the House Of Blues in Dallas had this not all happened and I’ve been really bummed about the tour getting postponed since I got the news. I know everyone is dealing with setbacks and canceled plans right now, so that makes it a little easier. But I'm still letting myself be sad if I need to be. The truth is, I hadn't been on a tour like that in so long, and I was really, really looking forward to it. But... there's literally nothing I can do.
That’s a lot of what this quarantine has been for me so far. Fighting between being sad and upset and trying to release it and accept the reality of what’s happening. Working on it…
8 p.m.–11 p.m.: My sister volunteered to go get us In-N-Out Burger for dinner, which we all got really excited about. Then we called up some friends and planned a virtual game night playing QuipLash over Google Hangouts. It took some strategy to figure out the logistics of being able to play that virtually, but once we got it, we laughed for three hours straight.
11:30 p.m.: Going to bed. Tomorrow is Saturday. I remember that I made an appointment to do my taxes at 5 p.m. (it was supposed to be in person but now will be over the phone) and I haven’t done any of the paperwork I was supposed to do to be ready for it. Somehow just have not found the time!!! Some things never change! Good luck to everyone out there during this weird, disorienting time. We’ll get through it!!!!!
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