Smithers singer-songwriter Mark Perry has released a single with a COVID-19 theme.
But not only is the content of song, titled sa国际传媒淔latten out the Curve,sa国际传媒� coronavirus-related, the entire production was a sign of the times.
Colin Maskell recorded Perrysa国际传媒檚 guitar and vocal tracks at Old Highway Studios in Smithers. Then they sent the tracks off to Jordy Walker at Stackwall Sound Productions in Whitehorse Yukon who laid down drums, bass and accordion and mastered the recording.
Thatsa国际传媒檚 when local dance instructor Monica Kapelar got involved and suggested a video.
sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 funny, and she has all these friends in odd places, like former students of hers, even in Japan,sa国际传媒� Perry said.
Soon, videos were streaming in from all over the world. Perry said it was tricky to piece together, but his daughter Mip (aka Marie Perry) was up to the task.
sa国际传媒淪hesa国际传媒檚 a very creative person and shesa国际传媒檚 very musical so she kind of figured out how to edit on the ones (first beat) so it was kind of in time, most of it,sa国际传媒� he said.
The video was first released on Facebook April 6 and Perry was amazed by how it took off.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 not a Facebook person, but theresa国际传媒檚 views and theresa国际传媒檚 people reached and people are sharing like crazy, he said on the morning of April 8. sa国际传媒淩ight now, wesa国际传媒檙e over 40,000 people reached. In a lot of ways, itsa国际传媒檚 fairly insane, but theresa国际传媒檚 also views and shares.sa国际传媒�
Sandra Smith, from Plaid People Music, Perrysa国际传媒檚 booking agency, said in the first 48 hours the Facebook post had 20,000 views and 700 shares.
Subsequently, a release on Youtube on April 9 has garnered hundreds of views.
He said the inspiration came from Dr. Bonnie Henrysa国际传媒檚 daily press conferences.
sa国际传媒淭he phrase, flatten the curve or flatten out the curve, wesa国际传媒檙e hearing it all the time,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 always with us, so I just did it for some fun. Itsa国际传媒檚 pretty light, but itsa国际传媒檚 a serious subject.sa国际传媒�
Also a serious subject is the livelihood of musicians. With music festivals being cancelled and music venues shut down everywhere, remotely-executed projects such as sa国际传媒淔latten out the Curvesa国际传媒� might be the only creative outlet for artists for the foreseeable future.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e lost a few gigs,sa国际传媒� Perry said. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e got my fingers crossed, but Isa国际传媒檓 not optimistic. We have an Alberta fall tour lined up. They say theysa国际传媒檙e holding on to the hope, but Isa国际传媒檓 not going to be shocked or anything.sa国际传媒�
Although disappointed, Perry, a retired railroad worker is not concerned about himself so much as the artists who rely financially on touring.
sa国际传媒淭he people Isa国际传媒檓 worried about are the guys who are just counting on it,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淢usicians who do it for a living, theresa国际传媒檚 not a lot of money out there, I just hope that they survive.sa国际传媒�
It is unclear whether or how musicians will quality for federal and provincial wage subsidies and emergency response benefits, but legislation is evolving and that may be clarified this week when Parliament votes on the Emergency Wage Subsidy bill.
editor@interior-news.com
Like us on and follow us on
